Rose and Carless's Manual of surgery for students and practitioners

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1912 edition. Excerpt: ...of gummata, commencing beneath the periosteum which covers the bodies; it is of unfrequent occurrence, and gives rise to symptoms somewhat similar to those of tuberculous caries, from which the diagnosis is not always easy, apart from the history and its reaction to treatment. It usually occurs in adults, and is said to affect mainly the cervical vertebra; (Tubby); cases have been recorded in which a gumma opened into the pharynx, and portions of bone were discharged therefrom and expectorated. The co-existence of a syphilitic history and of specific lesions elsewhere may help one in coming to a decision as to the nature of the affection. Treatment consists in the administration of suitable anti-syphilitic drugs, and in the use of a spinal support. IV. Rheumatic Spondylitis is a condition occasionally met with arising from the same causes, and associated with much the same phenomena as rheumatism elsewhere. It may involve either the ligamentous or muscular tissues, or may attack the intervertebral joints. Any part of the spine is involved, but perhaps the most marked features are presented in the cervical region. Considerable impairment in the movements of the head is then produced, and the neck may be laterally deflected, somewhat simulating torticollis. If untreated, adhesions form between the bones, and the loss of movement may be permanent. Considerable pain of a neuralgic type, due to implication of or pressure upon the nerve-roots, is usually experienced. The treatment is of an ordinary anti-rheumatic nature, combined, perhaps, with the use of a support. The so-called Gonorrheal Rheumatism also affects the spine occasionally, and brings about much the same results. V. Spondylitis Deformans is the term applied to a condition of the spine,...