Anatomical researches on the deviations of the nasal septum : study of the difficulties which they occasion in operations, and especially in the catheterization of the eustachian tube, explanation of a new method for overcoming them / by B. Loewenberg.

  • Lœwenberg, B. (Benjamin), 1836-
Date:
1883
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Anatomical researches on the deviations of the nasal septum : study of the difficulties which they occasion in operations, and especially in the catheterization of the eustachian tube, explanation of a new method for overcoming them / by B. Loewenberg. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

    11/24 (page 30)
    I think, that there should be in the whole extent of the nasal canal one single narrowed point which does not allow the air to pass in sufficient quantity under the ordinary respiratory pressure, to make respiration by the nose im- possible. (I do not insist further upon this point, having enlarged upon it in my article on adenoid tumors.) If the influence of deviations on the physiological func- tion of the nasal fossae is exaggerated, the other extreme is fallen into, I think, as to their importance for the diag- nosis and treatment of affections of these cavities. It is, however, evident, a priori,—and a long experience has proved it to me,—that the convexity of the deformity may hide from sight and screen from surgical operation, all or part of the depths of a nasal fossa, while the concavity may harbor tumors which run the risk of passing unnoticed. This is what happens with horizontal and still more with vertical deviations. We will pass summarily in review, in relation to the effect of these deformities, the pathology and thera- peutics of the nasal fossae, and terminate with Eustachian cathethrization considered from this special point of view. A.—Simple chronic coryza. Like many other specialists, I am of opinion that the principal part in the treatment of chronic coryza belongs to the galvano-cautery. In a former article {loc. cit.) I treated this point, and brought forward the difficulties of sparing the septum in cases where deviation exists. I described in the same place cauteries made specially for this purpose accord- ing to a new principle, that of the unilateral action. They are indispensable in cases of decided protuberances, to avoid burning the latter, which I consider as noli me tangere, be- cause the cicatrization of cartilage wounds is extremely difficult, especially in the case in question, where the peri- chondrium is necessarily destroyed by the cautery. I will add briefly that I have succeeded in making these instru- ments much flatter still, and consequently much easier to use, by turning back the sheet of platinuni upon the fiat side of the cautery.