Chap. VI.] NOSE AND NASAL CAVITIKS. 87 



1^ inches vertically, and a little less than \\ inches 

 transversely, at its widest part. The plane of the 

 nostril is a little below that of the floor of the nares. 

 To examine the nasal cavities, therefore, the head 

 should be thrown back, and the nose drawn upwards. 

 The anterior nares can be well explored by the finger 

 introduced into the nostril, and the nasal apertures are 

 just so wide on each side of the septum as to allow the 

 finger to be passed far enough back to reach another 

 finger introduced into the posterior nares through the 

 mouth. An effectual way of removing soft polypi in 

 the adult is by tearing them away by the two fingers 

 so introduced. The operation is a little rough. By 

 the most gentle introduction of the linger into the 

 nostril it is often possible to feel the end of the 

 inferior turbinated bone. The anterior nares, and 

 front of the nasal cavities, can be well explored by 

 Rouge's operation. In this procedure the upper lip 

 is everted, and a transverse cut made through the 

 mucous membrane into the soft parts that connect the 

 upper lip with the upper jaw. The incision extends 

 between the second bicuspid teeth of either side. 

 The soft parts connecting the upper lip and nose to 

 the bone are divided without damaging the skin, and 

 the flap is dissected up until the nares are sufficiently 

 exposed. 



The posterior nares. If a little mirror, 

 somewhat similar to that used in laryngoscopy, be 

 cautiously introduced behind the soft palate through 

 the mouth, and illumined from the mouth, the following 

 parts may, under favourable circumstances, be seen : 

 the posterior nares, the septum, the middle turbinated 

 bone, part of the superior and inferior turbinated 

 bones, and part of the inferior meatus. The middle 

 meatus is well seen, and also the Eustachian tube, 

 and the mucous membrane of the upper part of the 

 pharjux. 



