A discussion of some questions relating to tonsillotomy : read before the State Medical Society of Pennsylvania, at its meeting in 1882, and published in The Medical Record of February, 1883 ; Clinical remarks upon deflections of the nasal septum, with a presentation of two cases made before the Allegheny County Medical Society, at its meeting, November, 1883 / by W.H. Daly.

  • Daly, W. H. (William Hudson), 1842-1901.
Date:
[1883]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A discussion of some questions relating to tonsillotomy : read before the State Medical Society of Pennsylvania, at its meeting in 1882, and published in The Medical Record of February, 1883 ; Clinical remarks upon deflections of the nasal septum, with a presentation of two cases made before the Allegheny County Medical Society, at its meeting, November, 1883 / by W.H. Daly. 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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    trate of silver, chromic acid, nitric acid, the acid nitrate of mer- cury, and the galvano-cautery. Most of these are regarded in some respects as safe remedies, but some of the caustics are liable to do unlooked-for mischief by dropping into the larynx, or they may do injury to the eyes of the operator, as I have once known to occur from the patient coughing some of the caustic application into the operator’s eyes. The galvano- cautery has lately been used to destroy the enlarged tonsils, and few specialists there are who are familiar with the use of this battery who have not used it to a greater or less extent for this purpose. Dr. Cohen, of Philadelphia, has used this method of remov- ing them, and seems to be favorable- to its employment in certain cases. The advantages regarding its use, are safety from hemorrhage, but the disadvantages attending it are sev- eral. The inflammation following its employment is often severe. The slough is never just what is expected. It is either more or less than desired, and during the operation there is the disagreeable odor of burning flesh that few patients will tolerate more than once, aud still fewer will permit longer than a few moments. The stump left after this method is often unsightly, and too often hard and of the nature of the cica- trices of burns. Having tried this method, [vide by the author “ The Value of the Galvano-Cautery in Treatment of Diseases and Growths of the Naso-Pharynx.” Trans. Amer. Med. Assoc., \ ol. 32, 1880,] as well as that by means of electrolysis, I am of the opinion that they will never become popular with practition- ers, and the same methods are destined to be decidedly un- popular with patients; at least this view is in accordance with my own experience. Hence I have a very decided preference for the cutting operation ; and to perform it with ease, one assistant should always be present, and if he has had expe- rience, all the better. The patient being placed in a good light, either artificial, which I prefer, or the sunlight, which is quite as good, if not better, the assistant should support the head of the patient against his breast or abdomen, and with the ends of the fingers make compression steadily and carefully beneath the angle ofl the jaw on each side to steady the head of the patient, andj press the tonsils into the throat. The operator takes his placeJ in front of the patient.