Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1888-05-25
"A Remarkable Surgical Operation


a Remarkable Surgical Operation.
There is patient at present in the surgi-
cal ward ofthe Cincinnati Hospital who has
but hslfa tongue. He is now conyalescing
from an operation performed several days
ago. The man referred to is James Eagan,
aborcr, sixty-two years of age, with o
family, living on Walnut Hills. From early
boyhood he had been addicted to the use of
tobacco. He was an inveterate smoker and
chewer. About eight months ago no COM
menced 10 complain Of occasional pains
near the base OF his tongue. AS time went
By these pains became more frequent and
more severe.
An inspection showed Eagan that on the
right side of the tongue, near its base, there
was little sore about the size OF small
pea. Home medical treatment followed,
but to no avail, and the sufferer after time
consulted q physician, who instituted some
sort of treatment. Eagan was in no way re.
lieved, however. To the contrary his dis.
ease made rapid progress, and the patient
suffered the most excruciating pains in the
tongue. These pains were of the 'shoot.
ing" kind, going up to the right ear and
down the side OF his face to the neck. AS
the tongue trouble grew Eagan's hearing on
the right side became much impaired, until
one day his right ear became entirely USE
less. In the last part of April the patient
presented himself at the Cincinnati Hospital
for treatment. The Insignificant little sore
which he had noticed six months previous
had now developed to sckening- looking
growth about the size of hslf u dollar. His
tient was subjected to careful examination
by several surgeons of the hospital staff.
AS is quite frequent in growths of
the buccal cavity OF lsrnyx-iust as
has been the case in the disease.
to which the German Emperor is slow
ly succcumbing-their malignant or non.
malignant nature cannot always be positive
ly ascertained. So it was with Eagan. The
patient was. therefore, given the benefit of
the Goubt, and for y number of weeks was
put under appropriate treatment The
course pursued did not benefit the patient,
but established the fact that the disease was
malignant and an operation WAS decided
upon. This operation meant the cutting
away Of the diseased portion of the tongue.
This was successfully performed by DR..
Ransohof last Monday. the doctor was
assisted by the house physicians. Drs. Col
ter, Allen and Kranlet. The patient, being
placed on the operating table, was first COM
pletey apasthetized. Forceps were used to
pull his tongue fully out of the mouth and
to hold it there. Next strong cstgut su.
ture was passed on either side of the tip Of
the tongue. These sutures were given into
the hands Of an assistant, who pulling them
out straight, steadied the tongue SO that an
iucision could be made in its median line
that is down through lis centre. This incl
sion was carried up as far as the base Of the
tongue. The next step was to turn over that
half of the tongue which WAS to be cut out
This was pressed over the catgut suture and
held there. This suture was connected with
the instrument, which was now set to work
It's screw was turned, and narrower and
narrower became the catgut string around
the base of the tongue, until finally the loop
encircled closely tho tissues to be removed
A few more turns on the screw Of the instru-
ment and the string cut through that part
which was TO be removed, which followed
the tracing power applied on the
suture fastened in its tip and fell into
the hands of the assistant. The buccal cavi-
ty now began to ill with blood ooziug from
the mouth of number OF vessels severed by
the Operations. The hepnorrhage. however,
was quickly stopped by the hot iron with
which the wound was freely and thoroughly
cauterzed until every trace of bleeding had
disappeared. The mouth of the patient was
then filled with antiseptic cotton and he was
carried to bed. Warm clothes were wrap
ped around him to animate him and protect
him from auy shock which might be conse
quent to the operation. A tew hour5 later
Mr.. EagGn appeared TO be getting along sil
right. Suddenly during the forenoon DIR.
Golfer, in whose ward the patient is, was
hastily summoned. He found Eagan in an
alarming condition. His bed was complete
ly saturated with blood. An examination
showed that secondary hemoTrhage hst! oc.
Cured from large vessel in the base OF the
tongue. Dr.. Golfer tried to stop the bleed
ing by repeated cauterization with The red .
hot iron. He did not accomplish his pur-
pose, and it was only when ne bad succeed
ed in clasping the bleeding artery between
the hemostalic iorceps that the hemorrhage
ceased com pleteiy. The instrument was left
in pacefor twenty four hours,i order to pro-
tect the palen. from the dangers OF another
hemorrhasc In Inc meantime the sufferer
was stimulated by the bypodermic admins
traton of brandy For the last few days
Eagan has been able to take liquid food by
the mouth. he speaks fairly with his half
tongue, and will probably be able to talk a
great deal better after the healing process has
been completed. Cincinnati Enquirer.