DISEASES OF TUE YOUTH.
Ranula is an indolent tumour, formed under the tongue, consisting of a mem branous cyst, containing a fluid, general ly like white of egg, and occasioning no inconvenience until its bulk becomes troublesome. If punctured, it will col lect again. Cut away that surface of the bag which projects, and rub the remain der with lunar caustic. Tumours under the tongue may be entirely removed; and calcareous concretions in the ducts must also be cut out.
Shortness of the frenum of the tongue, causing a preternatural confinement of the organ, may be remedied by divid ing it to the requisite extent with blunt scissors.
Ulcers of the tongue may arise from the rugged edge of a tooth, which should be made smooth ; from the use mercury, when pushed to salivation ; from disor ders of the prima via, foul state of the stomach, &c. in which case emetics, and afterwards alterative medicines, are re. quired. They may, lastly, be of a can cerous nature, commencing in a small sub. stance of the scirrhous tumour, or an indu ration of thetongue,and accompanied with hard irregular edges, and foul discharge.
This cancerous state of the organ will end inevitably in a miserable death, unless an operation for the removal of the disease be performed. This may be accomplish ed by the histoury, or by a double liga ture passed through the substance of the organ, and tied so as to include the dis *sae. If the glands under the jaw have been affected, it is too late to operate.
The tonsils, when inflamed, sometimes swell so as to impede deglutition and re spiration, particularly when abscesses form in the neighbourhood. They may be scarified freely by the pharyngoto mus (which is a lancet contained in a sheath) ; and the same instrument may be employed in opening collections of matter. An indolent enlargement of the tonsil may be remedied, by cutting away the projecting portions by means of a hook and bistoury ; or by means of liga ture.
The elongated uvula requires astringent gargles, or the removal of its extremity by scissors constructed for the purpose.