The nature and causes of catarrhal, "throat", or hereditary deafness : an explanation of paracusis willisii the mechanism of aural accommodation, the regulation of labyrinthine fluid pressure, the tightening of relaxed tympanic membrances and joints, the relief of tinnitus aurium with the description of a new method of treatment and some illustrative cases / by Charles J. Heath.

  • Heath, Charles J. (Charles Joseph), 1856-1934
Date:
[1912]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The nature and causes of catarrhal, "throat", or hereditary deafness : an explanation of paracusis willisii the mechanism of aural accommodation, the regulation of labyrinthine fluid pressure, the tightening of relaxed tympanic membrances and joints, the relief of tinnitus aurium with the description of a new method of treatment and some illustrative cases / by Charles J. Heath. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    habit has not hitherto been regarded as a possible cause. The drum-heads and tympanic joints in many deaf people, though weakened and somewhat relaxed by the changes I will presently describe, would not have become sufficiently stretched to cause deafness but for this forcible distension of the tympanum. Let me give an example. A boy (Master S.), set. 10 years, was brought to me suffering from deaf- ness with paracusis. The rest of his family had excellent hearing.. He also suffered from nasal irritation due to enlargement of the turbinal bodies, and the resulting discomfort led to the constant and vigorous use of the pocket- handkerchief, and consequently to violent distension o; his ears. His mother said: “ he blows his nose more than anybody I ever met.” On examination it was found that the tympanic membranes and joints had become much relaxed by this pressure, though he was younger than those in whom such conditions are usually to be observed.7 Another instance is that of a lady, who to my knowledge had had good hearing, and in whose [Note 7.—Though this patient was exceptionally young to be afflicted with this kind of deafness, it should be pointed out that many of the ear troubles of youth (especially those briefly associated with ear- ache, and discharge) which in the past have been con- sidered trifling, are in reality responsible for a very large proportion of the deafness which supervenes in later life.]