Dissertation on the diseases of the maxillary sinus : read before the American Society of Dental Surgeons, at their third annual meeting, held in Boston, July 20, 1842 / by Chapin A. Harris.

  • Harris, Chapin A. (Chapin Aaron), 1806-1860.
Date:
1843
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Dissertation on the diseases of the maxillary sinus : read before the American Society of Dental Surgeons, at their third annual meeting, held in Boston, July 20, 1842 / by Chapin A. Harris. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    tions of this cavity. Even subsequently to the knowledge of the existence of this antrum, similar mistakes seem to have been committed. Many cases of disease of the superior maxilla are narrated by authors without any mention, or even allusion to this cavity, which, from the description given of them, were obviously seated in it. Several such are recorded by Wiseman, in his treatise on surgery, published in 1676.* But notwith- standing his seeming ignorance of the seat of these affections, he evidently had a pretty correct idea of their curative indications, for the plan of treatment which he adopted differs but little from that pursued at the present day. The most simple form of disease that occurs in this cavity, is inflammation of its lining membrane, and this in most instances may be said to precede all others. It often subsides spontaneously, but when it continues for a long time, it is apt to become chronic, and then it not unfrequently gives rise to other and more formi- dable kinds of disease. When unattended by any other morbid affection, either local or constitutional, it is easily cured. A purulent condition of the fluids of the antrum is a very com- mon affection, but it is seldom met with in persons of good con- stitutions. It seems to be dependent upon a bad habit of body and inflammation of the pituitary membrane of the sinus, which last results more frequently from dental irritation than any other cause. This condition of the secretions of the antrum, sometimes gives rise to caries and exfoliation of portions of the surrounding bone, and to fistulous ulcers, but when it is dependent upon no other local cause than simple inflammation of the mucous membrane, * Vide, Book iv. chap. iv. Obs. 12, 13 and 17, pages 265, 280 and 281.