The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1892-06-25
A STONE IN HIS TONGUE.

oIoNE IN HlS TONuOE.
Tho Curioas Ani.ction OF California
convict.
A delicate and peculiar operation in
surgery was performed recently, says
tho San Francisco Examiner, the
patient being convict serving SEN
tence in tho Folsom penitentlary.
The surgeon In charge OF the
prison DIR. Thomas Is. Eagle OBLIGATED
In the operation. and with most sue
ccssful results. which Is tho moro
creditable from the fact that only
three similar successful operations are
known 10 medical history
The prisoner on whom the operation
was performed was first treated about
eighteen years ago at Placerville for
an affection OF the throat which the
physician at the time diagnosed as
tonsilitis. Undor the influence OF
astringent and healing remedies the
pain would temporarily subside. but
would reappcar at certain intervals.
Sometime ago the prisoner APP
pcared ut the morning sick call"
ut the prison complaining that his
throat was much worse than usual.
The conventional remedies wero pro-
scribed and he was excused from
labor.
This condition Of affairs prevailed
for two or three days without any
abatement OF the intlammatory symp-
toms; in fact the patient became SO
much worse that thorough examin-
alton was made OF his throat by mean
Of magnifying glasses which resulted
In tho discovery OF hard. foreign
substance in tho left submayillary
region under tho base Of the tongue.
Whom the discovery was made tho
patient had become so debilitated
through pain. insomnia and lack Of
nourishment that 1t was deemed unwise
to attempt an operation until such a
time as his system could be strength
encd by stimulants and nourishmont
Instead. however OF improving
under tho new regime adopted the
prisoner grew rapidly worse. being
unable to swallow any food, either of
q liquid or solid nature.
Tho conclusion was then reached
that II his life was to be saved an i'm
mediate operation was necessary.
1t was determined to remove the
substance, ifpossible. from tho inside.
thus avoiding an external incision and
an open wound with resultant scar.
For this purpose pair of long,
curved vuselum forceps was designed
by Surgeon Eagle and manufactured
by the prison blacksmith. When the
patient was placed in tho operating
chair the track surrounding the sub
stance to be removed was thoroughly
anasthetized with cocaine. The
tongue was then carefully lifted and
drawn aside. and the long. slender
points OF the forceps were introduced
into the orificc, or cul de sac. where
the substance had taken root and had
been 80 long nourished and supported.
The sharp teeth OF the instrument
soon secured u purchase on the hard
formation. and it was gently torn
from its attachments and removed
from its depository. Only u slight
bemorrhage ensucd, which was speed
lily checked, the cavity was thorough
ly cleansed with antiseptics and the
patient was placed in bed for rest and
recuperation.
The relief from pain was immedi-
ate. and the recovery from tho opera
ton extremely rapid. considering the
exhausted condition OF his constitu-
ton.
The substance when removed and
placed under tho microscope proved
to be in all its essential features a
small piece OF rock measuring one and
ono-half inches in length one and
onc-eighth inches in width at its
widest part and about one inch thick.
Its weight was oae and one eighth
ounces
Physicians and surgeons who have
heard Of this case hold diversity of
opinion regarding the primary cause
OF the abnormal formation. but the
majority are OF the opinion that it was
a small fruit seed or perhaps particle
Of vegetable or calcareous matter that
first found lodgment under the tongue
and by means of those mysterious
processes by which nature builds her
various formations had attracted to
itself during the absorption of food
and drink those portions OF phos-
plates lines and earths which have
given it through years of accretion its
present substance bulk and form.
$500