Review of Dental Literature and Art. [Volume: 2, Issue: 7, February, 1861, pp. 385-400]

REVIEW OF DENTAL LITERATURE AND ART.

399

(or) makes in a sentence, and also to prove that those who criticise the
efforts of others should do it in a spirit tempered by justice and charity.
DENTAL REVIEW OF LONDON-NOVEMBER.
"ANCHYLOSIS OF THE INFERIOR MAXILLA CURED BY THE METHOD OF
PROFESSOR RIZZOLI. (From 'L'Sperimentale et Racoglitore Medico de
Fano.')-The patient, who was named Louise Vaiola, and was about
twenty-three years of age, appeared to be of a lymphatic-venous temperament, and had menstruated regularly for nearly eight years. A short
time after the appearance of this function, she perceived that the left
commissure of the lips was visibly drawn away from the same side, without, however, any cause being discoverable for the change. About the
same time a slight but continuous pain made itself evident at the left
posterior angle of the lower jaw, and went on increasing, assuming the
lancinating character, and accompanied by tumefaction about the bone;
the surrounding soft parts became red, swollen, and painful; and, in a
word, all the symptoms of the formation of an abscess showed themselves. Without consulting any surgeon, the patient herself applied local
fomentations, which probably hastened the formation of the pus, and
which eventuated in the bursting of the abscess internally near the last
molar tooth but one; immediately the pain, redness, and swelling disappeared as if by enchantment, and the only symptom which remained was
a certain stiffness of the jaw, the movements of which became gradually
more difficult, painful, and finally altogether impossible, and for eight
years she remained in this miserable state.
"On the 4th of December, 1858, the patient was admitted into an
hospital. At this time the left cheek was more depressed than that
of the opposite side, and an exploration being made along the horizontal
ramus of the jaw, the fact was established of a loss of osseous substance
near the posterior angle of the jaw. The finger when introduced inside
the cheek was also stopped by strong adhesions of cicatricial tissue, and
the teeth were to be found in their alveoli, all except the two upper
incisors, the absence of which allowed of the introduction of some liquid
nutriment.
" It is not our intention to enter into the question of the cause of the
disease, as that would lead us too far from our subject. It remains for
us to describe the actual operation, as performed by the author on the
12th of December.
" The patient being seated, and her head supported against the breast
of one assistant, while another drew down the lower jaw, the operator
made an incision in the cul-de-sac which united the lip and gum of that
side, exactly at the space which corresponds to the second and third
molars; this incision divided not only the mucous membrane, but also the
subjacent soft parts, so as to lay bare the lower border of the jaw; by
this wound was then introduced the straight and blunt branch of the bone
forceps, which embraced the internal border of the jaw, so that the cutting
edge of the instrument was easily placed on the outside. A slight force
only was necessary to completely divide the maxilla at one stroke, and
thus restore to the jaw the motion which it had lost for eight years. The
operation was not interrupted by any complication, either during or after
its performance. * * * * * *
"The girl who was the subject of this proceeding is now quite cured;
she is able to separate her jaws widely; to chew her food-to eat, drink,
laugh, speak, as in the normal state, and will soon return to her family,