Report of the Edinburgh Ear Dispensary : with notes of one hundred cases of diseases of the ear treated in succession during the first months of 1861 / by Thomas Keith.

  • Keith, Thomas, 1827-1895.
Date:
[1862]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report of the Edinburgh Ear Dispensary : with notes of one hundred cases of diseases of the ear treated in succession during the first months of 1861 / by Thomas Keith. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    27. Occlusion of Eustachian Tubes.—Helen Scott, set. 47 ; Feb. 26.—Three months ago, after exposure to cold, began to feel slight deafness. In the course of a few days, she says, she was almost quite deaf, with a painful feeling of pressure in her ears and head. After two or three weeks the hearing began to return, and now she hears the watch at the distance of six inches from the right ear, and eighteen inches from the left. During the last few weeks the improve¬ ment in her hearing has not continued, and she thinks she scarcely hears so well as she did a month ago. Both membranse tympani are very concave, and of a somewhat dark colour, especially the right, in which the usual spot of reflected light is very large. The throat is somewhat swollen, and the right Eustachian tube impermeable. Free counter-irritation was employed for the next fortnight, and the fauces washed from time to time with a strong solution of nitrate of silver. Tinder this treatment the hearing of the left ear rapidly improved; but that of the right remained as before. The Eustachian catheter was accordingly used every third or fourth day, and air blown through it into the tympanum, so that in the course of another fortnight the air passed freely into the middle ear, and the deafness entirely disappeared. 28. Calcareous Deposits in Membrana Tympani.—David McLaren, set. 18; Feb. 26.—States that he lost the hearing in the right ear in consequence of an injury of the head, received in his childhood. In the left ear, deafness has been coming on for about four years. He attributes it to cold, wet, and exposure when at sea. The hearing distance is contact in the left, and two inches in the right ear. The right membrana tympani is much thickened, and there is a large open¬ ing about its centre, involving a loss of nearly one-third of the whole mem¬ brane. There is no discharge ; the parts are all thick and white. The left is thick and fallen inwards, and almost one mass of atheromatous deposit: a, state of matters apparently always incurable. 29. Abscess in Walls of Meatus.—Mrs Cameron, set. 25.—Has suffered severe pain in the left ear for upwards of a week. On examination this was found to be caused by the formation of an abscess in the anterior wall of the meatus, Relief followed the evacuation of its contents. 30. Polypus.— Mrs Dennie, set. 28; Feb. 26, — Six months ago, had a severe attack of pain, followed by suppuration, in the left ear. The discharge has continued profuse since then ; and latterly she has got very deaf. Hearing distance, contact. There was a large polypus filling up the meatus, and on its removal by means of Wilde’s snare, the hearing was improved. No opportunity was given of seeing the state of the membrana tympani, as the patient did not return. 31. Chronic Inflammation of Tympanum and Membrana Tympani.—Francis Reid, set. 20.—His hearing has been gradually diminishing for the last two years, about which time he was much exposed to cold. He has never had any pain in the ears, but the tinnitus has been very troublesome and constant. The hearing distance is two inches on the right, and three on the left side. The meatus is dry and white. The membrana tympani is white and thickened ; the handle of the malleus is very prominent, and the membrane itself fallen inwards towards the promontory. Both Eustachian tubes are permeable, but the air enters with a flapping sound. No improvement followed in this case, and at his last visit he was even deafer than before, and the noises fully more troublesome. 32. Case of Nervous Deafness.—Alex. Eddington, set. 40.—States that, five years ago, after an attack of paralysis, he gradually lost his hearing. During the last two years his hearing has been gradually returning,—the hearing distance being one inch on either side. His speech is still much affected ; his gait is unsteady, and he gives a very confused account of his previous history. On examination no trace of disease is visible in either ear, both membranae