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Show A SECRET OPERATION. Forty-odd years ago a candidate for the presidency of the United States was suffering from cancer of the mouth. But the fact was known only to himself and his physicians, and he was elected. The story of this remarkable case was recalled by the death of Dr. W. W. Keen, who assisted as-sisted in performing a secret operation opera-tion on the distinguished patient. Shortly after entering upon his second sec-ond term as president in 1893, and during the panic of that year, Grover Cleveland's condition became such as to necessitate surgical aid. Fearing public knowledge that he was afflicted afflict-ed with cancer would further depress the economic situation, Cleveland arranged ar-ranged to have an operation performed perform-ed secretly. This was done on the yacht Oneida, owned by Commodore E. C. Benedict, while cruising in the waters of Long Island Sound. A part of the president's presi-dent's left jaw and a portion of his palate were cut away as the yacht slowly steamed along. In five days I he was able to walk ashore from j what was supposed to be merely a I recreation cruise. What had really I happened was never publicly known until Dr. Keen related the story in 1 1917. j President Cleveland served out his term, as everyone knows, and lived i until 1908, some 15 years after the operation had been performed. A vul-j vul-j canized rubber substitute for the re-, re-, moved jawbone had aided him in keeping his secret. |