The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1898-05-07
Morbid Growth in a Mans Body.
From the Baltimore American.

From the Baltimore American.
There is now in Johns Hopkins Hospi-
tai case which is extremely interesting,
not only to the medical and surgical pro-
fessions, but to the reading public as well.
The subject is young man from Penn
sylvania His trouble is what is known
in medical parlance as dermoid cyst. \
cyst is more or less in the nature of an
abnormal sac which forms itself in some
part Of the human system. and becomes
the depository Of some morbid matter.
The word dermod indicates that the cyst
more or less resembles the natural skin.
In this instance the cyst is made all the
more peculiar as the result Of its situation.
1t has formed itself in the left side of the
patient. where such growths have been
supposed to always avoid seatin" them
selves in such locality in the bodies OF
men, and rarely in women do they select
such ii spot.
The cyst is more or less in the nature
of an abnormal embryonic child. Its OH
gin dates back prior to the patient : birth.
At the birth of the man. probably the
cyst had grown to about the size of a pea.
As age advanced the cyst has likewise en-
lar.ed. Probably there would never have
been any trouble had it not been that one
day the Young man. who was telegraph
operator and assistant train dispatcher for
the PENNSYLVANIA Railroad at the town in
which he lived, slipped and fell ON Il new
bridge which was being erected at Wills
Greek. Pa This was four years ago. In
February. 1897. the man was carried to
Johns Hopkins Hospital. An operation
was undertaken, but because Of Subse-
quent conditions the young man was kept
in a water bath for two months in order
that the wound might be kept clean.
After the lapse of six months he was sent
back to his home
Last February he was again carried to
Johns Hopkins Hospital, and another OPP
Grafton was performed. This time, what
seemed to be like hair and teeth, were re-
moved from the man : side The cyst
formation was found to resemble the parts
Of an imperfectly- formed child. or. as it is
known to surgery, proliferative cyst.
The walls were composed Of skin and
mucous membrane, lined with Il layer Of
fiat cells resembling epidermis. The walls
were complicated with connective tissue,
forming papillae, resembling those Of true
skin. and contained, besides the hair and
teeth. Sebaccous glands and fatty sub
stance which they secreted.
The entire substance has not been re-
moved. Its peculiar situation and its
proximity to vital tissues prevents any at
tempt at entire removal. Should such Il
delicate operation be tried, the cure
might result in more trouble than the dis
ease. The wound resulting from the
operation which has already been per
formed is dressed every six hours. but the
water bath has not been used on the pa
tient since his arrival. last February
There is good chance for the man
recovery. although he is now terribly ema-
ciated as the result of the intense pain he
suffers. He is but twenty eight Years
old, and is unmarried
The origin of the cyst is due to the
fact that some embryal matter must have
secreted itself in the tissues of the suffer
inc patient at Il time somewhat prior to
his birth. This developed, like all such
growthS. even after birth Very often it
happens that such cysts never trespa>s
upon the working of the human body into
which it has infused itself. but in this case
it has been made painful by reason of
hurt.