The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-02-04

presence OF tubercuar disease OF the lungs, compli
Gated with focular disease Of the throat; and that
this treatment, adopted in accordance with me pre-
sent state OF medical science, was legitimate ana ap
proprate and furthermore that whatever LESSONS may
have been revealed by the partial post morem, insti.
uted by the physicians present. none OF these could by
any possibility have resulted any operation Of mine.
plain history Of this treatment precisely as occurred,
together with the indications upon which II was founded
was laid before the members at former meeting OF the
Academy At the last meeting OF the Academy exhibit
cd TO YOU gentlemen the identical instrument with which
the operation performed; and Dr. Foy, who pre-
the meeting who stood by the patient and OBJ
served the operation, corroboraed my Statements and
declared that he irritation caused by the introduction of
the instrument was greater than he himself
renced when having his horax touched with nitrate Of
silver" 1t also shown that although the patient
manned time after the operation clearing his throat
and expectoratng vet not partice of blood was seen
in the sputa. And yet Dr. Beales comes forward,
and in this open Academy declares that the evidence is
of December the pharynx accidentally decorated Dy
the probang, and that this evidently the immed
cause Of the death Of the patient" Sir deny this M
facts that the occurrence Of such accident simply i'm
possible. Before the last meeting of this Academy, Dr. D.
S. Conant, Professor Of Surgery the University of Yer
mont Demonstration Of Anatomy the New York Medical
Coege-one whose ability anatomist and patholo
gist none will dsputemade some important experiments
on the cadaver which afford undenabe proof-f proof
were still necessary-that the accident TO which DR..
Beaes refers could not by any possibility have occurred
In answer to an inquiry made on this subject Dr. Conant
writes
have very recently made experiments in regard to
The prbang the unarmed probaug and Inc ord
for operations within the passages and thus far,
have found no OF abovenaed Instruments strong
enough 70 oe pushed through the raehea with all the force that
equenty made small opening In the raehee about me
PONCE through the opening by lace
sting the borders Of the puncured membrane Here found
slightest pereephse sctrao inased isrs believe sh the
also failed produce the slightest effect The ira
found that could pleasure direct the tube into either
while trying perorae the trachea, had strong liga
ure applied to the organ at the point Just opposite the
ments turned my attention TO the ph,rynx and found the
abrasion OF the mucous membrane experienced much d
Guilty in using great force the anterior wall cf the pna
made catch without going The lsrynx But upon
snd al al the ss rss tue m
brane. My experiments made upon the female well
absolutely impossible to 5erorae either the irschea or the
mucous membrane Of the pharynx or arynx with the ordinary
d. S. CoNANT
the circumstances such lesion is stated the post
mortem was found in the pbarynx could not have been
caused by my instrument You as surgeon, know, sir,
and every anaoms and surgeon in this aware,
that neither the lining membrane of the arynx or pha
rynx could have been thus ruptured No, sir the Al
mighty Artist in his wisdom, lined those important
life tubes with tissue paper be easily and fatally torn.
have one other tact 10 answer TO the charge made Dr.
Beaes that "sough eschar formed at the apex Of
the lung, involving the peura by the injection of sou
ton Of nitrate OF silver" Without referring to
the anatomical impossibity Of the fluid reaching
this portion OF the lung, or commenting on the
post norton, that this cavity sus at the root or
at the commencement Of the bronchial ramfcations -
and the assertion made by Dr. Beales before this Acade
my that 1t was "a scoopng out Of the actual apex
superces OF the lung 1.-TWO positions nearly six inches
aparD without say, stopping to comment upon these
incongruteS shall only fact furnished by Dr.
Beaes himself 1t is this that the 18th of December
six days after this injection into the bronch made
the patient drove to Long Island and spent the day
cd yyIth and. rnod tha
city at night, feeling and appearing better the Doctor
himself affirmed than he had for several weeks be-
"opnion," acute Inflammation and soughing Of
the lung was going on, from the effects Of
thisi injection. DR.. Beaes coufesses in breath
that he gnorant of the effects Of nitrate of silver
the substance of the lungs aud in the very next he
does not hesitate 10 express his conviction that 1t all
times attended extreme peril and risk of the patient
life" Why, sir, has he not known Of its eiiects'' in
disease? Ii he would regard the experience and
published observations Of Americans its and ef
tects why has he not attended to the many favorable
publications this subject from distinguished physicians
of his country Many important works have been
published recently in Europe on the topical treatment of
disease, In which this method is discussed Among
these is the excellent work consumption by Or.
Cotton, OF London: also DR.. John Hastings work
on "Diseases of the Larynx and Trachea and their
Treatment by the Local Applications of Causcs. ~
The work OF DR.. Scott Allison, of London, on the
Medication of the Larynx and Trachea;, of Professor
Watson, of the University of Glasgow, Topical Medi
caton and that Of Professor Hughes Bennett of Ed
nburg, on tuberculosis and the Local Medication
must be known TO the members of the Academy will
claim your Indulgence for few minutes, while alude
briefly TO the opinion OF two or three of these authors
Dr. Cotton one OF the ply scians OF Brompton Hospital
in speaking OF topical medication in chronic laryngs
and laryngeal phthsis, admits his previous unbeet in,
and changed views with regard the practicabty or
proprety Of the topical medication Of the respiratory
passages. He Observes
should here remark that my upon this subject
and that owe this change abors Of Dr. Horace Green
OF New los who has convinced myself and others not only
tee. 90 VI ''' p'"'
For mon,hspas have employed this treatment ex
tepsyey in cases OF chronic aryngs whether dopshic
tubercuar, and very frequently with marked
the crystals Of the nitrate Of silver vys in strength from
ea grams nall sraehm 70 the ounce OF distilled water
Green into the opening Of the rynx is oen productive
cough removed and and difficulty Of swallow.
ing dlsspaed entirely oy IT. indeed hus we might almost
concerned, in some very early cases.
In Prof. BENEFITS work Consumption he expresses
decided opinion in favor of the topical of nitrate Of
silver in the treatment of tuberculosis. He says
In all Of ubercuar deposit there occurs In the imme
date vicinity OF the exudaon less
bronchial membrane and the pulmonary parenehyma become
boa are ea %
bs structures Affected and the tuberculosis proceed
produced, and are constantly gsng in the progress
Of the case Consequently he observes the great problem
bercuosis Is that while, the one hand it is dis.
requires general nvsorang and supporting syem Of treat
men on the other, accOmp .ned by local excitement
which demands an aniphogsic and lowering practice. COP
ctat, D. oo)
is to meet this last indication, to subdue the local
nfammnory action in the immediate vicinity of the cxu.
daion-an action which, II continued will only eiec-
uay prevent the disintegraton and absorption of the
moercuar mass already formed but which will to
augment the nassha applications Of the nitrate of silver
solution to the congested and infamed membraue are
ADVISED IN early as well as in advanced tuberculosis Dr.
Hastings says
ln tue treatment OF acute hrynges the topical application
OF solution OF the nitrate OF silver may sometimes be EN-
poyed win great advantage; indeed unaied will unfre
auen remove The disease Bot Is in the chronic
such cases improve rapidly under local treatment applied To-
the Iarynx aud tracea which If neglected monhs or n
may be for years not unreueny lead
In this connection Dr. Hastings relates most in
erestng cases OF Chronic aryns attended with hoarse.
ness cough, enacaton, expectoration streaked with
bood" difficulty OF lrcathiDg, night sweats and most
Of the ordinary symptoms Of phthisis-a of which he
gays we're promptly and permanently relieved by a sou.
ton of nitrate OF silver Of tie ordinary strength applied
to the larynx aud rschea With regard 10 the treatment
of tubercuar laryngitis, DR.. Hastings remarks
know of capable Of arresng and removing
spongiDg the wndpipe with solution of silver
OPP ctat, PIP. 49, ~, ol.)