To the Editor:—I send you the report of a case which I think will be of interest to the readers of The Journal, and hope it may be of use to others in similar cases in forming a favorable prognosis where age seems to contradict any operative procedure that may give the patient a chance of prolonging life.
Mrs. H., 80 years old, native of South Carolina, resident of Edisto Island. First seen by me July 2, 1889. Her weight at that time was 85 lbs., her general health bad. She insisted on my operating at once, strongly against my desire and advice—said life was a burden to her, assumed all the responsibility and preferred death under the operation, rather than to live any longer in her present condition. Four days later I made an exploratory incision in the median line, as usual, and about 6 inches in length.