ABSCESS OF THE FAI^E NOSTRII, OR TURBINATED 



BONES. 



Structure of turbinated bones : suppuration or abscess, obstructed breath- 

 ing, treatment, puncture, plugging, injection, trephining. 



The turbinated bones are two fragile bony structures attached 

 to the outer wall of each nasal chamber. The posterior half of 

 each bone closes the corresponding nasal sin use ; the anterior 

 half is rolled upon itself as a sheet of paper might be, and is ac- 

 cordingly open along one side. In this latter a collection of pus 

 may result from severe inflammatory action and the resulting dis- 

 charge may become somewhat chronic. The flow is greatest after 

 the nose has been raised, from the pus having previously gravitated 

 into a sac in the lower end of the bone. The pus may moreover 

 pass backward into the larnyx from the raising of the head and 

 induce a violent fit of coughing. Sometimes the inflammation 

 has extended to the bones covering the nose which are bulging 

 and tender. The thin turbinated bone gives way under the dis- 

 tension, bulges into the nose, and often stops the passage of air 

 through that side. This symptom and the appearance of the 

 swelling cause a close approximation in symptoms to nasal poly- 

 pus. The facts that it supervened on a severe coryza, that it fluc- 

 tuates on pressure if within reach of the finger, and that pus es- 

 capes when it is punctured, exclude the idea of polypus. 



Treatment. Puncture of the abscess inside the nose, plugging 

 and daily astringent injections will usually rapidly cure. Gamgee, 

 Jessen and others, recommend trephining of the bone above the 

 hose and washing it out daily, adding that an extensive removal of 

 the bone will correct any existing bulging and deformity. 



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