Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1885-03-14
ZEN. GRANTS DISEASE.
Interesting and Comprehensive
Description of It.

Editor Of Inter- Ocean,: We are told BY
the physicians attending Gen. Grant
that he is suffering with epithelioma of
the tongue, and the question is natur-
ally asked by many, What is epithe-
Iona? To understand the matter
clearly, one must first learn what is
meant by epithelium, for epithelioma
signifies in plain English a tumor of
epithelium. It is we'll known that when
the skin is blistered a thin and nearly
transparent membrane, named the
scarf skin, cuticle or epidermis, is raised
from its surface. In like manner a
transparent film may be raised from the
lining membrane of the mouth, of the
same nature as the scarf skin, although
it has in this situation received the
name of "erithelium," and under the
latter appellation = coating of the same
kind exists on nearly all free surfaces of
the body. The epithellum has neither
vessels nor nerves, and is wholly devoid
of sensihility. 1t is nevertheless organ.
lied and is formed essentially OF cells
which first appear in the deepest part of
the structure in a soft substance depos-
tied by the blood vessels of the under
lying tissues; then undergoing consid.
cradle change in size, figure and con-
sistency, they gradually rise to the
surface, are thrown off, and are sue.
ceeded by others from beneath.
This transparent film. the scarf skin
or epithelium, is compos d then Of Il
layer OF cells continually forming from
tile tissues underneath, and rs con-
stantly thrown off from the free surface
above, and an epllh-linma is an unnu,-
ural grow h Of these cells. A wart IS
therefore al e%riti,elioma. and may re-
main an innocent warr for months or
years. and the cells from wi!i"lI il is
made may again be formed in i! natural
manner and the w,rt ,l~i>n,.i"lr. Bu;
in a person having II certain r-"u'lnr
con-tilu'inurl crmIitinn L.; this lu;,-
cent looking wart trnnI SOM. constant
irritation Onre begin to u'rrr.i- and
that person: DAYS a,r nunh .r,"i: tor
although removed j. j. ~alnn,~, ...rfa!nl t.,
rc,ur in the same place sooner or lu,-r
or III y nri .hbrrin- ylAnl. |; i pcs i.
however, ALWAYS begin a. Il var. j.
MAY BE- Il red patch from wn>rh ,u,.
scarf skin is frequently ~,l!>qutn rln..
or a spot covered Ivy IL dry sc.lh. Wn IT.
ever appearance it may have in Incl :
iency. as it nroyre>SrS the su,!,r- ul>rl-
ates and the neiyhhnriny TISSUES a,e
infiltrated, soaked as it were. with these
diseased cells. Ii is stated that in rare
instances they have been found irros-
tied in the heart, liver and lungs. Al
n rate, the surface of the tumnr
gradually melts away in a discharge OF
scabs, bloody water and puS. and at the
same time the deposit slowly invadrs
neighboring parts, until the sufferer.
exhausted from the discharge, or from
inability to take food. if the disease be
in the mouth, or worn out by los OF
sleep from the accompanying pain, is
mercifully relieved by death.
Sometimes from the rotten surface of
the sore a substance is absorbed and a
new disease is inaugurated which the
doctors call scpticnmia or a putriu con-
dition Of the blood. This Of course
would hasten the approach of death
very. much. The above. Mr.. Editor, is
a partial and very imperfect description
OF the terrible disease from which Gen.
Grant is suffering. 1t may serve. | hope,
to give vour readers some conception OF
it. 1t should be stated that an epithe-
Iona is not q cancer. lDvIDI.