An unusual abnormal condition of the tongue and cheeks considered in connexion with life assurance / by J. Moore Neligan.

  • Neligan, J. Moore (John Moore), 1815-1863.
Date:
1862
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An unusual abnormal condition of the tongue and cheeks considered in connexion with life assurance / by J. Moore Neligan. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    1858, when I gave the following report:—“ I hereby certify, that I, this day, examined H. E., and that his life is now as eligible for assurance as at the date of my former report upon it. I am still of opinion, that in consequence of the peculiarly unnatural state of the skin of the tongue and mouth, an extra rate of premium should be charged.” Some correspondence then ensued between the head office and myself, in which I explained more fully my reasons for recommending the increased rate, the chief one being, that if any accident occurred to the tongue, in its abnormal state cancer might result: finally the life was accepted at an extra rate of five years, the former policy being surrendered. I again examined this gentleman on the 29th of April in the same year, the matter not having been sooner completed, when I found no change to report; and on the 11th of May another assu¬ rance company accepted his life for a large sum, on my former reports, at the same extra rate. The next time I saw him was on the 3rd of June, 1861, when he appeared before me for examination for a further assurance, and then I could not discover the slightest alteration in the tongue after the most careful examination; I therefore reported as before, and the life was again accepted at the same extra rate. On the 30th of September another assurance was effected on his life by a different company on the former papers. About the end of the following month this gentleman was directed by the Dublin secretary of the first company which had assured his life, to wait on me with the view of being examined for an assurance proposed by a third party, when he stated that he could not do so for a few days as he had accidentally bitten his tongue, and it was sore. I did not see him after this date, so that the remainder of his history I have learned from others. It seems that, as the result of this bite, a small tubercle, about the size of a pea, formed on the edge of the tongue, beneath the mucous membrane, its situation being on a level with the molar teeth. For this he sought the advice of some of our eminent sur¬ geons, who differed in opinion as to the necessity of an operation; the result being that he placed himself under the care of one of