POLYPUS.
These innocent growths can be successfully removed, when within reach and most of them are, without the loss of blood or the infliction of pain, by carbolic acid injection to act as a styptic and deaden the sensibility, while the scissors is used to sever their connection with the bowel.
Allusion is made, in speaking of the diagnosis of hemorrhoids, to the different forms and varieties of polypi, consequently no further description of them will be given here. Polypi, being more dense and fibrous than hemorrhoids, are not readily permeated by the injection compound. Neither can the hemorrhoidal needle be used with any advantage unless they be large and soft in structure. Therefore a small hypodermic needle is selected and 95 per cent. carbolic acid. This strength of carbolic acid is not only a powerful styptic and cauterant, but its fluidity permits it to be forced throughout the fibrous structure with ease.
The action of the acid should extend fully to the base of the polypus, which is then clipped off a little outside of the line. The stump goes through similar changes to that of hemorrhoids after injection. In long or pediculated polypi, it will only be necessary to apply the acid at the base sufficiently to intercept the circulation before excision.
A little cocaine may be used first, if the parts are very sensitive, and the same precaution should be taken with regard to the protection of the adjacent and surrounding parts from the excoriating effects of the carbolic acid, as recommended when operating on hemorrhoids.