On the Diseases, Injuries, and Malformations of the Rectum and Anus: With Remarks on Habitual Constipation (Classic Reprint)

Excerpt from On the Diseases, Injuries, and Malformations of the Rectum and Anus: With Remarks on Habitual Constipation

Formerly some of the affections of the rectum, which in reality are very simple in themselves, and easily relieved, rendered the subjects of them the victims of the most painful and in many cases dangerous operations. But by the advance of surgical science generally, and the study and Observation Of these par ticular diseases, even the most painful of them may generally be remedied by medical treatment; and when an operation is necessary for the removal of morbid structure, or for the purpose of inducing a healthy reparative process, it is simple in character, quickly performed, occasioning but a Slight amount of pain, and confining the patient for only a very limited period. Thus fistula in ano, which, at a comparatively recent period, was considered among the heaviest afflictions that flesh is heir to, from the barbarous treatment that was then practised and considered necessary, as a consequence of the false notions and erroneous pathological principles that prevailed, and which led to the Scooping out of the parts in the track of the fistula, or to the extensive destruction of the surrounding tissues by various escharotics, is now remedied by a Slight incision, performed in a few seconds, and not occasioning the loss of more than a few drops Of blood. It was only a few years since it was deemed essential for the cure of fissure of the anus to entirely divide the sphincter muscle; but it is now proved that when an incision is required it is not necessary to make it more than a few lines in length, and to extend it no deeper than through the mucous and submucous tissues. In all Operations about the anus, the general rule in surgery, that of not removing more Of the integument than is necessary, cannot be too forcibly insisted on; for if this is not observed, the patient will be doomed to much inconve nience and misery by the contraction that ensues.

About the Publisher

Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com

This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.