Huntsville gazette., 1885-09-19

Young Man Afflicted With and Operated
Upon For . Tumor Identical in Charac-
ter and Location with One Which Caused
the Death of His Afianced.
NEW YORK, September 15.-Francis
Joseph Gunner, aged twenty, the son Of
Police Captain John Gunner, of 362 E.
Sixty ninth street, was the subject of
delicate and interesting surgical opera
iion performed on Wednesday last BY
DR.. Post, of 291 Madison avenue, and
W. A. Hawes, of 145 Lexington avenue,
for the removal of sarcoma, a species of
tumor. The inception and development
of this tumor was exceedingly peculiar,
and either presents the features Of re-
markable coincidence or demonstration
of the fact that tumors arecontagious,
thing that has heretofore been most en-
phatically denied by the medical profess
sion. Young Mr.. Gunner was a regular
attendant of st. Thomas Episcopal
Chapel, on Sixty sixth, between Second
and third avenues, and held the Office
of Assistant Librarian in the Seminary
oShOOl SouuCNoCA WIN tuS SuutNu.
About year ago Miss Bella Sargent,
a charming young woman of about the
same age as MIR. Gunner, joined the
church and became teacher in the Sun
day school. Gunner and Miss Sargent
were thrown much together in the Sun
day-school work and formed pleasant
acquaintance that in time ripened into
love, and it was announced last spring
that they were engaged to be married,
but it was not to be. Miss Sargent died
in the Roosevelt Hospital last July and
was buried on Declaration Day. About
three months before her death an appar-
emily innocent swelling appeared in the
gum on the inside of the right cheek.
Nothing was thought of it for time,
and it was attributed to cold and
harmless Inflammation. But
it grew larger, slowly at first,
but with an alarming rapidity as it be-
came developed, and she as well as her
friends became alarmed and sought med
ical advice. Her ailment was pronounced
sarcoma of the malignant type, and she
went to the Roosevelt Hospital for
treatment. Soon after she was admitted
a consultation was held in her case by
the consulting surgeons and the house
staff, and it was agreed that her only
chance of being benefited lay in the re-
moval of the tumor. She consenting, an
operation was performed oy DR.. Sands
in the presence of DR.. Shrady
and several other physicians. The
tumor was taken out, but
it had involved the jaw-bone TO a consid--
cradle extent and section OF it was also
removed. Miss Sargent rallied from the
shock and hopes were entertained OF her
recovery, but within a few days sec
ondary hemorrhage set in and resulted
in her death. The grief of Gunner over
his loss was inconsolable and he brood
ed over the death of Miss Sargent day
and night. There was to him special
horror in the manner of her death. While
vet marveling at the strangeness OF Miss
Sargent's death, about month ago
he was startled when a slight
swelling appeared in his mouth in
the gum under the left cheek.
He at once consulted DR.. Hawes,
as be suspected that the fate OF Miss
Sargent awaited him. There was moth
ing, however, in the early appearance OF
the swelling to indicate that it was any
thing serious, and it was pronounced
gumboil 1t grew slowly, and present
ing what appeared to be an accumulation
of pus. it was lanced and discharged
coorless liquid. There was no improve
ment or relief following this simple
remedy and the clinical history OF the
case soon established that 1t was a
sarcoma similar in character to that
which had cost Miss Sargent her life,
but not as far advanced. DR.. Post was
called in consultation and speedy
extirpation of the tumor was ad-
vised. At two o'clock p. m. on Wednes-
day, the young man was put under the
influence of ether. knife was inserted
by the surgeon at the left cheek bone
and an incsion was made under the left
eve to the nose, down the side OF the
nose, and beneath it to The center OF the
upper lip, which was split in two. Then
the left cheek was dissected up from the
bone and turned back and the tumor was
exposed to view 1t was attached to the
iawbone firmly, and was larger than
appeared to be externally. 1t was re-
moved by a quick cut of the knife, and
the entire bone in the neighborhood OF
the tumor was thoroughly scraped bY
spoon shaped instrument to remove. such
affected membranes as might be attacned.
. After the surgeons were satisfied that
every trace of the tumor was obliterated,
the cheek flap was returned to position,
and deliberately stitched to the adJoin-
ing tissue. The operation lasted two
hours, and was prolonged for the rea-
son that either could not be given con
tinuously, as the cone holding it, when
held over the nose and mouth of the pa
tlent, interfered with the movements of
the surgeon, and he had to stop entirely
while the ether was bein. admins cred.
Gunner rallied rapidly from the shock
of the operation, and was in comfort
able condition yesterday. The tumor,
after it was secured, was placed in alco-
hol and was submitted to a microscope
cal examination to determine it's charac-
Ter, whether benign or malignant. Ii 1t
proves to be benign it is said the opera
ton will be the last OF 1t. But II IL
shows malignant elements similar 70
that in the case of Miss Sargent the
probabilities are that 1t will grow again
and begin 10 grow where the surgeons
knife left off.
No Evidence of Foul Play.