The rectum and anus : their diseases and treatment.

  • Charles Bent Ball
Date:
[1887]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The rectum and anus : their diseases and treatment. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library at Columbia University and Columbia University Libraries/Information Services, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the the Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library at Columbia University and Columbia University.

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    and the establishment of an anal fistula, as happened in three of the cases recorded by Bodenhamer. The treatiiient of external piles is usually suffi- ciently simple. It may be divided into the palliative and radical ; the latter of these is in nearly all cases preferable. If, however, the patient will not submit to the trivial operation necessary, recourse must be had to local ap]>lications during the period of acute inflam- mation. Of these palliative treatments, the best, in my opinion, is the application of a mixture of ex- tract of belladonna and glycerine smeared over the part, and followed by a warm stupe. At the same time the bowels should be freely cleared, and a light, unstimulating diet, with rest in bed, prescribed. The inflammation will then usually subside in a few days ; but it leaves behind a thickened projection of skin i-eady at any time to again inflame on the slightest provocation ; or, if suppui'ation occurs, the cure may be radical, but only at the cost of much unnecessary suffering. The radical cure may be accomplished either by incision or excision. When the pile consists of a simple thrombosed varix, treatment by incision and Turning out the clot may succeed. The question whether these procedures should be carried out while there is inflammation present has been fre- quently discussed, many surgeons preferring to wait until the acute symptoms have subsided. This I believe to be quite unnecessary, only subjecting the patient to prolonged pain. It is but seldom that the surgeon is consulted about external piles, except when they are inflamed, and the most certain and rapid way of giving relief is imuiediate operation. I have never seen the slightest ill eflect follow operation under these circumstances. Siiii|»le incision may be applied when the pile consists of a single dilated and thrombosed vein. It