National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-06-27
TEARING our A CANCER.
The Terrible Operation Undergone by
New York Farmer TO Escape the
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New York Farmer TO Escape the
Dread Disease.
L. w. Fairchild, a Westchester county
man, says the New York Tribune, lately
noticed a small red swelling upon his upper
lip, and classed II rs harmless pimple. 1t
grew steadily, however, and became eX-
ceedingly painful. A physician examined
It, diagnosed 1t as an ordinary boil, and,
after subiecting II to preliminary treatment,
lanced It. It discharged q yellowlsh pus
and bled freely. For time the wound
appeared TO heal, and the viruent in
dicGtons subsidized. The relief was only
temporary, however, aud after a time
the inilained surface began to increase
and spread with alarming rapidity. In
two weeks II had extended over the
whole left cheek, and the entire muscle
upon that side OF the face was affected.
The local physician not being able TO settle
the nature of the difficulty, and as it did
not succumb to the usual treatment of
absorbents, the patient came to this city
and entered the Hahnomann Hospital. The
swelling in the cheek continued to increase
in size until the cheek was about six inches
thick. IL was hard to the touch except at q
point under the left eye, where II was soft
and epongy. sharp, shooting points rndiated
from the seat Of the difIlcultyin theupperlip
oil over the cheek, being especially violent
under the eye. The patients face wore an
anxious eXpectant look, and the cheek
gradually assumed black appearance. In
several places small pieces OF bone could
be felt where the Jaw had become affected
ard had thrown oil sharp splinters. After
q careful examination the disease was dag
nosed rs a sarcoma, or cancerous growth of
a malignant type. Internal treatment did
not check the progress Of the cancer, and
The patient consented to risk u surgical
operation, though he was told that the
chances were all against him.
A week ago Mr.. Fairchild was taken to
the operating room OF the hospital and laid
upon the table. DIR. William Tod Helmuth,
consulting surgeon of the hospital, took
charge of the case. A cone containing
ether was placed over the patients nose,
and in q few moments loud snore indl-
Gated that the anWsthotlc was complete.
The instruments were In a large basin close
by In an antiseptic solution Of bchloride Of
mercury and carbolic acid. With a small
knife the surgeon made an incision in the
trachea, Just above the chest After the
hemorrhage had been checked, a small
tracheOtomy tube was inserted In the wind
| pipe, so that the patient could breathe
| through II while the main operation was
being performed. To reduce the chances of
a fatal termination II was necessary to pack
the upper portion Of the windpipe through
| the mouth, so rs TO prevent blood from
been cleared Of mucus, and was UNI
der the control of the respiratory
organ, the patients mouth was opened
| wide and small sponges were placed
under pressure in the back part Of
the throat until the passage into the lungs
was completely Distracted. An incision
was then made through the upper lip, along
| the left side Of the nose and under the eye,
| to the left ear. The skin upon the left
| cheek was then dissected, up from the mus
| Cular tissue, until large flap was made,
| which, being turned back, exposed the can
| cerous growth. 1t was found to have in
volved all the bones In the cheek and upper
| jaw, and had altered their nature to such
an extent that they could be bent under
| employed, and the cheek bone near
the nose, where It appeared to be sound and
healthy, was severed. The bone under the
eye was so soft that it offered no resistance,
and the whole jaw and muscular tissue
were raised. The fungus growth was
fagna to b9Ee sTteRae9 ch9GsYqrd 70 ths
the operation assumed new complications.
With the aid of pair of bone forceps all
the rough edges Of bone were carefully re-
moved, until every visible portion appeared
to be healthy. The cancer was drawn
out from the check as far as
possible, and pair of specially con-
structed forceps were fastened to 1t, as
close to the base as possible. A strong,
steady pull was then applied to the forceps
and the cancer and its roots we're drawn,
leaving large section of quiverlng flesh
Blood spurted In every direction, and 1t
became necessary TO apply actual cautery
TO the wounded parts. After much diff
Guilty the hemorrhage was controlled, and
the wound after every part of the affected
tissue had been removed, was thoroughly
washed with an antiseptic solution
The other flap was then re-
turned to Its proper position and
stitched fast to the adjoining parts. The
operation lasted over three hours, and Mr.
Fairchild was kept all the time under the
influence Of ether. He returned TO con-
seriousness slowly and suffered greatly from
shock. 1t was feared that he would not
rally after the large loss of blood, and
there were indications Of a collapse. He
finally improved, however, so that the
immediate danger of death was past. He
has been growing stronger daily since the
operation, and 1t is now believed that he
will recover. The wound is rapidly heal
ing, and his face will be but little dis
figured,