National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-03-20
GEN. enANr,s DISEASE.
Diagnoses, Opinions, and ProsnostIce-
tions from n Variety OF Sources
Patients Condition Last Night.

NAuhN NNNlh " VI Nouttfh-
Patients Condition Last Night.
PHILADELPHIA, March l0.-'rho Phila.
dclphia Medical Nc,rs of this week will
say editorially concerning the disease
from which Gen. Grant is suffering:
Although scirrhnus carcinoma OF tho tongue
u occasionally mot with, tho most important
OF the nCOp'nsms OF that organ is cpithCliumu,
thc natural history OF whicn hH special in.
forest ut this time In connection with the case
OF "a dIViuguisnyd citizen, IN which minulC
ux xulnati0n has disclosed that the disease Is
u rnuyur oi that typc.
l.nsun cpiihyioma, NJ q rule, rapidly
rfu1fcssvs toward a intal termination. When
leu 20 ii.cltthc ne OF the patient nom the
nrst pp.afHucc ot che disease varies, In &c.
cIriaure with the estimates OF different OBJ.
server. rom 100 20 ~ monlhslhr average lC.
iug lil months Death cnsucs-hrst nom the
generalization " the disease; secondly, from
s.pi'c pneumonia, irum the inhalation OF tho
pttrn rnHuailona which result from the de.
cumpnsti1l of the products uf the liberated
Ircnurc ui the infected lyphatic glands aud
rifonndlng iaHs upon ihe giophnguS
tnc-chy interfering with dcgluiition, aud,
lastly. rgm humuifhagc proceeding nom the
ulcgfaicd liugual arteries. Or the vessels Of the
neck
rhs duration of NE ofthosc who survive All
oremilpu Averages nlnetgcn moths Net
only dncs operative interference prolong life
and relieve sufsr.ug bot Il effects 4 inni cure
iu q Yrf cent uf an cases. To- attaining these
results ID uiust, however, De- rymrmhorod that
excelsior uf thg tongue T. attended with a inor.
ialtiy Of , pgr ccui.. the principal damages
helms shock. hcmurrnAgU, trluinh Of the glOt.
tis sariir lung ahegtluns, ryFinlA, aud cry
titg.nf, sline Of which risks chn De avoided by
tlkiur Cafgful precautions duruE the opera
tIun. aud ~ the perfcCiiuH ~ autiseptc moas.
urtts during and antr tho pucrdurc.
When iu addition w. disohsc Of the tongue
llsrif She palate ani the tousil arg involved
tho = q d. nHfIIUF tho
disUHlu he pUrinricl tn pursue an unaidrd
glarsc nf whutbJf 10 De subieciUd tp the kuiic.
lu the latter event not Only viii the tongue
have % D. oNiirpaied, but the disease Of the
palate and tuusit will have O. be- reached
81 hr m We can learn there is no example Of
thg Performance Of the double OPERATION on
The uuiy available measures are tlusu difoUtcd
toward the rrNrfu suffering. the prevention OF
septic complications, aud supporting tho
powers of the system
Fasirnliumy might b. fcsJuod Co. but this pro-
Oudurr under tho circumstances. il OF such n
questionable nature that the prudent surgeon
would doubtless, not take u into considcrn-
ti1n.
The Medical Times will publish the fol.
lowing Saturday;
Since our report OF last week tho progress Of
the disease ~ tho ease uf Gen. Grant has been
/ marked by NO important change. There was
local cNaCCrbdtiun Ou wednesday, dutlug
| which the last bride Of tissue on the inner
side Of thu ulcer Of the anterior pillar was de-
lfUyCd, ana the gland In the neck became en-.
/ largcd. The iuhammat0ry thlckcning Of the
/ mucous membrane Of the hard palate has
| somewhat diminished but the enlarged gland
| Ia the neck, which Is deeply situated behind
| the angle aud ramus VI tho jaw, appears more
/ firmly Adherent
There has been but little pain, aud the most
/ prominent feature OF the case during the week
has been insomnia, which Is exceptionally
| difficult To treat because Of the sensitiyenCSs
/ OF the patient 10 the disturbing secondary
effects ofthc common remedies
l Tue general has driven out once Of twice
/ during the week. but hns not yet felt able to
resume the preparation Of his memoirs.
| Although, MS We have before stated, an Oper.
| alton for the removal Of the disease il not
/ contemplated, the association With the case oi
] such eminent surgeons a. Prof. Markoo and
sands is an ample guarantee to the profession
that the question has not been overlooked,
aud that, II an operation should be deemed
advisable, It would be performed with the VI.
most skill and sOundesl Judgment
New YORK, March l9.-Ths following
will appear in the Medical Record March
81:
During the past week the local disease oi
| GEN Grant has shown no marked tendency
| toward progressive liberation At tho recent
weekly consultation DT. FOrdyco Barker was
unayodably absent. Drs. :. H. Douglas,
| Henry Is, sands aud George W. shnrdy, who
! were present made u thorough examination
! Of the generals throat with view OF discuss.
| ing the oNpcdicncy Of radical surgical ope.
ration for the removal of the growth. such u
measure would involve the division of the
| lower jaw mediau line, tho eNtirpatiOn OF the
entire tongue and the greater part OF the son
palate, together with the removal Of the ul.
cerod and intiltra,ed fauces and the induraled
glAndular structures under the right angle oI
the lower law. This was considered mechpn.
ically possible, despite the close proximity and
probable Involvement OF the tissues adjoining
the large arteries and veins In the neighborhoOd
of the alterations; but In the best interests OF
the distinguished patient the surgeons did moi
( feel inclined TO recommend the procedure
| Even by such means there could be no guar
antee In view of extensive surrounding In
filtration, that the limits Of the disease could
be reached without immediate risk TO life by
the severe shock to a constitution already
| much eufeeblcd. The low vital power Is such
! n strong element in the decision that for tho
present at least no Kind Of operation will bt
| undertaken. The liberation on the side o
the tongue has not progressed far enough tC
produce the usual ntolcrnble pan associated
| with that condition, but should the latter
symptom appear, II may DC advisable TO divide
The general tone Of the patients system re
mains about the same as ut last report, not
wlthstandng he has suffered much from in
sOmnia. The latter within the last day or tive
has been kept under control by II suitabl,
anodyne. There Is no pain In swallowing
and sufficient food is taken with reasonabl,
relish.
PATIENTS CONDITION LAST NIGHT.
NEW YoRK, March l0.--After his visi
to Gen. Grant tonight DR.. Douglas said
"rhe general slept seven hours continu
ously last night. lie was very wei
through tho day. He asked for roas
mutton and ate It, During the after
noon and evening the general ro
vised enough of his book t
keep the printers busy three days
When left the general tonight he wa
inclined to sleep. The patients throa
looks better this evening; it has not tn,
angry appearance IL has had. There wa
catarrhal difficulty in tho morning tha
caused gagging, but no bad results