The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-03-21
THE CRISIS AT HAND.
GEN. GRANTS CASE APPROACHING A
CRITICAL STAGE.
Longing for Nellie" Who Has at Last
Arrived-An Operation To BE Per-
fOrmed-Oplnions of Medical
Journals.

NEW York, March 2L-The following
appears in The Medical Record During
the past week the local disease of Gen. Grant
has shown no marked tendency toward pro-
gressive liberation. At recent weekly
consultation, DR.. Fordyce Barker was una.
voidably absent. Drs. J. IL Douglas, Henry
b. Sands, and George +. Shrady,
who were present, made thor
ough examination Of the generals
throat, with view of discussing the ex-
pediency Of radical surgical operation for
the removal of the growth, Such measure
woul1 involve n division of the lower jaw in
the median line, the ex.irpation of the
entire tongue, and greater part Of the soft
palate, together with the removal of the
liberated and infiltrated fauces, and in
durated glarduiar structures under the
right angle Of the lower jaw. This was con-
sidered mechanically possible, despite the
clCsa proximity and probable involvement
of the tissues adjoining tire large arteries
and veins in the neighborhood of the ulcer
ations, but in the best interests OF the dis
tingui, he'd patient the surgeons did not feel
inclined to recommend the procedure.
hven by such means there could be no
guaranty, in view Of the extensive sur
rounding infltration, that the limits Of the
disease could be reached without immediate
risk to life by the severe shock to
the constitution already much enfeebled.
The generals low vital power is such a
strong element in the decision of the doctors
that for the present at least no kind Of
operation viii be undertaken. The ulcera-
ton on the side of the tongue mas not pro
crossed far enough TO produce the usual III
tolerable pain associated with that condition,
but should the latter symptoms appear it
may be deemed advisable to divide the gus
tatory nerve.
THE general tone Of the patients system
remains about the same as last reported.
notwithstanding he has suffered much from
insomnia. The latter within the last day or
two has been kept under con ,ant control by
suitable anoiyne There is no pain in
swallowing, and sufficient food is taken with
reasonable relish"
The Philadelphia Medical News states that
the malady from which the ex-presdent
suffers, us a rule, speedily terminates fatally,
and that the duration OF the life of those
who survive an operation averages nineteen
months.
Gen. Grant passed another good night
Thursday, and Friday morning, On awaken
ing, expressed himself as feeling much bet
ter. lie is anxiouSly awaiting the arrival OF
lis daughter, Nellie The members Of the
generals family appear to agree from what
they have learned from the attending ply
sicians that the patient will undergo a
change either for good OF bad about the end
| of the pre- cent month
About the first thing Cen Grant said Fri
day morning was: Nellie will certainly ar.
rive to-day
DrS J. Il Douglass, Henry 3. Sands
| George +. Shady, and several other promi
nent physicians recently held meeting and
| interchanged views as to the advisability Of
performing a surgical operation to remove
the cancerous growth on the root O
Gen. Grants tongue. 1t vas decided that the
| operation would have 70 be performed be
yond doubt, but the present enfeebled con
! dition of the general VIII not permit IL
being done at once The cancer viii b,
| operated on however, As soon as the gener
ais vitality will admit The proposed oper
alton is a very delicate one ami will he per
! formed by Dr.. Sands
| LATER Mrs. Sartoris has arrived an
was driven Immediately to her fathers resi-
ienca