Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-06-29

OPERATIONS FOR CANCER.
surgical Treatment seldom success
full, asses Like Grauts and tho I'm
peror'-.

surgical Treatment seldom success
full, ase- Like Grauts and tho Lm-
peror'-.
Visitors 10 the operating theater OF great
hospital, saws a Boston correspondent OF
The AeD York Sun, are soon impressed by
the startling frequency with which cases OF
cancer demand the surgeons attention. IL
may also be said that they OutnumbeS any
other disease or condition that requires surgi-
cal treatment The seat of the malady may
be ia any part of the body hand or foot
lip or tongue, throat or breast, stomach or
other internal organ. or even the rim OF
mans ear, may be its location. IL may rs
wen be admitted by every body that no rad-
cal remedy for the disease Is vet known. TX
II be assumed that Emperor Frederick Is SUI
fering with cancer, any skilled physician Will
admit that nothing can much prolong his life.
So-caled cures Of cancer are frequently re-
ported, but IL Is safe ia such cases 10 set
down the diagnosis as wrong Ia the begin
ming. The only sure method OF identifying
the disease Is by skllfal microscopical exam
nation. Many malignant growth which in
appearance suggests cancer even to an expert
phy sican, will prove under the IN crOscDpe 10
be non -cancerous. \ man came before the
students In the operatlng-room at
the Massachusetts, General hospital
not long ago suffering with an angry virulent
growth upon the neck. lie had been treated
for weeks by regular physicians and quacks
for cancer. DIR. Richardson thought that
possibl, there had been a mistaken diagnosis,
aud h. put the pateut under treatment Tor
another disease OF tie blood, and IN two
weeks he was well.
it is an open question Ia many cases OF can
Ger whether II Is wise TO submit 10 surgical
treatment. There is no doubt that in many
cases lie is prolonged AMI suffering lessened
by the use Of the knife. Patients should be
advised, - sad the operating surgeon at the
Massachusetts hOsltal, mot TO make chO &c
of surgical treatment unless they intend 10
continue IL on recurrence OF the disease"
Dr. Richardson, OF the same hospital, SAYS
that no patient operated on for concer prev
Gus 10 1919 ~ That institution il now alive.
II would hardly be pOss bic, however, 10 name
The average course OF Tie q .us.. 10 vtrIes
greatly, depending on it, location, degree, or
malignity, vitality OF the patient, treatment.
etc Is causes are equally hart % discover.
There seems 10 be little doubt that excessive
sIn king viii cause cancer OF the tongue. lp
spite OF the dispute which arose in the case
Of Gen. Grant. 4 case which viii probably
be duplicate of his came up before Tie
students at the Massachusetts, hospital a
month 40. The patient, robust man OF -
or %, bad smoked most Of the time for more
than thirty years. lie had applied for treat
tongue, which the surgeons found 10 be eau
CerOus
An operation which excited the wonder
aud admiration Of ali who witnessed il, Was
performed recently b, DR.. Warren at the
MASSACHUSETTS General hospital before large
class Of students The pat ent was man OF
about 40 years, who Was all lctrd with "A can
Ger WhIcu had its seat IN the interior of the
left cheek bone aud upper jaw-b bone, and
VIII ch extended In It's branches into the throat
as far as the Iaiate There was no external
mau!festat on OF the isease beyond slight
nom NAL guaut swelling ON the left side OF
the face. The surgeons had decided that
complete eNtirpatiOu of the affected parts was
the only safe Treatment
The spectators in the mphitheater at the
city hospital few davs ago had Que OF the
most thrilling experiences that ever occur
around the surgeons table They saw what
seemed 10 be nothing less than the death OF
a patient under the surgeons knife, and
some minutes after, when all signs of life had
left the TO IL success finally rewarded the eff
forts when were made 10 resuscitate the ap-
par-ntlv dead man The case wa desperate
one at the outset The patient was "a man II
about A. years, who Vas suffering with hard
CauccrOus tumOr-SarcOmt il the medical
tern-upOn the right De OF the neck, be-
meath the ear anu Jaw-bone. The external
uifestatiou OF the disease was not very
great There seemed 10 be- hard swelling,
without nilammat on, beneath The skin, which
In we and shape somewhat RESENT ed Il rath-
" raj - IVll . tE-. lA- grow III hdu CTONuel
the carotid G.tery. the larnyx, etc. out OF
place, causing great distress and danger In
fact, the mans existence had been "A contin-
ned agony for many days, ami slow but sure
death was the only prospect unless the des-
leiate remedy OF the sAr9eon's knife was re-
sorted 10. At The same me the chances were
that the remedy itself would prove fatal.
No operation is more serious than one upon
the neck, which Is filed with large blood
vessels, veins, and nerves The patient has
made his choice with full knowledge OF the
gravity Of the situation, and understanding
p'rle tly that the chauccs were against his
coming out alive from under the influence Of
the auesthetic Nevertheless, 10 operate was
the only merciful thing 10 do