52 INJURY OF THE FACE. 



and a large opening was formed between the 

 antrum and right nasal fossa. The long part of 

 the breech, or that portion which is screwed on to 

 the back of the stock, passed backwards between 

 the zygomatic arch and the coronoid process of the 

 inferior maxilla, its edge resting on the alveolar 

 process of the superior maxilla, and its extremity 

 extending nearly as far backwards, I imagine, as 

 the lower part of the temporal surface of the great 

 wing of the sphenoid bone, its edge, near the ex- 

 tremity, being in close contact with the external 

 plate of the pterygoid process of that bone. 

 Such I think must have been pretty nearly the 

 position occupied by this singular intrusion. 



No inflammation followed the operation, and 

 since its performance the patient has been almost 

 wholly free from pain. 



On removing the breech, the cavity appeared 

 quite black, and for a few days a dark purulent 

 discharge, together with small pieces of rust, 

 escaped. Healthy granulations then sprang up, 

 and the parts rapidly contracted. Now (July 4th) 

 the cavity is nearly filled up, and the external 

 wound almost closed. The action of the lower 

 maxilla is slowly improving, and he has quite 

 recovered the sense of smell. The only after- 

 treatment consisted in the administration of one 

 or two doses of aperient medicine, and the con- 

 stant application to the sore of pledgets of lint, 

 moistened with cold water. In a few days the 



