A system of surgery (1787) (14597387490)

Identifier: systemofsurgery04bell (find matches)
Title: A system of surgery
Year: 1787 (1780s)
Authors: Bell, Benjamin, 1749-1806
Subjects: Surgery Surgery
Publisher: Edinburgh : Printed for Charles Elliot ... (et al.)
Contributing Library: Columbia University Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Open Knowledge Commons



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more probably do harm than good.But when, by expofing the noftril to aclear light, we can bring the feat of the ex-crefcence into view, we may with propri-ety touch any parts of it that remain witha piece of lunar cauftic properly covered witha canula in order to prote6l the contigu-ous found parts. An inftrument for thispurpofe is reprefented in fig. i. PlateXLVII. This, however, fliould not be at-tempted on the day of the operation, as iscommonly advifed ; for while any dif-charp-e of blood continues, we cannot ob-tahi fuch a clear view of the parts affededas is neceffary: But it may properlyenough be done on the following day ;and the application of the ctuftic fhouldbe repeated every fecond or third day aslong as any remains of the polypus areobferved. When, again, the root of a polypus liesfo deep that it cannot be difcovered, if wefind, either by the introducSlion of a probe,or by the breathing through this noftrilnot being fufBciently free, that the excfef^ cence IliAii; xi.vii
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Sefl. V, l^ofe and Fauces. 123 cence is not entirely removed by the for-ceps, although, for the reafons mentionedabove, we are averfe in this ficuation to theapplication of cauftic, it may be extremelyproper to endeavour to deftroy it by meansof a more harmlefs nature. In this cafe,the pradlice w^e have defcribed, of paf-fing a feton through the noftril into thethroat might probably prove ufeful; butthe fame intention may be accomplifliedwith more certainty by the ufe of a largebougie. We have already had occafion toremark, that in the removal of obflrudionsin the urethra, bougies feem to operatechiefly by mechanical preffure ; and thereis caufe to imagine, that upon the fameprinciple they may be employed wnthadvantage for the removal of thofe partsof polypous excrefcences in the noftrilsthat cannot be taken away with the for-ceps. Nay more, were we confulted earlyin the difeafe, before the excrefcence hasacquired any confiderable bulk, theymight, 1 think, befuccefsfully employed inpr