Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1893-12-28
A STONE IN HIS TONGUE.


Tho Curious All c. ION of II California
A delicate and peculiar operation In
8 rgery was performed recently, says
the San Francisco Examiner, the
patient being convict serving sem
tence in The Folsom penitentiary.
The surgeon in charge of the
prison DR.. Thomas Is. Eagle, officiated
in the operation. and with most sue
cesstul results. Il lch is the more
credi ablo from the fact that only
lhree similar successful operations are
known to medical history
The prisoner on HON the operation
was performed was first treated about
eighteen years ago at Placerville for
en- atfcctyyn of the thro 1T which the
physician at the time diagnosed as
tonsilitis. Under the in suence OF
astringent and healing remedies the
pain would temporarily subside but
would reappear at certain intervals.
Sometime ago the prisoner ap-
peared at the morning sick call"
at the prison complaining that his
throat was much worse than usual.
The conventional remedies were pre-
scribed and he was excused from
labor.
This condition of affairs prevailed
for two or three days without any
abatement of the intiam matory symp-
toms: in fact the patient became so
much worse that thorough examin
alton was made of his throat by means
of magnifying glasses, which resulted
in the discovery of hard foreign
substance in the left submaxillary
region under the base o: the tongue
Wnen the discovery was made the
patient had become so debilitated
through pain, insomnia and lack of
nourishment that it was deemed unwise
to attempt an operation until such a
time as his system could be strength
ened by stimulauts and nourishment
Instead. however, of improving
under the new regime adopted. the
prisoner grew rapid y worse. being
unable to swallow any food. either OF
liquid or solid nature.
The conclusion was then reached
mediate operation was necessary.
1t was determined to remove the
substance, Impossible. from the inside.
thus avoiding an external incision and
an open wound with a resultant scar
For thi; purpose pair OF long,
curved vuselum forceps WIS designed
by Surgeon Eagle and manufactured
~ 1,l A..
patient was placed in the operating
chair the track surrounding the SUBJ
stance to be removed was thoroughly
anasthetiZed with cocaine. The
tongue was then carefully lifted and
drawn aside and tho long, slender
points of the forceps were introduced
into tho oriice, or cul de sac. where
the substance had taken root and had
been so long nourished and supported.
The sharp teeth OF the instrument
soon secured Il purchase on the hard
formation. and it was gently torn
from its attachments and removed
from lis depository. Only a slight
hemo;rlaye ensued. 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 the microscope proved
to be in all its essential features g
small piece Of rock measuring ono and
one-half inches in length. one anc
one-cighth inches in width at its
widest part and about one inch thick
Its weight was one and one ghth
ounces.
Physicians and surgeons who have
heard Of this case hold a diversity oil
opinion regarding the primary cause
of the abnorma! formation. but thu
majority are of the opinion that it was
small .rult seed or perhaps particle
pf vegetable or calcareous matter thai
first found Judgment under the tongue
and by means Of those mysterious
processes by which nature builds he,
various formations had attracted tt
itself during the absorption of foo6
and drink those portions of phos
pilates. lines and earths which have
given it through years OF accretion it!
present substance. bulk and form.
No Records Erore the Ancient Mead
II the stories constantly reported a.
occurring in American archaeology
were true that science would be in E
very remarkable, if not very prom
is.ng condition. A key for the de.