Tumors of the jaws / by Charles Locke Scudder.

  • Scudder, Charles L. (Charles Locke), 1860-1949.
Date:
1912
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Tumors of the jaws / by Charles Locke Scudder. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    of the jaws. He has paid especial attention to the pathology of these diseases. The early recognition, by the physician, of new-growths of the jaws is the first step toward their effective treat- ment. It is true of jaw growths, as of gastric diseases, that terminal conditions of malignancy are easy to recognize— early malignant diseases are difficult to diagnosticate. The terminal conditions of cancer and sarcoma have a high operative mortality; early malignant disease has a low operative mortality. Sarcoma and carcinoma of the j aws are curable if recognized and treated early, but they are most malignant and incurable if operative treatment is delayed. The greatest effort is now being made by laboratory in- vestigations to discover the cause of malignant disease (carcinoma, sarcoma). While this effort is being made, and until it is crowned by success, the surgeon must continue his attacks, through operative measures, upon malignant disease of the jaws. It behooves him to discover the new- growth in its initial stages if he would rid the individual of all traces of its presence. The relative malignancy of tumors of the jaws should be more generally recognized. Operation should depend largely upon the character of the tumor. A mutilating operation should not be done for a relatively benign form of malignant growth. On the other hand, a very thorough and much more extensive operation is demanded for the malignant growths than has been prac- tised in the past. The surgeon should study to cure each case of jaw tumor with the least mutilation possible.