The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-06
GENERAL GRANTS DISEASE.
Another Statement of the Case by the
Editor of the Medical Record.
The Aialady Diagnosed as Epithelioma of the
TOngue-llow the General Received the
News of His Retirement
THE GENERALS DISEASE.
Another Statement Of the Case by tho Med
ical Record.


Another Statement OF the Case by tho Med
ical Record.
New YoRK, March 5.-The Medical Record
heretofore quoted in these dispatches in connec
ton with accounts of the condition of General
Grant, will, on Saturday. contain the following
article
I'm view of recent developments in General
airants case, the Records bulletin, two weeks
ago, so largely quoted by the press of the coun-
try, requires some explanation. 1t is fair to
state that the facts at the time presented by the
Medical Record were founded on the best author
lty-that OF DR.. Fordyce Barker, the attending
physician of General Grant and this explana-
ton Is manifest in the following note
" The statement which made you was literally true
at the time | made it, and certain DIR. Douglas
would then have made precisely the same. l saw Dr.
told You exactly what he should have said at that
time. But Monday, after you, the action of
Congress had most depressing effect on Gen: Grant
his vital powers suddenly broke down. and the local
nalady speedily assumed new aspect. The news
paper accounts have been greatly exaggerated, and
we have never anticipated any. such speedy
not believe DIR. Douglas ever used the word
cancer in connection with the case. We have
always spoken of it as epithelioma of malignant
type. which probably was greatly improved for the
time by the local treatment of DR.. Douglas, and the
local condition was manfestly improving until the
moral strain broke down his general system.
"'FoRDYCE BARKER.
"'WgpNEsDAY NOOK March f.
st is matter of deep regret that the grave
suspicions of the serious nature of General
Grants disease are confirmed by the diagnosis of
epithelioma of the tongue. This disease, which
now, perhaps, is heard of by the general public
for the first time, assumes an Importance as to
its study which it could never otherwise obtain.
Consequently the daily papers are educating the
people with regard to it, so the terms epithe-
lioma, malignancy and infltraton will be as
well understood as in former times were those
Of suppuration pus tracks, and bullet-cysts. AS
might have been inferred under the circum-
stances, the published reports of the Generals
condition are very much exaggerated. The dis
ease is by extensive as is generally be-
lieved, and, in fact, the alterations are small in
extent and are limited to the right pillars of the
fauces anterior one being perforated at its base.
That adjoining the right side of the root of the
Songue is indurated to slight extent as is also
she neighboring gland under the angle of the
Jaw on the right side. In the roof of the mouth
along the side of the right palate and right Of
the median line were three small. warty- like
excrescences which show tendency to-
ward cell perforation. The epglottis is
free from any abnormality, as are
ali other parts of the throat. Although indura-
ton of the tongue has existed more or less since
last fall, when the patient was first seen by DR..
Douglas the alterations have appeared quite
recently 1t was during their progress that the
General suffered from pain in the right ear,
which now has been entirely relieved by local
application of the per cent solution of cocaine.
Under the same treatment all pain in deglutition
has been entirely overcome, and the patient
kept in a very comfortable state The pulse,
which is normally sixty per minute, occasion
ally reaches eighty beats. The bodily tempera-
lure is normal, and the appetite fair, which is
saying everything in its favor as the General is
not hearty eater.
1.-THE treatment of the case has been judicious-
ly conservative from the first. Fluid extract of
coca is administered internally and iodoform
is busted upon the alterations. Contrary to the
general impression, the tongue itself is not ulcer
ated, nor has it been, so far learn, at
any time during the progress of the disease. The
troublesome tooth, said to have been extracted
for relief of lingual liberation, on the oppo-
site or sound side of the mouth, and was re
moved to relieve persistent ache in the left ear"