Page 82 - An essay on the diseasesof the jaws, and their treatment

66 AN ESSAY ON THE and healthy inflammation and absorption of the diseased gums and sockets followed, as well as a complete cure of the local affection. The patient was now rapidly restored to vigorous health, which he has ever since continued to enjoy. CASE V. Mr. D , the son of a very respectable solicitor of , in Staffordshire, consulted me concerning a complicated disease of the upper and under jaws. As the malady had been of very long standing, I shall proceed first to give some account of its progress, and next of the state in which it was when it first came under my care. According to the history I obtained from the father and the patient himself, the latter had always enjoyed good general health, and was considered a hearty child, but had very frequently suffered from his teeth. Both the first and second set had been very irre- gular, much affected by caries, and often painful. His face had been sometimes swollen in consequence of the diseased state of the gums and dental sockets. At the age of about eleven his teeth and gums became particularly troublesome, and at the same time also a polypus appeared in the left ear. The polypus was extirpated, but the wounded part always re- mained sore, and some matter was continually discharged from a fistulous opening in the ear. The best medical and surgical advice in this country had been obtained. In 1818, Sir Astley Cooper attended the patient, in consultation with Mr. Samuel Patrick. The opinion entertained at that time by this eminent surgeon on this uncommon and ob- scure case, is contained in the following note obtained from the patient himself, and which I beg leave to insert. Master D 's Case. " Mr. Astley Cooper is of opinion that a tendency to scrofula in the constitution of Master D was the cause of the polypus which appeared in the ear twelve months ago, and which cause has also induced the disease in the parotid absorbent glands. " He is fully persuaded that the complaint will ultimately do