Part 4

Such is the natural progress of an abscess; but it has been proposed, that it ought not to be allowed to follow this, but ought to be opened before it bursts spontaneously; and this opening has generally been desired to be pretty large, chiefly perhaps on the principle of allowing a free evacuation of the matter. Where abscesses are seated over cavities into which they may burst[28], instead of opening externally, there can be no doubt of the necessity of making an early evacuation; and, in these cases, we ought to open them before the skin becomes white; or, in other words, before the action reaches the surface; because, if the abscess be seated equally betwixt the skin and the cavity below, we may suppose, that, if it be extending itself in all directions, or toward the cavity[29], in the same proportion as outwardly, that the parts below will become almost irreparably diseased before it can reach the surface, and will give way afterwards[30], even although an opening be made externally. Where, from the confinement of the matter, it seems to be spreading, or diffusing itself, by its gravity, through the cellular substance, or among the muscles, it will likewise be necessary to open the abscess early; but, in this case, the abscess is unhealthy; for, were it otherwise, the matter would be confined by the circle of diseased organic matter thrown out during the inflammatory action, and which is only removed gradually. In this case, the suppurative action has extended itself laterally, and perhaps downward, more quickly than in health, and has not observed the same ratio, with regard to the extension toward the surface; the action, therefore, reaches parts which were not formerly inflamed (by the sympathia consociationis serpens), before the surface gives way; and, therefore, the matter spreads or diffuses itself; for, by the spreading of the action, the confining barrier is removed, and the matter mechanically extends itself. This is an unhealthy abscess, and the action is of the phagedenic nature. Opening the abscess will not always stop this morbid action; but, by removing the matter, it will lessen the chance of diffusion. We must, however, continue the free evacuation, and place the member in a proper posture; because, if the action continue, the matter which still is formed will lodge, and form sinuses.

[28] Such as the thorax, trachea, &c. Instances have happened of suffocation being thus produced.

[29] Although, in general, an abscess has little tendency to extend itself deep down, but rather moves toward the surface, although so far from it originally, that, had the action extended equally in all other directions, the size of the abscess must have been immense; yet, when it is situated over a cavity, it may proceed toward that as if to an external surface. Even, however, in this case, the general law, of all actions tending to the skin, obtains; for the progress outward is much quicker than that inward; but, if the action commenced near the surface of the cavity, as is commonly the case, the difference of the distance will compensate for the superior tendency to extend outward; and, therefore, the abscess may burst at the internal surface into the cavity.

[30] In abscesses seated on the thorax, I have known the intercostal muscles and pleura continue the suppurative action, after the external surface had opened, and thus an opening came to be formed into the thorax.

In healthy abscesses, where we do not apprehend any detriment to the neighbouring parts, the question comes to be, whether opening them will accelerate the cure? Perhaps much of the diversity of opinion on this subject, has arisen from not attending to the condition of the abscess which we have been managing, and thus we apply the prognosis and treatment of one kind of abscess to different ones. When an abscess has been formed slowly, and runs its course rather tediously, we may suppose, that the action shall continue for a considerable time without being converted into the ulcerative one; and, therefore, the abscess shall remain long without healing. In this case, a free incision, or the irritation of a foreign body, may excite the ulcerative action, and thus accelerate the cure; for these abscesses have come to approach toward the nature of common encysted tumors, and require the same treatment. But, where abscesses are running their progress with due celerity, and the action is proceeding through its proper course, there is not the same cause for interference. If, in this case, we open them before the action has gained the surface, we derive no benefit; because the action still proceeds, and the same events and circumstances take place as if we had allowed it to burst. If we make a large aperture, when the abscess is ready to burst, we, by the irritation, interfere with the process which was going on, and delay the cure. The admission of the air to the abscess, owing to the free exposure, is one cause of this delay; for it changes the nature of the purulent action, and, if the ulcerative action takes place, frequently renders it unhealthy; the consequence of which, if the abscess be large, or situated in vital parts, is hectic. We likewise, in large abscesses, by the sudden evacuation of the matter, and removal of the distension, sink the action of the parts, and make covery more tedious[31]. When the abscess, then, is healthy, and the action strong, it will be more proper to allow it to follow its natural course, and burst spontaneously, than open it, by a large incision, or by the introduction of a seton: If we do open it, the orifice should not at first be large, but should just comprehend the diseased or whitened surface.

[31] This likewise affects the system, and produces syncope, if the mechanical support be withdrawn suddenly from the parts.

Sometimes, after an abscess has burst, or been opened, it continues in a progressive state of amendment for some time, and then becomes stationary, continuing to discharge matter without healing. This either takes place from the whole surface, or from a particular part of it, forming a sinus, the treatment of which will afterwards be mentioned, being the same with those which succeed abscesses which are originally unhealthy.

After an abscess bursts, the proper application is a warm poultice[32], which should be continued in general as long as there is any stool, or hard margin; that is to say, until the increased quantity of diseased organic particles, which were formed during the inflammation, be absorbed, and the vessels at that part have either assumed the suppurative or natural action. After this, the orifice ought to be covered with a slip of lint, and moderate pressure applied over the surface of the abscess[33], by which the sides are kept in constant contact, and reunion is accelerated. Good diet is also necessary, for we thus increase the powers of recovery, or keep up a proper action, and renew the vital principle, the quantity of which has been lessened during the inflammation, both by the continuance of a state of overaction, and by the remedies which are employed to diminish the action; for a state of real and permanent weakness is thus induced.

[32] This poultice does not require to be so hot, nor changed so frequently, as before the full formation of matter.

[33] If this produces pain, we may in general conclude that it has been used too soon.

It sometimes happens, that suppuration takes place very slowly, and the action seems to be performed with little vigour. In this case, if the abscess be allowed to burst of itself, we both lose time, and are often, in the end, disappointed in a cure, the healing process not taking place. It is therefore useful, in these cases, to have recourse to other agents besides heat. If the pain be trifling, and the suppuration be what may be called chronic, or approaching to it, we will perhaps succeed, by applying gentle pressure on the abscess, by means of a thin roller, and laying a warm poultice over this. But, when this fails to increase the action, we ought to pass a seton, by which we evacuate the matter, and keep up the subsequent action to a degree sufficient for producing recovery. In doing this, however, it is necessary to attend to the state of the tumor; because, if, in every instance, we pass it from the highest to the lowest part, we shall sometimes make the part give way in a third place. If, for instance, the abscess be much thinner at the apex than elsewhere, or, if the action have made considerable progress toward the surface, then the stimulus of the action increases the performance of the natural process which was going on, and the action continues to extend itself until the part gives way. In these cases, then, we ought to pass the seton from the thin part to the lowest part; and this, in general, will, from the sympathy of association, be sufficient to excite the action of the whole internal surface.

When we resolve to use the seton, the following is the easiest method of introducing it: Make a puncture with a lancet either into the upper, or the thinnest, and most prominent part of the tumor, according to circumstances; and, into this puncture, introduce, using the lancet as a directer, a probe, having a piece of tape passed through its eye. The lancet is then to be withdrawn, and the probe pushed down to the under part of the abscess, where its point will be felt under the skin. A small incision is here to be made upon the knob of the probe, which is next to be passed through, and the tape drawn after it. The matter is then to be slowly pressed out; the tape is to be folded; and the abscess bound up with a compress and roller, so as to make moderate pressure upon it. Next day, the dressings are to be removed, and a clean piece of the tape drawn through, after which, pressure is again to be applied.

The size of the tape, the time which the seton ought to be employed, and the degree of pressure to be used, must be regulated by backwardness of the action, and the imperfection of the healing process.

If, either from improper management, or the morbid condition of the action, the abscess, after it bursts spontaneously, or is opened by art, continue to suppurate, without undergoing the ulcerative action preparatory to healing, then we find, that either the sides remain quite separate, producing a cavity, extended more or less, or one particular portion remains open, forming a sinus. Both of these cases require a treatment, which, in its principle, is the same, namely, the indication of the ulcerative action.

In the first case[34], we shall frequently succeed by means of the seton, especially if we use pressure alongst with it; for, by keeping the internal surface in close contact, we tend to check the purulent, or suppurative action, and produce organic particles[35]. We may also succeed, by using stimulating injections, of such a strength as to produce a moderate degree of smarting. Of this kind are, wine and water, solutions of white vitriol, corrosive sublimate, &c. These ought to be used frequently in the course of the day, and pressure employed during the intervals. Incision, or laying the part open, is, being the most severe, the last remedy which is to be had recourse to. Small chronic abscesses may be laid open during their whole diameter; but larger ones require only to be cut up for a certain length.

[34] This is exactly similar to an encysted tumor which has been opened, and requires the same treatment. The internal surface becomes thick and somewhat hard, like that of a cyst. It differs from an encysted tumor only in its cause and origin.

[35] If pressure be employed early, to a considerable degree, the irritation of the means employed produces pain, and a morbid increase of action, unless we keep down the action by cold, as will be explained when considering the treatment of ulcers.

The second case, has generally been considered as a species of ulcer, and has been named the sinus ulcer; but, although the orifice may sometimes possess the diseased ulcerative action, yet the sinus itself still continues in the suppurative state, and, therefore, cannot heal. These sinuses depend, in different instances, upon very different causes, and, therefore, require a variation in the treatment. The most simple species of sinus may be called mechanical, and is produced by matter flowing from a neighbouring cavity, and which cannot be freely discharged: Thus, for instance, if a deep abscess open at the highest part, or at a point above the level of its bottom, the matter constantly oozes out, and keeps the canal open. This is most apt to occur, when abscesses are formed deep amongst muscular parts; in which case, although the matter point at the centre, yet an accumulation must take place below, and the matter must continue to be discharged by the aperture, when it becomes so abundant as to be raised to the level of the opening; or, being once raised, it continues to flow out. The cure of this may at first be attempted mechanically, by tight bandages, which press out the matter, and keep the sides in contact; but, if the disease have been of long duration, then, whatever may have been its nature at first, we find, that the suppurative action extends along the mechanical sinus, which then becomes affected with a chronic action; in which case, it becomes similar to the second species of sinus. We must, in this species, make an opening at the most dependent part, and employ the means which will be now mentioned in considering the second species, or that produced in consequence of the suppurative action becoming chronic or habitual, independent of any mechanical cause. This may take place, although the aperture have been originally in a proper place, and the matter, instead of being retained and keeping up the disease, shall have been regularly discharged. The case in which this is most likely to happen, is that in which the abscess has been very tedious in its progress, and the action has been, from the first, slow. The distinction betwixt this species, and those which remain to be mentioned, is founded upon the absence of the symptoms which they possess, and by our examination with the probe, which points out the cause and extent, and informs us whether we be near a bone. The orifice is flabby, and has the appearance of the indolent ulcer. The cure of these sinuses is to be attempted, by pressing out the matter by means of proper bandages, or by making a dependent opening, which is generally necessary, at the same time that we raise the action of the part to a proper degree, and render the suppurative action acute and vigorous; in which case, it naturally terminates in the ulcerative, and thus the part has its structure restored. This is most easily effected, by passing a seton, and applying a proper degree of pressure, diminishing the size of the seton gradually, and in proportion to the vigour of the action and the approximation toward health. When, from the situation of the sinus, we cannot pass a seton (which rarely happens in this species of sinus), injections of wine may be used frequently, and pressure applied during the intervals. When these means fail, which is seldom the case, the part should, if its structure permit, be laid open. If this sinus have remained long open, its surface, like that of the chronic abscess, becomes changed, and a coat is formed, like the cyst of a tumour. When this is thick and hard, the sinus has been called a fistula, and it has been deemed necessary to dissect out the tube; but it is in general sufficient to use the remedies which increase the vigour of the action, and make it run its natural progress; such as the seton, or a free incision, if the parts be superficial, or no considerable vessel or nerve runs the risk of being wounded.

The third species of sinus is that in which the suppurative action is kept up by the operation of some adventitious cause; such as a caries bone, diseased cartilage, or the lodgement of a foreign body; as, for instance, a ball, a splinter of wood, bit of cloth, &c. This species is distinguished by our feeling the extraneous body, or diseased bone, with the probe, and by the fungous protuberance, or papilla, which shoots out from the orifice. In addition to the method of curing other sinuses, we must here endeavour to remove the adventitious cause, which is generally very difficult to be done. If the foreign body be deep, or if the diseased bone lie deep, and the sinus be narrow, we can do little in this way; sometimes, indeed, by enlarging the external part, we can come at the foreign body with a pair of small forceps, and may extract it, or may accelerate the exfoliation of the diseased bone; but we can have no certainty of success. If, however, the sinus be superficial, which sometimes happens in caries of the tibia, &c. it ought, in every instance, to be fully laid open, and the bone exposed, and treated in the way immediately to be mentioned. When this cannot be done, we may sometimes, by conveying the proper remedies through a tube down to the bone, procure exfoliation; or may, by setons, injections, and pressure, procure a temporary cure; but, as long as the adventitious cause remains, we cannot expect a permanent recovery. It is observed, that sinuses, when they can be healed in these circumstances, break out again upon very trifling exertions, and very frequently are renewed, after a short interval, in spite of all our precautions; such as rest, warmth, &c.

A caries[36] of the bone is at all times a disease which is difficult to manage, both on account of the mechanical obstacles which we have to overcome, and the slowness with which the affected parts perform their actions either of disease or recovery. The divisions of this disease have generally been taken from the appearance of the caries, and its extent. We have the dry caries, the worm-eaten caries, the spongy, or carnous caries, &c. and we have the deep and superficial. But, as the cure of these is to be conducted on the same principles in all of them, and as they are most probably different degrees of the same complaint, it will be more useful to divide them into those which affect bones lying deeply, and those which affect the more superficial bones; because these different cases are attended with very different circumstances and symptoms. The first is preceded by an abscess, which forms generally with much pain, runs its course slowly, and does not burst for a considerable time. When it does open, its sides do not ulcerate, at least universally, but a sinus remains, the mouth, or exposed part of which only, assumes the ulcerative action. The second is more rarely preceded by any abscess, but is either coeval with the ulcer of soft parts, (both being produced by mechanical violence) or it succeeds the ulcer, and is caused by it. This ulcer belongs to the third genus, and will be afterwards described.

[36] When a bone becomes carious, the periosteum is completely detached, and, therefore, it is felt to be rough by the probe. Its colour becomes first of a dull white, or dirty yellow, which it either preserves, or changes for the intermediate hues betwixt these and black. It is generally more porous than formerly, and lighter; but these qualities vary, from very slight degrees, to the appearance of a light coralline.

In treating of the cure of caries, the first thing is, to determine by what means the disease of the bone may be removed; and, secondly, what modification our treatment must undergo, in consequence of the caries belonging to the first or second species. From the very earliest periods, we find the application of stimulating and corrosive remedies recommended in this disease. The actual cautery, euphorbium, mineral acids, scalding oil, the essential oils, and warm balsams, have been universally employed, and frequently alternated with rasping and perforating the bone. This proceeded from observing, that, on the one hand, mild applications had no effect, and, on the other, that the natural slowness of exfoliation was overcome by the use of these more powerful remedies. A caries of a bone is correspondent to a mortification of a soft part; and, therefore, it is impossible to restore the diseased part to health, or life. Our chief object, then, must be to prevent the disease from spreading, and to procure a speedy separation of the dead portion. The first is much less under our power than the second; for, it is most probable, that, in the majority of instances, at least of those of a simple nature, the disease, from the first, extends a certain length, affecting a portion of the bone, and that it afterwards makes very little progress. There is, however, a specific disease which affects the bone in common with the soft parts. The bone becomes rough, and suppurates; and the soft parts have a fiery appearance: This has been called the phagedenic caries. Cancer, scrophula, lues, and other specific actions, also spread after they are once induced. The second object is to be effected by such means as operate upon the vitality and action of the part, and those which act mechanically. Those which tend mechanically to remove the dead portion, are perforations down to the sound part, which we know has happened, by the bleeding which ensues; or, we may saw down this length with a trephine. We thus, by cutting off the communication of part of the diseased surface with the adjacent parts, kill it completely, sooner than could otherwise happen, and likewise stimulate the parts below to assume the ulcerative action, and throw it off. We may also sometimes be able to turn out these portions with a levator. Those which act more exclusively, by affecting the action of the part, are stimulating applications; such as heat, acids, &c. The actual cautery is so terrifying to the patient, that it is now laid aside; and it is likewise liable to this objection, that it may, by its operation on the neighbouring parts of the bone, produce disease in them. The potential cautery is more useful, and may frequently be employed with advantage, either in a solid form, as to callus, &c. or dissolved in water, and applied with a pencil[37]. M. Sue, in his notes to Ravaton’s Practique, &c. recommends l’eau mercurielle, or solution of mercury, in nitrous acid. By these means, the sound part below assumes the ulcerative action, its connection with the diseased portion is then destroyed, and reparation takes place. The ulcer of the bone is red, and its surface covered with innumerable granulations, which rise up to the level of the surrounding parts, after which a cicatrice is formed. These granulations in the bone are absorbed, and others more perfect are deposited in their place, until at last they become completely osseous[38].

[37] If we use the solution, we must, if the bone be very porous, or spongy, apply only a little at once, otherwise it may sink down, and injure a part which we do not wish to act on.

[38] There is a curious case of caries, which is frequently met with: The diseased part, instead of being cast off, is surrounded by a covering of new bone, (except at one portion, where a sinus and ulcer is formed in the soft parts) and may be felt rattling within it. In this case, there is necessarily a permanent enlargement of the part, from the additional bony matter; and this, together with the sinous openings, and the internal caries, being felt with the probe, form the character of the disease, which has been called necrosis, a term which formerly implied merely mortification. The cure of this complaint is to be accomplished by extracting the diseased part, when it becomes loose, if the opening in the case be sufficiently large; if not, it is to be enlarged with the trephine, &c. See the works of Ruysch, Default, &c.; and, more lately, the publication of Mr. Russel.