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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    of the patient, and of the formidable character of the first propo- sition, the latter was adopted on the 17th of February, 1850. The incision was commenced a little in front of the angle over the base of the jaw, and carried in a curvilineal direction over the angle, and upwards to about opposite the extreme point of the lobe of the ear, taking care to stop short of dividing any- important branches of the facial nerve, and the duct of the paro- tid gland. The semilunar flap was next raised; the osseous wall was cut away, when an ounce or more of sero-albuminous fluid escaped. By the aid of curved dental instruments, the secreting membrane, to a considerable extent, was removed. The extent and dimensions of the cavity were sufficient to re- ceive nearly the whole length of the forefinger. This large cavity was filled with lint, and the skin brought into its proper place and secured by sutures ana adhesive plaster. In a week or ten days a healty suppurative action was fully established in the cavity. The subsequent treatment consisted in applying to the cavity of the bony cyst, tincture of iodine, strong solution of nitrate°of silver and creosote through the opening on the inside of the mouth, by the aid of a camel's hair pencil. In six weeks the cavity was so much diminished, either by the contraction of its walls, or by the granulating and cicatrizing process, and the cure was so nearly completed, that the patient was again per- mitted to return home in good health, when in due time she gave birth to another perfect and healthy child. From this time the patient remained in good health, nor was there any ap- pearance of disease about the jaw, until the spring of 1855, when the third and last swelling was discovered. For two or three months previous to the last operation, the tumor or swelling increased faster than it had ever done before. The swelling had encroached so much upon the muscles that the motion of the jaw was quite limited. She again placed herself under my care for the third time; and on the eleventh of September, 1855, assisted by Professors McNaughton, Armsby and Hun, and in the presence of a large number of physicians and students, I proceeded to perform what 2