48 OBSERVATIONS ON THE STRUCTURE OF TKE TONCUL". 



A third cafe. A third cafe of this kind came under my obfervation, in 



which there was a fraall tumour in the fubftance of the tongue^ 

 about the (Ize of a pea, which gave me the idea of its being 

 of that kind which might terminate in cancer. The patient 

 was a gentleman of about 11 years of age. Upon examining 

 tlie tumour, I told hira of my alarm refpeding its nature ; and 

 at the fame time added, that I was very ready to remove it, 

 fliould it be the opinion of other praditioners that fuch a ftep 

 was advifeable ; and my experience in two former cafes led 

 me to believe it might be done with fafety. I therefore ad- 

 vifed him to confult other medical praditioners of reputation, 

 and acquaint me with their opinion. Mr. Cline was confulted, 

 and his opinion coincided with mine ; which made the patient 

 decide upon having the tumour removed. 

 The operation ^^^^ operation was performed on the 28th of December, 

 andhiftoryof 1802. The needle pierced the tongue an inch beyond the 



fuwe'fsfuUe^r-^ ^'P* ^ ^'^^^^ ^^ ^^^ ^'S^^ ^^ ^^^ middle line of the tongue ; and 

 mination. the fpace between the two ligatures, when they were tied at 



the circum Terence of the tongue, was fully an inch. The 

 tongue was thick ; and the mafs included by the ligatures was 

 fuch as to make it difficult to comprefs it. The operation 

 gave confiderable pain, of a numbing kind. Immediately* 

 after the operation, the part included became dark coloured, 

 particularly towards the middle line of the tongue. A fali- 

 vation took place. The next day, the pain and falivation 

 were great, and the patient could not fwallow ; but, on the 

 day following, he could take broth, negus, and other fluids. 



On the 6th day from the operation, the Hough became 

 loofe ; and the leaft motion of the tongue gave great pain. 

 Upon examining the flough, there was a fmall fpot which 

 looked red, and was furrounded by a dark furface ; this was 

 towards the right fide. Upon further examination it appeared, 

 that the ligature to the right had not completely deadened the 

 part at the centre, in which the artery had its courfe. This^ 

 accounted for the red fpot, as well as for the pain the patient 

 fuffered ; and led me, on the feventh day, to difengage the li- 

 gature on the left, (which was almoft completely feparated,) 

 by means of a pair of fcilTars, and pafs another ligature 

 through the grove to the oppofite fide, and tie it over the 

 part not completely deadened. This gave great pain for a 

 few hours, which was relieved by the ufe of tindure of 



opium. 



