The first lines of the practice of surgery: designed as an introduction for students, and a concise book of reference for practitioners (Volume 2).

  • Cooper, Samuel, 1780-1848.
Date:
1830
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The first lines of the practice of surgery: designed as an introduction for students, and a concise book of reference for practitioners (Volume 2). 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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    deep wounds of the tongue to be immediately closed with a suture. The application of a suture to the tongue being attended with some difficulty, Pibrac invented a very simple bandage for uniting transverse wounds of this organ. * The main por- tion of it is a little sort of bag, in which the forepart of the tongue is confined. Thus all motions of this organ forwards, or laterally, may be effectually prevented, but the patient is not deprived of the power of drawing it backward, that very action, which has a direct tendency to make the sides of a transverse wound separate from each other. Richter objects to Pibrac's bandage, that it is irksome to children, and decidedly unnecessary in all cases, because the motions of the tongue which it directly restrains, namely, those forwards, or to either side, may be hindered by apply- ing a bandage to the jaw, and making the patient refrain from talking and mastication. The same author affirms, that such treatment has answered as well as could be desired, in nu- merous cases, some of which were large transverse wounds, in restless and unmanageable children. During the treat- ment, the patient should be allowed only liquid nourishment, which ought to be imbibed through a tube. If the wound should be so deep as almost to separate the anterior part of the tongue from the rest of this organ, the remaining connexion is not to be divided, but an endeavour made to bring about an union with the aid of a suture. DANGEROUS ENLARGEMENT OF THE TONGUE. Sometimes, when this organ is inflamed, it swells so pro- digiously, that it protrudes between the teeth, entirely fills up the cavity of the mouth, and obstructs speech, degluti- tion, and even respiration. Here, common antiphlogistic measures will not afford relief with sufficient quickness. The most effectual plan is to make two longitudinal cuts near the edges of the dorsum of the tongue, from one to two inches in length. The copious bleeding, which follows, soon brings about a diminution of the swelling, and the incisions readily heal. Jourdain, by taking blood from one of the raninal veins, afforded his patient immediate relief, t * Mem. de l'Acad. de Chirurg. torn. ix. p. 22. pi. 9—Le Blanc, Precis d'Operations. f Trait6 des Maladies de la Bouche, &c.