The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-23
PRESIDENT HARPER DOOMED.
CANCER TOO FAR GONE TO BE
REMOVED ENTIRELY.
Expected TO Recover speedily From the
Operation. but Not 10 Live More Than
six Months or a Year-Wnl Try INLAY
Treatment on Him as Palliative.

CHICAGO, Feb 81 Cancer Of a malig-
nant kind and OF an inoperable variety
was found when President william X,
Harper underwent a surgical exploration
! this afternoon. The head Of the University
of Chicago Is expected to recover rapidly
from the operation; but as the growth
proved too far advanced to "a removed,
the opinion Of physicians Ia that DR.. Harper
cannot live more than six months, or at
the most one year
As soon as the distinguished patient
possesses sufficient strength for an ex-
tensive X-ray treatment, this last resort
as a cancer cure will be tried, but even
the most optimistic scarcely hope thereby
for anything more than a brief respite for
the sufferer A Dr. Nicholas Sem had
diagnosed the case twenty-four hours
before, the large intestine and its head :
the blind intestine. were affected but the
AREA Of iniltratlon proved much larger
than was anticipated.
The hospital was oppressivey silent dur
ing the hour and ten minutes that DR..
Harper was under the knife. Members OF
the university faculty came and went on
tiptoe and physicians not directly connected
with the case stood around in groups nnS-
iously watching every person ascending
from the operating hooH DR. Harpers
immediate family, with the exception Of
the oldest son. Samuel Harper, were oloseted
with Prof. G. X Henderson OF the uniyer-
sity faculty.
When DR. Harper was removed from
the operating room TO his suite of rooms
on the third floor Samuel Harper came
downstairs with an unsteady step and his
face deathly pale Scores Of newspaper
men. many from out Of town publica-
lions, guessed the result Of the physicians
work a. soon as they saw young Mr. Harper
A few minutes later the following bulletin
caused the tension to change into a quiet
resignation.
The operation on President Harper
was performed by Dr. McBurncy and COM
pleted al 80 o'clock A condition OF thick
ening OF the posterior wall OF the head Of
the colon the blind intestine) and enlarge
ment OF the glands Of the mesenterum
vas found The entire removal Of diseased
tissue was deemed impossible hy the sur
geons. and the wound Vas closed It was
the opinion Of DR. Mc3urney and DR. BE van
that the disease Is carcinoma cancer.
Il has been decided that President Harper
shall be placed under medical and X-ray
treatment, with the reasonable hope
that the disease may DO checked. 1t il
that President Harper will
make "A speedy con valesoenoe.
FRANZ BILLINGS. NJ D.
Or McBumey welded the knife. DR.
Nicholas Sem stood a, the opposite side
OF the operating able and was the chief
consulting physician DR. Frank Billings
during the major part Of the operation
was near The funnel through which the
was administered.
In addition to the bulletin which was
issued at 8 o'clock, the corps Of surgeons
would say little or nothing about the case
DR.. Nicholas Sem hurriedly donned his
coat and attempted 70 enter his carriage
without being seen NV newspaper men.
Darling from all directions the reporters
formed a semcircle in front Of the sur
geons carriage
"lou will get all there is to In the bulletin
which il now being prepared by Or. Bill
lings' smiled Dr. Sem
Just one question, Doctor said one of
the reporters Is it actually cancer"
Yes replied Dr. Sem Il am sorry
to say il il