ANCHYLOSIS OF THE JAW. 263 



sideration, viz., that it utterly prevented the action 

 of the temporales and masseters, no other result 

 could have been anticipated. 



It seems to me not improbable that the wedge 

 was intended to gradually separate the jaws ; and 

 it may be presumed- that the prolonged use of the 

 instrument had induced a chronic inflammation of 

 the integuments and muscles of the buccal cavity, 

 causing the latter to become thickened, judging 

 from her subsequent symptoms and the results. 



I saw her again about two years after the wedge 

 experiment and my first examination (now six 

 years since), and found the band, instead of being 

 separated from the inner portion of the cheek, so 

 as to admit the finger passing freely between it 

 and the band, perfectly united with the cheek, so 

 that it had now become impossible to do any good 

 by attempting to separate it ; and it could only be 

 removed by dissecting it away from the cheek with 

 which it was incorporated. 



This last spring, having occasion to visit Chel- 

 tenham, I took the opportunity of once more 

 examining the patient, and now feel assured that 

 any operation would be attended with some 

 danger. The jaws are perfectly immovable, and 

 the anchylosis is complete ; she lives altogether on 

 suction, yet she looks better in health than I had 

 anticipated. There is, however, every proba- 

 bility that she may ultimately die from actual 

 inanition. 



