associated with it, resolves itself into the use of local sedative
applications, such as a weak cocain or eucain spray before meals,
insufflations of acetate of morphin and boracic acid, and the use of a
menthol spray. One of the best anaesthetic applications is orthoform
powder, introduced by means of the ordinary laryngeal insufflator. Its
action is more prolonged than that of any of the others, often
lasting for from twenty-four to forty-eight hours.

Injection of the superior laryngeal nerve with a 60 per cent. solution
of alcohol has been found satisfactory where other means have failed.

#Interference with Respiration.#--It is only necessary here to refer
to such causes of interference with respiration as may call for
surgical treatment.

The chief forms of _laryngitis_ to be considered in connection with
the production of dyspnoea, are membranous or diphtheritic laryngitis
and acute inflammatory oedema.

#Diphtheria of the larynx# is described on p. 110, Volume I.

#Acute Oedema of the Larynx.#--Oedema of the larynx may be
inflammatory or non-inflammatory in origin. The former is the more
common, and may arise in connection with disease of the larynx, such
as tuberculosis or syphilis, or it may be secondary to acute infective
conditions at the base of the tongue, or in the fauces or pharynx;
more rarely it results from infective conditions of the cellular
tissue or glands of the neck. The non-inflammatory form may be a local
dropsy in renal or cardiac disease, may be induced by pressure on the
large cervical veins, and in some cases it appears to follow the
administration of potassium iodide in the treatment of laryngeal
affections.

The oedema consists of an exudation into the loose submucous areolar
tissue, which may be of a simple serous character or may
become sero-purulent. The situations mainly involved are the
glosso-epiglottic fossae between the base of the tongue and the
epiglottis, the ary-epiglottic folds (Fig. 287), and the false cords.
If the infective process commences in front of the epiglottis this
structure becomes swollen and rigid, and often livid in
colour--points which are readily discerned on examination with the
mirror, or even without its aid in some cases. The patient complains
of great pain on swallowing, and has the sensation of a foreign body
in the throat. Should the oedema spread to the ary-epiglottic folds,
either from the interior of the larynx or from the fauces and pharyn