The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-16


ing surgeons represented it as very tri-
fling affair, from which he would entirely
recover after a few days of restraint from
talking. Experience has made the public
somewhat suspicious of optimistic reports
of that kind concerning the condition of
dcations were that the statement of the
surgeons to the Insignificant character
of the Emperors ailment was correct, but
there begins to be some reason TO doubt it.
High medical authorities fear the Emperor
has begun to develop hereditary tendency
to cancer. The first statement issued by
the surgeons was emphatic that there was
nothing in the piece removed to justify
suspicion of malignancy, and Professor
Ortiz was positive in pronouncing it benign.
The London Lancet thinks it hardly posi-
BILE that he could be mistaken, but adds:
1.-The family history must cause anxiety,
but the medical opinion is clearly favora-
ble." The reference to the family history
is to the fact that the Emperor's father
and mother both died of cancer. and one
uncle was affected with it.
The New York Medical Journal, in its is
sue of the 18th inst, has an editorial on the
subject, which evidently attaches some i'm
case. 1t says:
1t is to be recalled that Emperor Fred
erickS laryngeal trouble, though early pro-
n0unced malignant by the German sur
geons, was, almost up to the fatal termina-
ton. maintained by Sir Morell Mackenzie to
.tnlx.
of frequent microscopical examinations. he
was constantly upheld by the renowned
Virchow. Let US hope--for the sake of the
admiration of Emperor Williams personal
ity-that his laryngeal growth is not des-
tined to follow the course of his fathers.
We may we'll found this hope on the refiec-
| ton that nature constantly strives for the
| recovery of lost perfection.
Schmidt, who performed the recent opera
ton on Emperor William, is the surgeon
who pronounced Emperor Fredericks con-
| dition cancerous, and in his positive state
| ment that the growth in the present EN-
perors case was benign he does not seem
to have attached much weight to the hered-
| itary view. But, on the other hand, DR..
George F. Schrady, of New York, an emf
| ent authority on cancer, who attended Gen.
eral Grant as consulting surgeon in his last
| illness, and who was requested by Sir Mo-
rell Mackenzie to go to Berlin for consul
tation on the case Of Emperor Frederick,
| does attach Importance to the hereditary
view. In an interview just published he
| says:
| The influence of heredity In determin-
| ing the ultimate outlook for the distin-
guished patient is of the utmost impor-
| lance. In nearly % per cent. Of the re-
ported cases of laryngeal cancer one or the
other parent of the victim died of the dis
| ease. In the case Of the Kaiser both his
| father and mother were afflicted with ma
| Kaisers father lived but little over a year
| after throat symptoms were developed, and
| his mother died in the third year of can
cerous affection Of the breast. From the
/ side of heredity his prospects are certainly
| not very strongly guaranteed against the
| possible malignant development of what
now appears to DE only an innocent intra-
| iaryngeal trouble.
| While the opinions of the distinguished
| physicians who have the case in charge
are entitled to the highest consideration,
| microscopical examinations should not al
ways be considered as the absolute tests
of safety of opinion. 1t certainly was not
Germany, afterward Emperor Frederick, as
no less an authority than Virchow declared
| at the time when the first operation was
| Ol lildt IOydi pciSOudSt tudl the
| disease was entirely devoid Of any cancer
| Gus tendency, and yet within two months
afterward that distinguished authority was
shown to have been mistaken.
From this 1t would appear that, while the
weight Of medical opinion is In favor OF
the correctness of the statement issued by
the surgeons who operated on Emperor Viii.
liam, there is reserved fear that they
may have been mistaken, and also a dis.
tinct opinion that through hereditary in.
fiuences the disease may yet develop into
malignant cancer. DR.. Schrady says much
depends on whether or not it was thorough
ly eradicated at the first operation, an(
also whether the wound heals quickly, ant
he adds that in any event months of tim,
must elapse, even under the most favorabl,
conditions, before all anxiety can be allayet
In the present case regarding a possible re
currence Of the excrescence.
Emperor William is in the prime of life a,
years go, being not quite forty-four year,
old, and his mission has not been fulfilled
Germany needs him, and he Is an activ,
factor in the worlds progress. The Amer
lean people will unite in sincere hope tina
he may soon recover.