THE MANAGEMENT of intraoral and laryngeal malignant lesions and of metastatic tumors produced by these lesions has been fraught with constant effort to improve a discouraging situation in which, paradoxically, a relatively low rate of cure has been obtained in spite of the fact that widespread metastasis is uncommon even in the later stages of these diseases.1 HISTORICAL REVIEW According to Butlin and Spencer,2 excision for cancer of the mouth was practiced in the 16th century and even earlier, but utilization of cautery in some form or other was the usual method of treating malignant disease in this region. Excision had been performed frequently enough so that Harris,3 in a lecture to the Royal College of Physicians on Oct. 7, 1720, said: The excision of cancers of the mouth and lips, and especially of the tongue, all involve the greatest danger to life. But if anyone is