Inflammation of the Lateral Columns of the Pharynx Leading to Abscess Formation, with Report of Cases

Abstract

When a tissue like the lymphoid structures in the nasopharynx and throat. possessed of certain peculiar characteristics, becomes inflamed in anyone of its various portions, it mig-ht reasonably be expected that certain results would follow. Or. to put it in another way, if certain kinds of inflammation were pocsible in anyone part of Waldeyers ring-, it certainly ought logically to be possible in any other portion . .Any isolated mass of lymphoid tissue could, therefore, in a general way, be expected to act, when inflamed. exactly after the fashion of the faucial tonsil, and could have. like the latter, simple acute, follicular, rheumatic. diphtheritic and phlegmonous inflammations. As knowledge became more widespread concerning what happened to the adenoid or pharyngeal tonsil, we learned to know, as years went by. that it might have acute as well as chronic inflammation. The same is true of the lingual tonsil and at a meeting of our association. in lR98, at Pittsburg. it was my pleasure and privilege to read a paper chronicling various cases of acute inflammation of the lingual tonsil which ended in abscess formation. In recent years much has been written in the journals concerning inflammation of the lateral columns of the pharynx, and I have a presentiment that if we continue to remove root and branch from our young children all of their adenoids and faucial tonsils. there will be abundant need for us to de-