IXFLAilMATIOX OF FAUCES AND PHARYNX. 603 



must be remembered that this pharyngeal catarrh is compU- 

 cated with laryngeal affection. 



Treatment. — Many of the cases of pharyngeal catarrh recover 

 in a few days without any particular attention save resting 

 from work. Whenever the difficulty of swallowing is great, 

 much relief is afforded by fumigating the head with water- 

 vapour, plain or medicated ; the medication may be effected 

 through the addition to the material in the nose-bag of some 

 preparation of opium, belladonna, carbolic acid, or iodine. 

 Gargling the mouth Avith a solution of sulphurous acid, borax, 

 or chlorate of potash is also a means of relieving the irritation ; 

 while the free use of compound camphor and belladonna elec- 

 tuary will, without causing any annoyance, often be all that 

 is required. 



Heat and moisture, applied externally through the medium 

 of woollen cloths or spongiopiline, ought to be employed con- 

 tinuously for some hours daily. 



Rarely will the use of irritant applications, as blisters, be 

 needful in the acute cases, or during the early stages of any ; 

 they are better supplanted by the soothing treatment of heat 

 and moisture, unless the restlessness of the patient prevents 

 the steady application of these latter, or when the irritation 

 becomes chronic. 



II. Post-, or Retro-pharyngeal Abscess. 



Definition. — Inflammation of the ijharynx, resulting in cir- 

 cumscribed collections of pus in the pharyngeal structures. 



Pathology, a. Nature. — Pus may in many instances of in- 

 flammation of the pharynx form on the exposed surface in 

 diffuse masses, and suffer removal as formed ; this condition 

 is not a serious one, differing entirely from that now mentioned. 

 In cases of pharyngeal abscess the collections of pus are situated 

 in the walls of the pouch in connection with the muscular and 

 connective-tissue. They are encountered where simple pharyn- 

 geal inflammation has existed ; but more frequently where this 

 condition, although not acute, has been associated with some 

 general unhealthy condition, or the advent of a specific fever. 



6. Causation. — Although impossible to say exactly upon 

 what these formations of pus are either immediately or re- 

 motely dependent, there is evidence to satisfy us that certain 



