Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-09-12
Health Talks by DR.. Brady
Lumrs In the Neck.

Superficial! and deeply situated lymph nod IS
down either side OF tho neck from the angle
ot the Jaw to the breast bone. called by doc
tors crrvica lymph modes or less properly
glands and Familiarity t-own as "kcrncls"
or Jumps" when enlarged may he compared
with way stations along the lines infection
travels from nose or throat teeth or gums
or middle ear 10 the general crculation the
lymph channels draining into the jugular
veins and the blood In these veins enter
ing tn" right side Of tho heart and thence
reaching the lungs. But these way stations
or nodes along tn" lymphatic canals are not
entirely passive. for tho very fact that they
swell or enlarge when bacterial invasion or
infection occurs, from diseased tonsils or
infected teeth means that they are active In
resisting tho penetration OF the system by the
invaders They are. In fact. second line
OF resistance. positions prepared for the re-
tiremcnt OF the defense"
Anybody with acute sort throat or an
infected roof canal may detect slight tenn
porary enlaruomcnts Of some Of the lymph
nodes OF the ncck-"kernels." 1t Is only when
these Kernels" increase In size So that they
constitute visible swelling swelings
manning indefinitely. that tho Infection Is
probably tuberculosis and the condition Ia
called tuberculous cervical adenitis II was
formerly called "scrofula." and back In the
dark ages Kings evil" remarked yes
tcrday.
Twenty years ago surgeons were radical
out of the neck In rather formidable opera
tions. The surgeons have learned that tuber-
cniosiS. at rate. Is a type of Infection best
treated conservatively. Nowadays surgical
measures are applied only when one Of tho
nodes or glands undergoes acute inHamma-
tory suppuration and then a simple drainage
is effected. or. perhaps. mere withdrawal Of
the pus through an aspiratin9 needle. Occa-
sionally II is wise to remove tubercuious cerv-
ical nodes when there are only two or three
nodes involved and they close together
More important than any operative 9TH
er local treatment is the careful correction
OF the hygiene of the patients life. gen
eral program or regimen much the same as
for one with pulmonary tuberculosis Is neces-
sary
In practically every case OF Jumps In the
neck the tonsils and ad"noids should be
moved. for in these useless structures the pri-
mary focus of infection is commonly seated.
In cases of long standing, with chronica lly
discharging sinuscs openings on tho sur
face. tubcrculin treatment is often beneficial.
E-ray treatment has proved successful in
many cases Of tuberculosis lymph nodes.
The best Of all treatments. perhaps, is hc!i TO-
thcrapy--the sun bath treatment, II this is
available, and tho patient can have the care
OF physician experienced In it's use or the
advantage of a sojouru IN a Sanatorium where
heliotheTapy is employed Mere exposure Of
tho neck 10 the sun is not hcliothcrapy The
entire body must he treated just as in other
forms of so-callcd surgical tuberculosis If
is TO be expected. The patient needs
the open-air treatment quite much as does
the victim II lung tuberculosis.