When these sinuses communicate with joints, and depend upon diseased
cartilages, tendons, or articulating surfaces of the bones, we can
do very little in the way of curing them by injections or incisions;
because we cannot thus remove the disease of the joint, but may
increase it. Issues placed over the joint, with rest, cleanliness, and
good diet, country air, &c. are the remedies chiefly to be employed
in these cases; or, if hectic be induced, and these remedies fail, we
must remove the diseased part, if this, on account of its situation, be
practicable. When, however, these sinuses are superficial, and depend
upon tendons not immediately connected with the articulation, it may
be useful to lay them open, and treat the disease of the tendons with
caustic, like a caries of a bone, or with escharotics, and stimulating
applications.
The fourth species of sinuses, are those where a specific action
exists[39], and prevents the healthy ulcerative action from forming. Of
this kind is the scrophulous sinus, which is generally accompanied with
a caries bone, or diseased cartilage, and, therefore, is a complicated
sinus[40]. This is distinguished, where the bone is diseased, by a
shining or polished red skin, like a cicatrix, surrounding the fungus
papilla at the orifice of the sinus, or the scrophulous-looking sore
which exists there. When no caries bone exists, we have no papilla,
but only the diseased ulcer at the orifice. In both cases, there are
generally the marks of a scrophulous habit. In the first case, we are
to treat the sinus as if it were of the third species. In the second
case, we are to treat it as if of the second, conjoining the proper
remedies internally, as will be mentioned in considering the cure of
scrophulous action. These sinuses, although healed, have a tendency to
break out again, especially in the spring or summer.
[39] These sinuses cannot be considered in this dissertation.
[40] This may sometimes be produced by the formation of an abscess,
without any evident cause; but at other times it is produced by wounds,
&c. in scrophulous habits.
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