The use of the laryngoscope in diseases of the throat : with an appendix on rhinoscopy / by Morell Mackenzie.

  • Mackenzie, Morell, 1837-1892.
Date:
1866
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The use of the laryngoscope in diseases of the throat : with an appendix on rhinoscopy / by Morell Mackenzie. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Woodruff Health Sciences Center Library at Emory University, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Woodruff Health Sciences Center Library, Emory University.

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    scription, occupied himself in discovering means, Chap. I. whereby polypoid growths in the nostrils, throat, ears, and other parts, could be tied by ligatures.* It is unnecessary to describe here, the various in- genious instruments which he invented for the pur- pose, and it is only requisite to observe that in using them he employed a speculum which differed from the various specula oris then in use. It con- sisted mainly of a plate of polished metal [plaque polie) which reflected the luminous rays in the direction of the tumour, and at the same time received the image of the tumour on its reflecting * Mercure de France, 1743, p. 2434. The extract from the Mercure de France, which relates to the employment of the speculum, forms the first article of the appendix to M. Levret's well known work L'Art des Accouchemens (second edition, Paris, 1761). In this article the term Gozier is used in one place, and Gosier in another. In the latter, the expression used is— mais pour en appliquer l'usage [of the instrument for carrying the ligature] aux Polypes du Gosier, situes derriere la voile du Palais, il a fallu pratiquer . . . . From this, it may seem probable to some, that Levret, in using the term Gosier, meant the posterior nares. Such an em- ployment of the word would, however, be quite exceptional; and it is much more likely that he referred to the throat generally. In the third edition of Levret's work (the only one I have had the opportunity of consulting), the particular ex- tract from the Mercure de France, which is quoted above from the second edition, has been omitted. I have to thank Dr. Christie, of Aberdeen, who was the first to call attention to Levret's claims, for very kindly copying the entire extract and placing it at my service. B 2