Extirpation of a tumor of the parotid : with observations upon the pathology of that gland / by Alexander E. Hosack.

  • Hosack, Alexander E. (Alexander Eddy), 1805-1871.
Date:
[1844?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Extirpation of a tumor of the parotid : with observations upon the pathology of that gland / by Alexander E. Hosack. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    [From the New York Journal of Medicine, for March, 1844.] EXTIRPATION OF A TUMOR OF THE PAROTID; WITH OBSERVATIONS UPON THE PATHOLOGY OF THAT GLAND. BY ALEXANDER E. HOSACK, M.D., OF NEW YORK. 76l(t>tf- Early in November, 1843, I was consulted by Isabella St. John, a col- ored woman, at. 38, on account of a swelling directly under the ear and behind the angle of the lower jaw, on the left side of the face. Of a robust and good constitution, she had always enjoyed excellent health. Her occupation is that of a laundress. The tumor resembled, in its noduled surface, a Nova Scotia potato, a medium-sized one of which it also rivalled in dimensions. It was quite firm and evidently con- tained a fluid. Although the fluctuation could not be very distinctly detected throughout, yet it was very readily to be discerned in one of the prominences. The statement she gave me of her case, was as fol- lows : About six years since, when under the influence of an emetic and while in the act of vomiting, she felt something give way behind the angle of the jaw ; and upon raising her hand to the part, she discov- ered a small hard lump directly under the ear. It was tender, but not painful. From that time, its growth was very gradual until it attained the size of a small pullet's egg, when it remained stationary; and as she experienced very little inconvenience from it, it was allowed to re- main undisturbed. About twelve months before its removal, it began to enlarge ; and it continued to grow rapidly, but was unattended with pain. There was no appearance of swelling in the fauces, nor was the jaw in the least impeded in its motion. The point at which fluctuation was most discernible, when pressed upon, readily yielded to the finger ; but