Of Medicine, in Eight Books

by Aulus Cornelius Celsus

CHAP. X. OF THE EXTIRPATION OF A POLYPUS IN THE NOSE.

I have elsewhere said that the knife is the principal cure for a polypus growing in the nostrils. Wherefore it is necessary to separate this from the bone with a sharp iron instrument made in the form of a spatha: care being taken not to hurt the cartilage below, which is difficult to cure. When it is cut off, it must be extracted with an iron hook. Then a piece of lint twisted, or some part of a penecillum must be sprinkled with a styptick medicine, and the nostrils be gently filled with it. The blood being stopped, the ulcer must be deterged with lint. When it is clean, a quill armed with a cicatrizing medicine must be introduced within, in the same manner as was directed in the ear, till it be entirely sound.

CHAP. XI. OF THE CHIRURGICAL CURE OF AN OZÆNA.

I do not find in the eminent surgeons any operation for the cure of that disorder, which the Greeks call ozæna, when it does not yield to medicines. I suppose because the operation seldom works a cure, and is nevertheless attended with great pain. By some however it is directed to introduce either a small cannula, or writing reed into the nostril, till it reach up to the bone; then through this to pass a small hot iron to the very bone; next to deterge the cauterized part with verdigrease and honey; and when clean, to heal it up with lycium: Or that an incision be made in the nostril from its extremity to the bone, that the part may be seen, and the hot iron may be more easily applied; then that the nostril be stitched; and the cauterized ulcer cured as in the former method; and litharge or some other agglutinant laid upon the suture.

CHAP. XII. OF THE OPERATIONS REQUISITE IN THE MOUTH.

Of the teeth.

In the mouth also some disorders are cured by manual operation. Here in the first place the teeth are sometimes loosened, either by reason of the weakness of their roots, or from the gums decaying. It is proper in both cases to apply a hot iron to the gums, so as to touch them gently, but not to make a deep impression. The gums when cauterized must be rubbed with honey, and washed with mulse. When the ulcers begin to be clean, some dry repellent medicines must be sprinkled upon them.

But if a tooth occasions pain, and it seems proper to extract it, because medicines give no relief, it ought to be scraped all round, that the gum may be loosened from it; then it is to be shook; which must be continued till it move easily: for the extraction of a fast tooth is attended with the greatest danger, and sometimes the jaw-bone is dislocated. It is attended with more danger still in the upper teeth; because it may give a shock to the temples or eyes. After these precautions, the tooth is to be taken out, if possible, by the hand, if not, by a forceps.

But if it be corrupted before, its cavity must be filled up either with lint, or lead well adapted to it, lest it break under the forceps. The forceps must be drawn out straight, lest the thin bone, to which the tooth adheres, be fractured in some part by its bended roots. Neither is this without danger; especially in the short teeth, which generally have longer roots; for often, when the forceps cannot lay hold of the tooth, or does it without success, it takes hold of the jaw-bone, and breaks that.