Diseases of the nose and the accessory cavities / by W. Spencer Watson ; with special sections on diseases of the skin of the nose, on injuries, on rhinoplastic operations, and on ear-affections in their relation to intra-nasal diseases / by Robert Liveing, William Adams, and A.E. Cunningham.

  • Watson, W. Spencer (William Spencer), 1836-1906.
Date:
1890
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Diseases of the nose and the accessory cavities / by W. Spencer Watson ; with special sections on diseases of the skin of the nose, on injuries, on rhinoplastic operations, and on ear-affections in their relation to intra-nasal diseases / by Robert Liveing, William Adams, and A.E. Cunningham. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    quently seen in a recent state, the deformity being difficult to rectify. Partial thickening of the septum results in the formation of Httle spines or spurs which may contain car- tilage, or cartilage and bone, in their interior. Thickening of the floor of the nose may cause an im- pediment to the introduction of the Eustachian catheter, but may otherwise not have been noticed. When the deflection is only shght no inconvenience to respiration may result, but in some cases the nose may be completely obstructed on one side. The observations of Zuckerkandl and Mackenzie go to show that deformity of the bony septum occurs most fre- quently in European skuUs ; the Aborigines of America, Africa, and the Polynesian Islands presenting the majority of symmetrical septa. Treatment. —Surgical treatment is the only measure which will permanently remove the obstruction, but on account of the great sensitiveness of the region to opera- tive treatment, it is best, unless the patient is suffering very decided inconvenience, to resort only to palliative measures. Two milder measures, than removal of the deflected portion, which may be resorted to, are cauterization of the mucous membrane over the septum, or of that over the inferior turbinated. The galvano-cautery is the best in- strument to use, and in either case care must be taken not to burn both at the same time, or adhesions may form between the two. When it is decided to remove the projecting portion of septum, the mucous membrane is first cut through with a