2l6 PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO 1727. 



Of a Purulent Discharge from the Mouth of a Boy, jvhich continued for 3 Years, 

 and was followed by a Caries and Separation of the whole of the Cheekbone, 

 By Peter Hardisway, M. D. N° 400, p. 374. Jn Abstract from the 

 Latin. 



On the 6th of Feb. 1724, Dr. H. was called to a boy 10 years old, who had 

 been afflicted with a slow fever for 6 weeks before. By the use of proper 

 medicines he was cured of the fever in about a week ; but a few days after his 

 recovery, a large tumour formed within the right cheek, the boy continuing well 

 in other respects. On causing him to ojjen his mouth, which he did with 

 much difficulty, a quantity of pus made its appearance ; but at this first exa- 

 mination Dr. H. could not ascertain from whence the pus proceeded, the boy 

 was so fretful and impatient. A fig boiled in milk was ordered to be put into 

 the mouth, with a view to promote suppuration. The tumour breaking the 

 next morning, there was an almost incredible discharge of extremely foetid pus. 

 Dr. H. prescribed a detergent gargle. In the evening the discharge was as 

 copious as it had been in the morning. This excited much surprise, and in- 

 duced the Doctor to examine the mouth more carefully, when he discovered 

 that the upper jaw-bone on the right side was become carious, and that the 

 aforesaid purulent discharge proceeded from the alveoli, the boy himself having 

 easily pulled out the loosened teeth with his fingers. The management of the 

 caries was then committed to a surgeon, who would not (conformably to the 

 suggestions of Dr. H.) use detergent and consolidating applications ; but con- 

 tented himself with applying to the carious jaw a certain tincture, supposed to 

 be tincture of myrrh. This was of no avail ; the diseased cheek swelled to twice 

 the size of the other, and at length the whole of the cheek-bone was extracted 

 by the surgeon's instrument. Half of the os palati, with the septum narium, 

 and the lower part of the orbit of the [right] eye, has been removed. The 

 tumour being seated over the processus zygomaticus, the disordered cheek ap- 

 pears twice as large as the other (notwithstanding the removal of the bone) 

 and the [right] eye is almost closed up, while the purulent discharge still 

 continues. 



In another letter dated Dec. 24, 1727, Dr. H. mentions that the tumour re- 

 mained in the same state as before, and that the purulent discharge was undi- 

 minished : that in other respects the boy was hearty ; that he ate, drank and 

 slept well ; and that he joined chearfully in the diversions of those who were of 

 his own age. 



