SINUSES. 



59 



EXPLORING, OPENING, AND CLEANSING 

 OF SINUSES. 



I^oi- exploring sinuous wounds in order to ascertain their 

 depth, a probe, usually made of metal or whalebone, is care- 



Fig. 30. 

 Abscess knife (Syme's and Paget's blades). 



fully inserted into the orifice and passed inwards as far as 

 possible. This must be done in a very delicate manner, 

 especially in the case of wounds in the neighbourhood of 

 jomts or of any vital organs. Having ascertained the depth. 



Fi«. 31. 

 Exjdoring trocar and canula. 



if thought desirable to open it up and so make a clean open 

 wound, a director (Fig. 32) is inserted and the sinus laid bare 

 by means of a bistoury ; the latter instrument may have either 

 a sharp or a blunt point {see Fig. 33). 



armolu bsons londo*' 

 Fig. 32. 

 Director and blunt needle combined. 



If, instead of laying the sinus open, it is considered desirable 

 to scrape the interior, this is done by the aid of a curette or 

 Volkman's spoon (see Fig. 34). 



Curettes are made in different sizes, and the spoon-shaped 

 part may have its edge sharp or blunt. 



