The morning call., 1891-05-21
HIS JAW REMOVED.
The Terrible Ordeal Endured by a
Man Afflicted With a TumOr.

One Of the most daring and difficult opera
tiOns in surgery has been performed at the
Cincinnati Hospital. Almost one-half of a
mans upper Jaw was entirely removed to
prevent malignant growth.
The patient was COmmel Rudler, a driver
for one of the great express companies, says
the Cincinnati Enquirer. The first step
taken was to build up his system to prepare
him for the trying ordeal. as he was in a
terrible condition, and suffering the most ex-
cruciating pain. Fluid food, principally
milk, was all he could take, and even TO
swallow that was a most painful task.
Yesterday was the time set by Dr. Z. w.
Walker, who has had charge of his case
since his admission to the hospital, for the
operation. He was assisted by Drs Con-
nor and RansohOff. A large number of sur
geOns were present, interested in the
into the amphitheater and placed on the
operating table. He was a wretched sight,
his face distorted and puffed up, the side
being of a dark-reddish appearance. Rud-
Ter was again told the nature of the opera
ton, and that the chances were against his
living. The patient calmly told the physi-
clans to go ahead; that he would rather die
than suffer the torture of slowly starving to
death. The doctors then prepared their
instruments and ether was admins
tered the patient by DR.. Wolf. When
Rudler was completely under its in
fluence Dr. Walker, taking lance from its
case, made an incisiOn on the left side Of the
patients face under tie eye.
The sharp blade was drawn from left to
right until the base of the nose was reached.
Another inclSiOn was then made from this
down toward the mouth and the skin dis
sected. The flap of tissue was then pulled
back toward the ear, revealing the patients
jaw. During this part of the operation the
patient bled profuSely, and when the skin
was laid over the hemorrhage was so pro-
fuse that he almost ehOked to death. For
some moments 1t was thought he would
really die, but the flow was finally stopped,
the bleeding veins being held by h9mostatic
fOTcepS and tied with silk threads. When
1t was thought that the operation might be
safely continued DR.. Walker was handed a
fine saw by one of the attendants. He care
fully inserted this instrument in the cavity
and commencing at the inciSor tooth slowly
and carefully sawed up through the jaw
bone During all this time the patient was
kept well under the influence Of ether by
DR.. Wolf
Frequent rests were taken. as the opera
ton was a most delicate one and careful
watch had to be kept lest the patient be
choked by the blood. When Dr. Walker
had sawed through the jaw to the cheek
bone, another saw, still finer, was called
tor. With that he carefully sawed COM
pletely through the cheek-bone until the
upper jaw was entirely free and could be
removed After washing away the blood
that still collected, the afflicted part, with
the tumor attached was taken out When
brought to light it was found that the
growth was as great as two large oranges,
aud was attached to the middle of the bone.
1t was horrible object and those present
expressed wonder as to how the patient had
managed to even swallow liquid food or
even breathe. When all parts of the growth
and blood had been removed, the cavity was
filled with antiseptic guaze. The flaps of
skin were then brought together and
Sutured. The patient suffered a terrible
shock and for the time it was thought that
he would not rally. He was stimulated
by hyp0deImic injections Of whisky and hot
bottles were placed beside him. After he
had been removed to a ward and placed In
comfortable position, the operators
heaved sigh Of relief for they had Just
completed an operation which has never
before been successfully performed. There
are only two parallel cases-one performed
some time ago. in which the patient died
soon after being removed from the operat-
ing-table. The other is that performed at
the Cincinnati Hospital about three weeks
ago, the sufferer dying while undergoing
the operation. In that case the entire Jaw
bone was removed.
Rudler, who underwent the operation
yesterday, while in bad condition last
night, has every chance of recovering. He
will not be dis6gured, as the physicians ex-
peet that the skin will soon become hard,
and, excepting a slight depression in his
left cheek. no outward trace of the terrible
operation will remain.