The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-07-25
TONGUELESs, He TALKS.
George WEIGH, Operated on for Can
Ger, Learning Anew TO Speak ant
Eat.


Ger, Learning Anew to Speak and
Eat.
From the New York World.
People who fret because it's hot and
fume because the Il" trains crawl up
town should visit George WEIGH at Ram
sey's. y. J., and learn a lesson in patience
Though a man % 81 and the father OF
two srOwn-up daughters, Nj Welch is
slowly learning anew 70 talk and 10 eat
His entire tongue. roots and all, IS gone
removed IN an operation 70 save his life
Everybody at Ramsey's knows George
Welch. lie Is one OF its wealthiest clti-
Gems and the owner OF extensive nurseries
two miles out Of town. His well-kept
lawns and Overfowing green houses be-
speak his taste and skill
Tobacco had always been Mr.. Welch's
friend but two years ago It turned enemy
and gave him smokers or fssured
tongue. Though painful az times, he
thought little OF IL till last winter. when
by some mischance he gave his tongue a
naU bite. Gradually II became more pain
ful and swollen, and somewhat interior
ed with his speech.
Last April Mr.. WEIGH noticed a wart-
like growth on the aching tongue and
two cracks in the middle, crossing at
r1ght angles. Mr.. WEIGH saw q Paterson
physician, who advised New York treat
ment, and the patient consulted Or. Rob-
ert F. Weir at the New York hospital.
The physician booked grave. 1t was can
Ger, he thought. A microscopic examina-
ton forty-eight hours later confirmed the
diagnosis.
"Have It out as quickly as possible"
said Dr. Weir. cor you'll die"
Sooner the better" answered Mr.
Welch, and on May s, after a little pre-
llminary treatment, he laid himself out on
. 49, Ill Il. .Hm1~
ly given, and then the physician deity
slit Mr.. Welchs threat and inserted a
silver tube that the patient might breath,
thus performing what Is called tracheot0-
my. Keen knives were drawn around the
very base Of the diseased tongue and out
Il came bodily. Last OF all the lymphauc
glands in the neck were removed, for fear
the nalady might spread there.
Will ne ever be able to speak or eat
again. anxously asked his wife, who
wac waiting outside
"Of course he will" laughed the physi-
clan. HE may not be able to say things
or 'thrse, but he'll talk all right and eat,
too. q"
In less than a month the patient was
back at his New Jersey home again, learn
ing slowly TO talk and to eat. AT first
he could take only liquid food and later
little meat cut fine. He talked with
great difficulty and wrote much on a pad
that he carried. But the physician said
he would have to stop the writing; that
was AAo way " itdflN 10 Ldlks 30 tllE pa
tient got on wonderfully.
Il can eat all right now" said Mr.
WEIGH yesterday looking up from his
work over his flowers. Why, at dinner
to-day I ate pie. OF course, it was hard
at first, but I cut my food very fine,
and with the aid Of plenty OF milk I
soon learned how to get along without
tongue. l soon expect to feel no in
convenience whatever. Everything tastes
| the same as II did with a tongue
" AS for talking, you can see how we'll
do. It's hard to say some words, bur
I'm improving every day. They told me
scissors would be a very hard word,
but I've learned It,"
And Mr. WEIGH promptly said "sels-
sors' several times with no little pride.
Most people say -" with the aid or
their tongues. Mr.. Welch makes his "s''
wholly with his lips.
Il only feel the loss OF my tongue
when my mouth is OPEN" said Mr.
| Welch. When 1t e. closed l do not know
that It Is gone. Dry things 1 can't eat,
but Then 1t is easy to drink a little milk
or soup, and that does the trick"
The scars under Mr.. Welch's neck ara
| hidden by his gray beard. He Is the pIc-
| tuTe Of health and the pattern OF cheer.
| fulness. The interior Of his mouth IL az
| clean as a whsle, not a scar or other
| vestige Of a tongue. The physicians
say that gradually Mr.. Welch will teach
| his lips, cheeks and the roof of his
mouth TO take the place Of his tongue
and that in time, when hitherto unused
muscles are developed, the loss of his
| tongue VIII hardly be apparent to others
or noticed by himself
smoking -