QUINSY ( formerly also (piney, squinty, from OF. squinaneie, esquinance. Fr. esqn inancle, from Lat. eynanche, from Gk. kynanche, sort of sore throat, from K6cop, kyon, dog + 67xecp, anchein, to choke). An acute inflammation of the loose tissue surrounding the tonsil. termi nating usually in suppuration. Quinsy is most prevalent between the ages of fifteen and forty, children and old persons seeming to be exempt. A rheumatic tendency predisposes to the disease. The exciting cause is sudden and unequal ex posure of the body to cold or wet. The affection is usually confined to one tonsil. but both may be successive or simultaneously involved. One at tack predisposes to others. The disease is ushered in with feelings of chilliness and ex haustion followed by a temperature of 102' or F. These symptoms are accompanied by severe pain in the region of the tonsil. The latter becomes so swollen as to interfere with deglutition. The mouth can only be partly opened and with great pain, and the taking of food, except in liquid form, becomes impossible. The peritonsillar tissues become swollen and painful. The voice is muffled and indistinct, and sleep is almost impossible. Severe cases are marked by an intensity of all these symptoms, successive chills and sweats. delirium at night.
Although the disease is acute and painful, it rarely proves fatal. Cases have occurred in which bursting of the abscess into the larynx during sleep produced instant death. The or dinary duration of :suppurative tonsillitis is from five to eight days. At the end of this time the abscess bursts, all the symptoms disappear. and prompt recovery ensues. Tn its early stage the affection may often he cut short or aborted if prompt measures for relief are taken. These consist in rest, free purgation by a saline cathar tic, followed by a single large dose of quinine; in addition the application of warmth and the use of antiseptic anodyne and astringent gargles. If the tonsillitis is of rheumatic origin salicylate of soda may be given. When suppuration has be come inevitable, hot turpentine stapes or poul tices applied over the angle of the jaw will hasten the formation of pus. Even before the first indication of pointing the abscess should be freely incised and the pus evacuated. This pro cedure is attended with immediate relief. Chron ically diseased tonsils should be removed to pre vent future attacks.