TUMOURS IN THE FACIAL SINUSES AND CANCER OF THE SUPERIOR MAXILLA. 23 



invaded, and the septum dividing the two maxillary sinuses was not 

 destroyed. I incised one of these tumours with the point of a bistoury, 

 and a little viscous fluid escaped. The case was clearly one of cyst 

 formation in the mucous membrane, without doubt at the expense of 

 the small glands therein contained. I sufficiently enlarged the opening 

 in the inferior maxillary sinus, and scraped the mucous membrane. 

 The head of a thermo-cautery was passed over the membrane, after 

 which the animal was treated like a patient suffering from ordinary 

 inflammation of the sinuses, drainage being provided for, and the parts 

 washed out twice daily with a slightly antiseptic solution, followed by 

 astringent injections. At the end of a month the drainage-tube was 

 removed. The lower wound having been plugged to prevent it closing 

 too rapidly, allowed of our continuing the injections some time longer. 

 The animal was returned to work a few weeks afterwards. Recovery 

 was complete. 



These mucous cysts of the sinuses are not common, at least very 

 few cases have been recorded. 



Not less rare are the dental cysts, of one of which M. Liautard 

 gives the following interesting account. A seventeen-year-old mare, after 

 influenza, discharged freely from the nose, showed slight swelling of the 

 submaxillary gland, and a little swelling of the right side of the fore- 

 head. An American veterinary surgeon diagnosed the case as glanders. 

 M. Liautard, after carefully examining the animal, declared the sym- 

 ptoms due to a simple collection of pus in the sinuses. The teeth 

 appeared sound, and there was nothing unusual in the mouth. On 

 opening the inferior maxillary sinus, three dental cysts were found, 

 each containing a hard moveable body of the consistence of enamel, 

 — in fact, a rudimentary tooth similar to those found in cysts of the 

 temporal region. Extraction of these teeth and destruction of the 

 cysts offered no difficulty. In some weeks recovery was complete. 



The first division of my subject comprises lesions which remain 

 confined to the sinus, and usually only reveal themselves by symptoms 

 of suppurative inflammation in these cavities, a condition which often 

 complicates tumour formation after the lapse of a certain time. 



Myxomata and fibrous polypi form two other varieties of tumours 

 of the sinus, commoner and graver than the preceding, save when they 

 are recent and limited to one of these cavities. Fibrous polypi, as a 

 rule, are more dangerous than myxomata. Both usually affect the 

 ethmoid or the floor of the sinuses. They grow somewhat rapidly, 

 thrusting aside the bony walls, especially the external, invade neigh- 

 bouring parts of the nasal cavity, and may there develop to a consider- 



