treating the Fiftula Lachrymalis. 241 
now arifes from another caufe, namely, the infpiffated 
ft ate of the fluids. 
Thefe are, probably, the moft Ample caufes of obftruc- 
tion in the nafal duCt ; but, from whatever caufe the ob- 
ftruCtion had its origin, in its early ftate, when unattended 
with a morbid change of the contiguous parts, it is con- 
lidered as the firft and moft fimple ftage of the jijlula 
lachrymalis. It is in this ftage that the means of obviating 
the neceflity of a troublefome and uncertain operation 
fhould be employed, with any rational expectation of 
fuccefs. 
The principal of thefe means are : 
1. Compreflion; declared by experienced practitioners 
to be injudicious. 
2. The palling an inftrument into the noftril, and up 
the duCt ; an operation very painful to the patient, and 
exceedingly troublefome to the operator. 
3. The introducing a probe through one of the punCta 
into the duCt, after M. anel’s manner; by experience 
proved to be inadequate to the defign. 
4. The impelling a fluid, by a fyringe, through one 
of the punCta, as directed by M. anel; allowed by judi- 
cious and experienced furgeons to be fometimes ufeful. 
On reflecting upon the laft: method, I was induced 
to think, that if a fluid, of a great degree of fpecific 
Vol. LXX. I i gravity. 
