Page:Memoir of George McClellan MD.djvu/25

 your time in an exposition of this grand operation, and of McClellan's pre-eminent relation to it. The complete extirpation of a diseased parotid gland was considered an impossibility. The under portion of this gland is deeply seated and compacted in among important muscles and bones appertaining to the brain, the organs of hearing, mastication, deglutition and speech. Through its substance pass the external carotid artery and the great nerve of expression and respiration. When carcinomatous, it becomes jammed into deep-seated cavities having bony margins: its entire removal by surgery, therefore, was regarded as one of the impossibilities. Its extirpation had however, been performed in Europe, but not without exciting-remark and surprise. Says Bordeu of Heister, “We wonder at his skill and courage to extirpate the parotid gland.” The cases of Aerel, Siebold and Sourcrampe, are recorded as surgical exploits. The intrepid John Bell ventures to express the belief that “it might be performed.” Abernethy endeavours to strengthen the yet unformed belief respecting it, by referring to Goodland's communication. Carmichael remarks on a case operated on, that “it proves the practicability of extirpating said gland.” Sir Astley Cooper, the surgeon-in-chief of his day, remarks in a letter to Mr. Kingsbury, as a matter of moment, that he had “the last year twice extirpated the parotid.” As late as 1824, the distinguished Beclard considered it necessary to certify with his associates, and to confirm it by autopsy, that in a fatal case the entire gland had been removed by him.

McClellan's merit in this matter may be concisely set forth as follows.

In 1826, a medical gentleman from Europe became a patient of Doctor McClellan. He was afflicted with a diseased parotid, excruciating pain, and a chronic