698 
SOCIETY MEETINGS. 
if the sinuses are opened freely, thoroughly cleansed and 
then packed with cinchonidia sulphate. This substance seems 
to retard or prevent suppuration and stimulates to healthy 
granulations. The cavity should be cleansed at the end of 
five to seven days after the first packing, then repacked if not 
found in a satisfactory condition, after which use the ordinary 
antiseptic dressing once or twice a week. 
The President: I am treating these cases now by freely open¬ 
ing at the cavities, and irrigating constantly during the day 
time, for a period of three to five days, using a solution of 
permanganate of potash for this purpose. Then I dry the 
cavities and fill them with a mixture of iodoform in cosmoline, 
applied every three to five days- The results from this line 
of treatment have been the most satisfactory that I have tried. 
Dr. Brown : I have made use of many agents, including 
mercury bichloride and hydrogen peroxide up to one year 
ago. Since then 1 have been using the actual cautery. I 
destroy the pyogenic membranes with the hot iron, then use 
the ordinary dressings. 
The Secretary : The stage or condition in which the practi¬ 
tioner finds these cases must be taken into consideration when 
treatment is undertaken. I have seen cases before a pyogenic 
membrane was formed, simply a tumefaction, which if undis¬ 
turbed develops into full-fledged fistulous withers, or consisted 
of a collection of amber-colored fluid with a quantity of liga_ 
mentous tissue floating in it, which seemed a simple affair 
when first opened, but soon it is discovered that a large 
amount of ligament is diseased, and that considerable time 
will be required for the healthy portion to cast off the diseased 
or necrosed portion. In the first condition mentioned, I have 
seen many cases recover after a simple incision through the 
entire ^tumefaction, which is usually of a fibro-cartilaginous 
consistency, followed by simple dressings. The second con¬ 
dition has demanded surgical interference several times before 
all the necrosed ligament can be removed, and which recover 
under the use of antiseptic dressings. In old standing cases I 
am in the habit of using what is known as corrosive liniment, 
which consists of mercury bichloride, one ounce; camphor, 
