St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-01-04
A STONE IN HIS TONGUE.
The Curious Affection Of a Cali
fOrnia Convict.

SOHNICts
A delicate and peculiar operation in
surgery was performed a few days ago,
says the San Francisco Examiner, the
patient being convict now serving a
sentence III the Folsom penitentiary.
The surgeon in charge of the prison,
DR.. Thomas b. Eagle, officiated in the
operation, and with most successful
results. which is the more creditable
from the fact that only three similar
successful operations are known to
medical history.
The prisoner on whom the operation
was performed was first treated about
eighteen years ago at PIaceryille for an
affection of the throat, which the ply
Sician at the time diagnosed as tonsilitis.
Under the influence of astringent and
healing remedies the pain would tempo
rarily subside, but reappear at certain
intervals.
About two weeks ago the prisoner
appeared at the morning sick call'' at
the prison complaining that his throat
was much worse than usual. The con-
ventional remedies were prescribed and
he was excused from labor.
This condition of affairs prevailed fol
two or three days without any abate
ment of the infiammatory symptoms
worse that thorough examination was
made OF his throat by means of magni-
flying glasses, which resulted in the dis.
covery of hard, foreign substance in
tbs left submaXilliary region, under the
base of the tongue.
When this discovery was maze the
patient became so debilitated through
pain, insomnia and lack of nourishment
that it was deemed unwise to attempt
an operation until such time as his
system could be strengthened by sIimu-
lantS and nOuriShment.
Instead, however, of improving under
the new regime adopted, the prisoner
grew rapidly worse. being unable to
swallow any food, either Of liquid or
solid nature.
The conclusion was then reached that
If his life was to be saved an Immediate
operation was necessary.
1t was determined to remove the sub
stance, if possible, from the inside, thus
avoiding an external incision and an
open wound with a resultant scar.
For this purpose pair of long,
curved ynsellum forceps was designed
by Surgeon Eagle and manufactured by
the prison blacksmith. When the pa
the tract surrounding the substance to
be removed was thoroughly anasthet-
lied with cocaine. The tongue was
then carefully lifted and drawn aside,
and the long. sleuder points of the for
cepS were introduced into the Orif6ce,
Or cul de sac. where the substance had
taken root and had been so long nOur-
ished and supported.
The sharp teeth of the instrument
soon secured purchase on the hard
formation, and 1t was gently torn from
its attachments and removed from its
depository. Only slight hemorrhagc
ensued, which was speedily checked,
the cavity was thoroughly cleansed with
artiseptics and the patient was placed
in bed for rest and recuperation.
The relief from pain was immediate,
and the recovery from the operation eX-
tremely rapid, considering the eX-
hausted condition OF his constitution.
The substance when removed and
placed under the microscope proved to
be in all its essential features small
piece of rock measuring II inches in
length, Is inches in width at its widest
part and about inch thick. Its weight
was Is ounces.
heard of this case hold a diversity of
opinion regarding the primary cause of
the abnormal formation, but the ma
Jority are of the opinion that it was
small iruit seed OF perhaps particle of
vegetable or caicareous matter that
first found Judgment under the tongue,
and by means of those mysterious proc
eSses by which Nature builds her
various formations, had attracted to
itself during the absorption of food and
drink those portions of phOsphates,
lines and earths which have given it
through years of accretion its present
substance, bulk and form.