On the diseases and injuries of the hyoid or tongue bone / by George D. Gibb.

  • Gibb, Sir George Duncan, 1821-1876.
Date:
1862
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the diseases and injuries of the hyoid or tongue bone / by George D. Gibb. 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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    Abscess of the necJc, communicating with the pharynx, and exposing the hyoid hone and larynx. The preparation is to be seen in the museum of University College Hospital. It is one of an interesting nature, and labelled, Specimen of abscess of the neck, communicating with the pharynx; ossification and necrosis of the thyroid cartilage. The importance of not only making a more care- ful examination, but also of giving a more detailed description, will be seen from what now follows. It is one of the most instructive specimens it has fallen to my lot to examine, and it beautifully illustrates the ravages of an abscess in the neck. It has laid bare the upper part of the thyroid cartilage, which seems to be calcified, and probably necrosed. Hanging over, and almost overlapping the upper border of this cartilage, is what has been mistaken at first sight for a piece of necrosed cartilage projecting from the bottom of the ulcerated parts. Careful examination, however, reveals the small but still pro- minent lesser cornu on the upper surface of the right half of the body of the hyoid bone completely laid bare, and probably denuded of periosteum, so far as can be judged from its appearance in the spirit. The remaining part of the anterior of the body of the hyoid bone, namely, its left half, hangs down somewhat in front of the thyroid cartilage, and looks as if it were detached from the right half by a fracture ; this can only be determined, however, by an examination of the prepa- ration out of the jai\ During Hfe, aU these parts, most probably, were bathed or soaked in pus. The gratification which I experienced in deciphering the hidden mysteries of this valuable preparation (No. 2,264), if it may be permitted me thus to express myself, can only be com- pared to the satisfaction I have derived when making the discovery of some rare and beautiful fossil amongst a heap of stony fragments. And although my research throughout the London museums was rewarded by many other discoveries, yet none possessed the importance attached to the preparation just alluded to. ^ In chronic abscess of the neck, the matter may exist on either side of the larynx, extending from the hyoid region downwards towards the entrance of the chest. There is one form pf abscess, however, which is now and then to be met with immediately beneath the body of the hyoid bone, and it has been called suh hyoid abscess by Jamain, in his Manual de Path, et de CKn. Chir., t. 2, p. 84.* It assumes an importance according to the depth at which it is situated. When superfi- cial, it is readily recognised, and calls for no other treatment • It is also noticed in jweiaton's Path. Chir.
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