A dissertation, read before the Massachusetts Medical Society, on the importance and manner of detecting deep seated matter / by Nathaniel Miller.

  • Miller, Nathaniel, 1771-1850.
Date:
1827
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A dissertation, read before the Massachusetts Medical Society, on the importance and manner of detecting deep seated matter / by Nathaniel Miller. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    denuded to a great extent, and their union with the adjoining parts would be difficult. By their pres- sure sometimes on the urethra they will cause a retention of the urine and death ; in parts also which are immediately concerned in the natural functions of life, as in the parotids, preventing a free return of blood from the head to the heart—on the ante- rior part of the neck preventing respiration and de- glutition, &c. I will now, Gentlemen, briefly mention the gene- ral symptoms, as they are laid down in our stand- ard works, and the directions therein given for de- tecting matter; then close with a few critical re- marks, and with directions on this subject. The directions of the authorities for the discovery of matter may be summed up in these few wcrds; —where there is a remission of the inflammatory action, if the tumour be soft in the middle and pointed, there is no doubt that pus is in the tumour. My object is not to dwell at all on cases of tins kind, in which even a nurse or any bystander may see matter through the skin. They then go on to tell us— if the matter is deeply seated in the in- terstices of the muscles, and beneath strong apo- neuroses, it is then difficult to ascertain its pre- sence ; and thus it has remained a long time un- discovered. These are the cases to which I wish to draw your attention, and to show that under such circum- stances the existence of matter may with certainty