Page:A cyclopedia of American medical biography vol. 1.djvu/74

 lxiv INTRODUCTION

ease of the mouth or throat which had proved fatal to some in a very short time, and to quinsies and impostumations of the almonds or tonsils and great distempers of cold." In 1736 William Douglass, M. D., published an essay of eighteen pages upon " The Practical History of the New Epidemical Erupted Miliary Fever with an Angina Ulcusculous" which prevailed in Boston, New England, in the years 1735-6. This seems to describe an epidemic of scarlet fever, while the disease mentioned by Josselin and Morton is apparently diphtheria.

Most of the literature of the time seems to have related to these two diseases. In 1740 William Curry gave a short account of the influenza, which prevailed in America in 1739. Up to 1817 little is found that does not relate to the consideration of these diseases or to "croup." In that year, Cheesman published an article upon " Growths and Tumors of the Throat." In 1S20 Trowbridge, some on "Nasal Polyp and Foreign Bodies." In 1822 Bradford wrote upon "Laryngeal Diseases," Handy upon "Aphonia" and Waters upon "Whooping Cough," while Cart- wright in 1825 wrote upon "Laryngotomy." From this time on the range of subjects rapidly increases, although croup predominates.

The subjects include, in chronological order, syphilitic laryngitis, inflammation of the larynx, foreign bodies, cleft palate, tumors of the tonsils, ozena, tracheotomy and croup, laryngismus, surgery of the tonsils, aphasia, paralysis, and, in 1833, the treatment of diphtheria.

A case is recorded in 1835 of a pin removed from the larynx by external incision. In the same year, removal of the thyroid gland. In 1837 nose deformities and rhinoplasty are discussed and a case of rupture of the larynx is reported ; ulcers of the larynx are described in 1841. In 1842 nasal cancer, in 1844 medication of the nose, in 1847 voice anomalies and a case of loss of the larynx by a musket shot; a case of "ticking" sound in the larynx is also mentioned. In 1848 Gurdon Buck published his first epoch-making paper upon "Edematous Laryngitis and its Treat- ment by Scarification," and Howard described tumors of the palate. In 1846 Horace Green appeared in literature, presenting his "Treatise on Bronchitis." In this he advocated the employment of topical applica- tions to the larynx and of catheterization. Cystic tumors were described in 1851, also erysipelas of the larynx. In 1852 we find the first mention of malignant growths. In 1853 there appears an article upon the trachea and in 1854 several masterly contributions from Horace Green and an article on " Epilepsy as Relating to the Larynx."

The use of insufflators is mentioned in 1855, and in the same year "showering syringes" in laryngeal and catarrhal diseases. The subject of inhalation was also brought forward by Trousseau and taken up in this country. Bowditch wrote upon malignant growths in 1858. In 1859 pharyngotomy is mentioned. For the next ten years little