Clinical contributions to otology from the practice of Dr. C.R. Agnew / reported by D. Webster.

  • Webster, David, 1842-1923.
Date:
[between 1870 and 1879?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Clinical contributions to otology from the practice of Dr. C.R. Agnew / reported by D. Webster. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    CLINICAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO OTOLOGY, From the practice of Dr. C. R. Agnew. Reported by Dr. DAVID WEBSTER, New York. Case I.—Pain in the ears with spasm of the Tensor Tyrnpani, caused by the use of strychnia internally. Rev. W. C. J., aet. 30, was referred to us by his physician, Dr. Daniel Lewis, on account of a large central scotoma of his left eye which had, for nine months, produced serious “ confusion of vision.” Ophthalmoscopic examination showed changes in and about the region of the macula. He was placed upon Bichloride of Mercury with Iodide of Potassium for about a month, had several hypodermic injections of a solution of nitrate of strychnia, and was sent home with vision increased from g-g-g- to fwo, and with instructions to take one pill containing one-sixtieth of a grain of strychnia, thrice daily. About three weeks later I received a letter from him in which he said :—“ The pills I take regularly, omitting them only when it is necessary, or I forget them. If I am not mistaken, they cause a pain in my head, especially in my ears. It comes on after taking them and does not appear when I omit them. The sensation is of strange rather than acute pain.” As I had given strychnia, both hypodermically and by the stomach, in many cases before, and no patient had ever com¬ plained to me of similar effects of the drug, I thought the matter worth investigating further, so I wrote to Mr. J. asking him to de¬ scribe to me more specifically the effects of the strychnia upon his ears, and suggesting some things which I desired him to note. The following is his reply :—“ I do not have any more of the pains n my ears and therefore cannot make the observations you sug-