Swellings In the Nock.

Otago Witness, Issue 2660, 8 March 1905, Page 76

Swellings In the Nock.

The- most common swellings- of the neck which are not caused by enlargements of lymphatic glands are due to goitre. Goitre, sometimes called also "Derbyshire N&ok, 1 ' from its prevalence in that country, is due to an enlargement of the thyroid gland in the neck. This gland is normally small in size, and cannot be detected by inspection of the neck. It lies on both sides- of the windpipe, a little way below the thyroid cartilage, which produces the- prominence called the "Adam's' apple," and contains the organ of voice, "the larynx." Between the two halves of the thyroid gland a small band of tissue passes across the windpipe, and this thin and narrow band is called the "isthmus of the thyroid." The enlargement sometimes involves one-half of the thyroid and sometimes the other, or both may be enlarged. Which part is involved will largely determine the. position, and the extent of the increase will determine the shape of the swelling in the neck. When it is only slight it produces a slight fulness of the lower part of the neck, and by tome is considered a point of beauty ; but when it exceeds this moderate limit it is an undoubted disfigurement. Unless it is great, the swelling can usii-ally be hiddr-n by an ordinary dress, and no notice of the need bo taken. A great many methods have been tried with the object of curing the condition, and a varied degree of success has been obtained by many, or, at all events, apparent success. This may be due in some few ca=os to an acnval effect of the treatment, but it is extremely doubtful if it is not a natural decrease in the size of the thyroid which has taken place. As a rule, nothing should be done unless it interfcies with breathing, and then surgical measures are most likely to give relief.

"Mumps" is the cause of, perhaps, the only other kind of swelling which is at all common m the neck. It is an infectious disease. cau>ht as mra~les and scarlet fe\er arr caught, by infection, and it attacks th-e "parotid gland." This gland is the largest of those which supply saliva to the mouth, and lies in front of tho par and behmd the angle of the jaw. When it swells the fulness parses downward* into the neck just beneath its natural situation, owing to ihe v.ay it is bound down by tough tissue called fascia. Like the majority of infectious eh*r a^s. thi-= one pas-c= off if loft alone, aUhoiuli v,hen it i= paii.fnl it may ho »-clioM'd by jretitlo ma-sigo \\ith the han<l, luix-ici-tcd with wiim camphorated o'l ; or a very hot )iii=ccd poultice apjilied over the swelling will snp relief, and do no harm unlcs* it is k.ejjfc on till it gets, jjpld,

Of course, the poultice may be renewed, after an hour if it is necessary. — Liverpool Mercury.