210 
Mr. Home’s Observations on 
the opinion of other practitioners that such a step was adviseable ; 
and my experience in two former cases led me to believe it 
might be done with safety. I therefore advised him to consult 
other medical practitioners of reputation, and acquaint me with 
their opinion. Mr. Cline was consulted, and his opinion coin- 
cided with mine ; which made the patient decide upon having 
the tumour removed. 
The operation was performed on the 28th of December, 
1802. The needle pierced the tongue an inch beyond the tip, a 
little to the right of the middle line of the tongue; and the 
space between the two ligatures, when they were tied at the 
circumference of the tongue, was fully an inch. The tongue 
was thick ; and the mass included by the ligatures was such as 
to make it difficult to compress it. The operation gave consi- 
derable pain, of a numbing kind. Immediately after the opera- 
tion, the part included became dark coloured, particularly 
towards the middle line of the tongue. A salivation took place. 
The next day, the pain and salivation were great, and the patient 
could not swallow ; but, on the day following, he could take 
broth, negus, and other fluids. 
On the 6th day from the operation, the slough became loose ; 
and the least motion of the tongue gave great pain. Upon exa- 
mining the slough, there was a small spot which looked red, 
and was surrounded by a dark surface ; this was towards the right 
side. 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 course. This accounted for the 
red spot, as well as for the pain the patient suffered; and 
led me, on the seventh day, to disengage the ligature on the left. 
