Encysted osseous tumors, or a thin secreting membranous cyst : developed in cancellous structure of bone and surrounded by a thin bony wall / by Alden March.

  • March, Alden, 1795-1869.
Date:
1856
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Encysted osseous tumors, or a thin secreting membranous cyst : developed in cancellous structure of bone and surrounded by a thin bony wall / by Alden March. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    although the instrument may be made to penetrate it, no such motion of the penetrating part can be produced. This test will apply equally well in the exploration of uterine and ovarian tumors. The history of the case, and the condition of the patient, will throw additional light on the diagnosis. In all cases of pure and uncomplicated encysted osseous tumors, I be- lieve no malignant action prevails, and that therefore they are amenable to the art of surgery. With a view to make the diagnostic symptoms of the disease still more distinct, even though we shall in some measure anti- cipate the treatment, or at least one mode of treatment, we shall select a case from the writings of Dupuytren, on the diseases and injuries of bones, published by the Sydenham Society of London, in the year 1847. It is case eighth, denominated Cyst with osseous parietes in the lower jaw, cured by incision. A young man came, in 1828, to the Hotel Dieu to be treated for a tumor of the lower jaw; it was ovoid in form, and had at- tained the size of a pullet's egg. Its growth had been slow, un- attended by lancinating pain, and without change of color in the skin, or other symptom of fungus disease. Its greatest promi- nence was externally, and its position called for a variation in the mode of operating. Crepitation was at first distinct, but was afterwards for a time imperceptible, owing probably to the fre- quent manipulation of the tumor by those who examined it. Shortly after the patient's admission into the hospital the fol- lowing operation was performed: an incision was carried along the posterior border of the masseter muscle, commencing a little below its centre, so as to avoid injuring the vessels and facial nerve, and extending to the angle of the jaw. On separating the edges of the wound, the character of the cyst became more appa- rent. It was enveloped by a delicate membrane, apparently serous, and was smooth and without inequality or projection at any part. The anterior wall of the cyst was then laid open with a bistoury, and gave exit to a copious flow of bloody serum, but there was no appearance of any solid matter within. A pledget of lint was introduced between the edges of the incision to pre- vent reunion, and some emollient injections were administered,