12 LANDMARKS MEDICAL AND SURGICAL. 



part of the back of the antrum and of the lower part of the 

 external pterygoid plate. 



On the roof of the mouth we can feel the pulsation of 

 the posterior palatine artery. Haemorrhage from this vessel 

 can be arrested by plugging the orifice of the canal, which 

 lies (not far from the surface) on the inner side of the last 

 molar, about of an inch in front of the hamular process. 



When the mouth is wide open, the pterygo-maxillary 

 ligament forms a prominent fold readily seen and felt beneath 

 the mucous membrane, behind the last molar teeth. A little 

 below the attachment of this ligament to the lower jaw we 

 can easily feel the gustatory nerve, as it runs close to the 

 bone below the last molar tooth. The exact position of the 

 nerve can be ascertained in one's own person by the acute 

 pain on pressure. A division of the nerve, easily effected 

 by a small incision, gives much temporary relief in cases of 

 advanced carcinoma of the tongue. 



To feed a patient in spasmodic closure of the jaw, it is 

 well to know that there is behind the last molar teeth a space 

 sufficient for the passage of a small tube into the mouth. 



Antrum. Lift up the upper lip and examine the front 

 wall of the antrum. The proper place in which to tap it is 

 above the second bicuspid tooth, about one inch above the 

 margin of the gum. 



20. Posterior nares. A surgeon's finger should be 

 familiar with the feel of the posterior nares, and of all that 

 is within reach behind the soft palate. This is important in 

 relation to the attachment of polypi, to plugging the nostrils, 

 and to the proper size of the plug. In the examination of 

 this part of the back of the throat it is necessary to throw the 

 head well back, because, in this position, nearly all the 

 pharynx in front of the basilar process comes down below 

 the level of the hard palate, and can be seen as well as felt. 

 But when the skull is horizontal, le. at a right angle with the 

 spine, the hard palate is on a level with the margin of the 

 foramen magnum, and the parts covering the basilar process 

 are concealed from view. 



The head then being well back, introduce the fore-finger 



