Memoir on the radical cure of stuttering, by a surgical operation / by J.F. Dieffenbach ; translated from the German, by Joseph Travers.

  • Dieffenbach, Johann Friedrich, 1792-1847.
Date:
1841
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Memoir on the radical cure of stuttering, by a surgical operation / by J.F. Dieffenbach ; translated from the German, by Joseph Travers. 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.

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    of the eye, in Nystagmus bulbi, in spasmodic Stra- bismus, or when I attempted a similar operation for spasmodic alfections of the face. The transverse division of the whole muscular substance of the root of the tongue seemed to be, on this showing, at least worth the trial, and I felt as confident of the result in this instance, as I was of the efficacy of the division of muscular structures in other essentially spasmodic affections. To guard myself against the charge of being pre- judiced for any one particular method of operation, and to avert the self-reproach of having taken a limited view of the matter, I determined to perform a division of the root of the tongue in various ways, and under several modifications — always, however, adhering to the general principle of all but total division, as, from the interruption thus given to the morbid nervous influence I could alone hope for a favourable result. I have now given a trial to the three following methods of operating: they have equally for their object total division of the root of the tongue. I. The transverse horizontal division of the root of the tongue. TI. The subcutaneous transverse division, in which the mucous covering of the tongue is left inviolate. III. The horizontal division, with excision of a wedge-shaped portion. I was more sauguine as to the success of the latter