The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1885-07-10
TEARING A CANCER OUT.


The Operation Which Was Undergone by
New York Farmer With Malignant Can
| Ger.
1t Fairchild, Westchester county, N
farmer, three months ago noticed small ret
swelling upon his upper lip and supposed it wa
a pimpe. 1t became gradually more painful
and grew until his check was six inches thick
| A week ago the doctors at New York hospi
| tai, dissected the whole check and tore the can
Ger out by the roots. The patient is improving
| and 1t Is believed he will recover
DR. VIM Tod Helmdtb, surgeon of the hospi
tai, took charge OF the case. A cone containing
ether was placed over the patients nose, and il
few moments loud snore indicated that the
anesthesis was complete. The instruments were
in large basin close by in an antiseptic solu
ton of bichloride Of mercury aud carbolic acid
With small knife the surgeon made an incis
ion in the trachea, just above the chest. After
the hemorrhage had been checked, small
tracheotomy tube was inserted in the windpipe,
10 that the patient could breathe through it
while the main operation was being performed.
To reduce the chances OF fatal termination il
was necessary to pack the upper portion OF the
blood from flowing into the lungs. After the
tube had been cleared Of mucus, and was un.
der the control of the respiratory organ, the pa
TENTS mouth was opened wide and small spong-
es were placed under a. pressure in the back
part of the throat until the passage into the
lungs was completely obstructed. An incision
was then made through the upper lip, along the
La a. oP <ba md tho IN a
left ear. The skin upon the left check was
then dissected, up from the muscular tissues
until large flap was made, which, being turn
ed back, exposed the cancerous growth. 1t was
found to have involved all the bones in the
cheek and upper jaw, and had altered their ma
ture to such an extent that they could be bent
with slight pressure. A small saw was then
employed and the cheek bone near the nose,
where it appears 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 found to have extended backward
to the basiar of the Occlpital bone, and the
operation assumed new complications. With
the aid of pair of bone f0rceps all the rough
edges OF bone were carefully removed, until
every visible portion appeared to be healthy.
The cancer was drawn out from the cheek as
far as possible, land pair OF specially construct
q 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 were drawn out leaving large section
of quivering flash. Blood spurted in every oil,
rection, and it became necessary to apply actual
cautery to the wounded parts. After much
difficulty the hemorrhage was controlled, and
the wound, after every part Of affected tissue
had been removed was thoroughly washed with
an antiseptc solution. The other flap was
then returned to its proper position and stitch
ed fast to the adjoining parts. The operation
lasted over three hours, and Mr. Faircbild was
kept all the time under the influence Of ether
He returned to consciousness slowly and suffer-
ed 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 immedi-
ate danger of death was past. He has been
growing stronger since the operation, and 1t is
now believed that he will recover. The wound
IS rapidly healing and his face will be but little
liSfigured,