If, either from improper management, or the morbid condition of the action, the abscess, after it bursts spontaneously, or is opened by art, continue to suppurate, without undergoing the ulcerative action preparatory to healing, then we find, that either the sides remain quite separate, producing a cavity, extended more or less, or one particular portion remains open, forming a sinus. Both of these cases require a treatment, which, in its principle, is the same, namely, the indication of the ulcerative action.
In the first case[34], we shall frequently succeed by means of the seton, especially if we use pressure alongst with it; for, by keeping the internal surface in close contact, we tend to check the purulent, or suppurative action, and produce organic particles[35]. We may also succeed, by using stimulating injections, of such a strength as to produce a moderate degree of smarting. Of this kind are, wine and water, solutions of white vitriol, corrosive sublimate, &c. These ought to be used frequently in the course of the day, and pressure employed during the intervals. Incision, or laying the part open, is, being the most severe, the last remedy which is to be had recourse to. Small chronic abscesses may be laid open during their whole diameter; but larger ones require only to be cut up for a certain length.
The second case, has generally been considered as a species of ulcer, and has been named the sinus ulcer; but, although the orifice may sometimes possess the diseased ulcerative action, yet the sinus itself still continues in the suppurative state, and, therefore, cannot heal. These sinuses depend, in different instances, upon very different causes, and, therefore, require a variation in the treatment. The most simple species of sinus may be called mechanical, and is produced by matter flowing from a neighbouring cavity, and which cannot be freely discharged: Thus, for instance, if a deep abscess open at the highest part, or at a point above the level of its bottom, the matter constantly oozes out, and keeps the canal open. This is most apt to occur, when abscesses are formed deep amongst muscular parts; in which case, although the matter point at the centre, yet an accumulation must take place below, and the matter must continue to be discharged by the aperture, when it becomes so abundant as to be raised to the level of the opening; or, being once raised, it continues to flow out. The cure of this may at first be attempted mechanically, by tight bandages, which press out the matter, and keep the sides in contact; but, if the disease have been of long duration, then, whatever may have been its nature at first, we find, that the suppurative action extends along the mechanical sinus, which then becomes affected with a chronic action; in which case, it becomes similar to the second species of sinus. We must, in this species, make an opening at the most dependent part, and employ the means which will be now mentioned in considering the second species, or that produced in consequence of the suppurative action becoming chronic or habitual, independent of any mechanical cause. This may take place, although the aperture have been originally in a proper place, and the matter, instead of being retained and keeping up the disease, shall have been regularly discharged. The case in which this is most likely to happen, is that in which the abscess has been very tedious in its progress, and the action has been, from the first, slow. The distinction betwixt this species, and those which remain to be mentioned, is founded upon the absence of the symptoms which they possess, and by our examination with the probe, which points out the cause and extent, and informs us whether we be near a bone. The orifice is flabby, and has the appearance of the indolent ulcer. The cure of these sinuses is to be attempted, by pressing out the matter by means of proper bandages, or by making a dependent opening, which is generally necessary, at the same time that we raise the action of the part to a proper degree, and render the suppurative action acute and vigorous; in which case, it naturally terminates in the ulcerative, and thus the part has its structure restored. This is most easily effected, by passing a seton, and applying a proper degree of pressure, diminishing the size of the seton gradually, and in proportion to the vigour of the action and the approximation toward health. When, from the situation of the sinus, we cannot pass a seton (which rarely happens in this species of sinus), injections of wine may be used frequently, and pressure applied during the intervals. When these means fail, which is seldom the case, the part should, if its structure permit, be laid open. If this sinus have remained long open, its surface, like that of the chronic abscess, becomes changed, and a coat is formed, like the cyst of a tumour. When this is thick and hard, the sinus has been called a fistula, and it has been deemed necessary to dissect out the tube; but it is in general sufficient to use the remedies which increase the vigour of the action, and make it run its natural progress; such as the seton, or a free incision, if the parts be superficial, or no considerable vessel or nerve runs the risk of being wounded.
The third species of sinus is that in which the suppurative action is kept up by the operation of some adventitious cause; such as a caries bone, diseased cartilage, or the lodgement of a foreign body; as, for instance, a ball, a splinter of wood, bit of cloth, &c. This species is distinguished by our feeling the extraneous body, or diseased bone, with the probe, and by the fungous protuberance, or papilla, which shoots out from the orifice. In addition to the method of curing other sinuses, we must here endeavour to remove the adventitious cause, which is generally very difficult to be done. If the foreign body be deep, or if the diseased bone lie deep, and the sinus be narrow, we can do little in this way; sometimes, indeed, by enlarging the external part, we can come at the foreign body with a pair of small forceps, and may extract it, or may accelerate the exfoliation of the diseased bone; but we can have no certainty of success. If, however, the sinus be superficial, which sometimes happens in caries of the tibia, &c. it ought, in every instance, to be fully laid open, and the bone exposed, and treated in the way immediately to be mentioned. When this cannot be done, we may sometimes, by conveying the proper remedies through a tube down to the bone, procure exfoliation; or may, by setons, injections, and pressure, procure a temporary cure; but, as long as the adventitious cause remains, we cannot expect a permanent recovery. It is observed, that sinuses, when they can be healed in these circumstances, break out again upon very trifling exertions, and very frequently are renewed, after a short interval, in spite of all our precautions; such as rest, warmth, &c.
A caries[36] of the bone is at all times a disease which is difficult to manage, both on account of the mechanical obstacles which we have to overcome, and the slowness with which the affected parts perform their actions either of disease or recovery. The divisions of this disease have generally been taken from the appearance of the caries, and its extent. We have the dry caries, the worm-eaten caries, the spongy, or carnous caries, &c. and we have the deep and superficial. But, as the cure of these is to be conducted on the same principles in all of them, and as they are most probably different degrees of the same complaint, it will be more useful to divide them into those which affect bones lying deeply, and those which affect the more superficial bones; because these different cases are attended with very different circumstances and symptoms. The first is preceded by an abscess, which forms generally with much pain, runs its course slowly, and does not burst for a considerable time. When it does open, its sides do not ulcerate, at least universally, but a sinus remains, the mouth, or exposed part of which only, assumes the ulcerative action. The second is more rarely preceded by any abscess, but is either coeval with the ulcer of soft parts, (both being produced by mechanical violence) or it succeeds the ulcer, and is caused by it. This ulcer belongs to the third genus, and will be afterwards described.
In treating of the cure of caries, the first thing is, to determine by what means the disease of the bone may be removed; and, secondly, what modification our treatment must undergo, in consequence of the caries belonging to the first or second species. From the very earliest periods, we find the application of stimulating and corrosive remedies recommended in this disease. The actual cautery, euphorbium, mineral acids, scalding oil, the essential oils, and warm balsams, have been universally employed, and frequently alternated with rasping and perforating the bone. This proceeded from observing, that, on the one hand, mild applications had no effect, and, on the other, that the natural slowness of exfoliation was overcome by the use of these more powerful remedies. A caries of a bone is correspondent to a mortification of a soft part; and, therefore, it is impossible to restore the diseased part to health, or life. Our chief object, then, must be to prevent the disease from spreading, and to procure a speedy separation of the dead portion. The first is much less under our power than the second; for, it is most probable, that, in the majority of instances, at least of those of a simple nature, the disease, from the first, extends a certain length, affecting a portion of the bone, and that it afterwards makes very little progress. There is, however, a specific disease which affects the bone in common with the soft parts. The bone becomes rough, and suppurates; and the soft parts have a fiery appearance: This has been called the phagedenic caries. Cancer, scrophula, lues, and other specific actions, also spread after they are once induced. The second object is to be effected by such means as operate upon the vitality and action of the part, and those which act mechanically. Those which tend mechanically to remove the dead portion, are perforations down to the sound part, which we know has happened, by the bleeding which ensues; or, we may saw down this length with a trephine. We thus, by cutting off the communication of part of the diseased surface with the adjacent parts, kill it completely, sooner than could otherwise happen, and likewise stimulate the parts below to assume the ulcerative action, and throw it off. We may also sometimes be able to turn out these portions with a levator. Those which act more exclusively, by affecting the action of the part, are stimulating applications; such as heat, acids, &c. The actual cautery is so terrifying to the patient, that it is now laid aside; and it is likewise liable to this objection, that it may, by its operation on the neighbouring parts of the bone, produce disease in them. The potential cautery is more useful, and may frequently be employed with advantage, either in a solid form, as to callus, &c. or dissolved in water, and applied with a pencil[37]. M. Sue, in his notes to Ravaton’s Practique, &c. recommends l’eau mercurielle, or solution of mercury, in nitrous acid. By these means, the sound part below assumes the ulcerative action, its connection with the diseased portion is then destroyed, and reparation takes place. The ulcer of the bone is red, and its surface covered with innumerable granulations, which rise up to the level of the surrounding parts, after which a cicatrice is formed. These granulations in the bone are absorbed, and others more perfect are deposited in their place, until at last they become completely osseous[38].
The next point which merits our attention, is the situation of the bone, and the circumstances which attend the caries. When superficial, a fungous ulcer is produced, and the modification which this situation requires in the application of the general plan will come afterwards to be attended to; the modification in the treatment which is required in sinuses has been mentioned above. It may here only be remarked, that, where the sinuses are superficial, they may be laid open, which will induce the ulcerative action in their course, and allow us to apply the proper remedies to the bone; but where they run deep, we must either allow the disease to run its natural progress, and treat the constitution according to the effects produced, or, by means of a canula, convey a piece of caustic to the diseased part, in the same way as we treat obstinate strictures of the urethra, &c. When, with the probe, we feel the bone loose, we may assist its exit with the forceps, or by enlarging part of the sinus, according to circumstances.