Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1885-03-12
Explanation Of General Grants Case.

Explanation of General Grants Case.
NEW YORK, March 5.-The Medical Re
cord will say tomorrow
In view of the recent Developments in
General Grants condition, the Records ar
ticle of two weeks ago so largely quoted by
the press of the country, requires some ex-
PLANTATION. 1t is fair to state tha, the facts
at the time presented by the Record were
founded on the best of authority, that of
Dr. Barker, attending physician of General
Grant, and this explanation is manifest in
the following note:
"2I EAST 18Th STREET.-Dedr Doctor
Shrddg The statement which | made to
you was literally true at the time made
il, and / am certain DIR. Douglas would
have made precisely the same. i saw Dr.
Douglass last evening and he then said
that what told you was exactly what he
should have said at the time. But on the
Monday after l saw you the action of Con-
gress had a most depressing effect on Grant;
his vital powers suddenly broke down and
the local malady speedily assumed a new
aspect. The newspaper accounts have been
greatly exaggerated and we have never an
ticipated any such speedy termination as
they have indicated. do not belieye Dr.
Douglas ever used the word cancer in
connection with the case. We have al
ways spoken of it as epitheloma of very
malignant type. Probably it was greatly
improved for the time by the local treat
ment of Dr. Douglas, and his local con-
dition was manifestly improving until the
moral shock broke down his general sys-
TEN. Yours.
FoRDyCE BARKER.
Ii is a matter of deep regret and she
grave suspicious entertained OF the serious
nature of Gen. Grants disease are confirm
ed by a diagnosis of the epitheloma of the
tongue and face This disease, the name
of which is now perhaps heard of by the
general public for the first time, assumes
an importance as to study which il could
never otherwise obtain, consequently the
daily papers are educating the people with
regard TO il, so the terms epitheloma, ma
lignancy and infilteration can be as well
understood as in former times were those
of suppuration, pus track and bullet eysts.
As might have been anticipated under the
circumstances the published reports of the
Generals condition are very much exag-
gerated The disease is by no means as
extensive as is generally believed. In fact
the alterations, small in extent, are limit
ed to the right pillars of the fauces ante
rior, and on being perforated at its
base adjoining the right side OF
the root of the tongue Is indu-ated
TO slight extent, as is also the neighbor-
ing gland under the angle of the jaw on
the right SHE of the neck. The roof of
the mouth along the line of the hard palate
and to the right of the medium line con-
tains three small, warty-like excrescenses
which show tendency toward the cell of
proliieration The epiglottis is free from
any abnormality as are all other parts of
the throat, although induration of the
tongue has existed more or less since last
fall, when the patient was seen by DIR.
Douglas Ulcerations have appeared quite
recently. Ii was during their progress chat
the General suffered from pain in the right
ear, which has now been entirely relieved
by the local application of a four per cent.
solution of ciocine. Under the same treat
ment all pain in the deglutition is now en-
tirely controlled and the patient is kept in
a very comfortable state. The pulse, which
is normally, go per minute) occasionally
reaches 30 beats. Bodily temperature,
appetite fair, which is saying everything,
is in its favor as the General is not hearty
eater His bodily condition is. however,
much below par, and is more to he con-
sidered at present than the local disease.
The treatment of the case has been judi
ciously conservative from the start. A
fluid extract of cocoa is administered in
ternally, and idioform is busted upon the
alterations. Contrary to the general i'm
,Aession the tongue itself is not liberated,
nor has it been as far as we can learn 1T
any time during the progress of the dis
ease. The troublesome tooth is said to
have been extracted for the relief of the lin
quail ulcer, and was on the opposite OF
sound side of the mouth, and was removed
to relieve the persistent aching of the left