B— 1. 



(EDEMATOUS LARYNGITIS 



SUCCESSFULLY TREATED BY 



SCARIFICATIONS OF THE GLOTTIS AND EPIGLOTTIS J 

 BY GURDON BUCK, Jr., M.D., 



SURGEON TO THE NEW YORK HOSPITAL, &C. &C. 



ILLUSTRATED WITH FOUR PLATES. 



Within the short period of eleven months there were no less than 

 eight cases of this rare disease in the New York Hospital, of which 

 seven occurred hetween the months of December, 1847, and Feb- 

 ruary, 1848. During this latter period the season was remarkably 

 rainy and wet, accompanied with very little snow, and characterized 

 by the prevalence of erysipelas and typhus fever, as well as an asthe- 

 nic type in other diseases, both in and out of the hospital. 



More than a year previous to the occurrence of the first of these 

 cases, and without any knowledge at that time of any similar method 

 of cure having been practised or proposed by others, I was led to the 

 conviction that scarifications of the cedematous edges of the glottis, 

 as well as of the epiglottis, might be employed as an effectual means 

 of relief in this formidable disease ; and when the occasion presented 

 itself of carrying into effect these views, the remark was made to my 

 assistants at the hospital, and other gentlemen present, that such 

 had been my convictions, and that the first opportunity had now 

 occurred of applying them to practice. 



The well known fatal character of the disease warranted the trial 

 of any new remedy that afforded a reasonable prospect of benefit. 



In connection with this operation, the employment of the touch 

 was naturally regarded as of great importance as a means of explor- 



