Report of one hundred cases of diseases of the ear / by J.J. Kirk Duncanson.

Date:
1878
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report of one hundred cases of diseases of the ear / by J.J. Kirk Duncanson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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    Jiuvescens. The Aspergilhis Jlavescens occurred in three cases of otovrhcea of old standing, and where the patients came from one of the most unhealthy districts in our city, viz., the neighbourhood of the canal basin. The case of Aspergillus nigricam occurred in both external ear-passages in a young woman from the neighbourhood of Glasgow, whose condition of health and apparent circumstances gave one the impression that she would live enjoying favourable hygiene. I could trace no deleterious influences in her history. The membrana tympani in both of her ears was entire; but no doubt the parasite had found a congenial soil in a neglected chronic eczema of both external ear-passages. This case is still under treatment—at least, she turns up for a fortnight or so every six or eight months, and is expected soon, but has been away longer than usual this time. A considerable improvement takes place after a careful attention in carrying out the treatment for a fortnight, when the patient, not being annoyed by the sense of fulness and dis- tressing noises in the ear, neglects the constant application of the remedy, the disease soon springs up again and nearly fills the meatus. A strong solution of corrosive sublimate, of the strength of three grains to three ounces of the spiritus vini rectificatissimi of the German Pharmacopoeia, is used at first, and this is diluted down with rose-water as the disease subsides; or, perhaps it would be better to say, as the stronger solution becomes unbearable. It is generally only half the strength by the end of a fortnight, and this strength the patient can go on using for a long time. At first it is applied four or five times a day until all the flakes and epidermal scales are removed by syringing with a strong alkaline solution, and it is as these are removed that the original strength requires dilution. Twelve cases of subacute catarrh of the tympanum and eustachian tubes. These cases generally occur in growing children. The children are out of sorts, do not take proper meals, like to eat pieces, they are apt to be considered stupid or dull-headed. The deafness arising from the obstruction to the entrance of air to the tympanum through the eustachian tube is generally readily relieved by the application of the air-douche. The general health of the young patients requires to be attended to. . Gargling is of great benefit. The early treatment of such cases in a thorough manner prevents the establishment of a more distressing and serious malady apt to rise from neglected cases of subacute catarrh in after-life. Our next group, chronic catarrh, of which we had thirteen in the hundred cases. This chronic catarrh we find as a very common cause of deafness and other distressing symptoms, such as tinnitus aurium in our changeable climate. One case of very marked proliferous catarrh^ otitis media hyper- trophica of Gruber, came under treatment at this time. The great distress caused to the patient by the constant noises in his ears was very trying to witness. It seemed as if his reason would be aiFected from the loss of sleep, and constant distraction from all the affairs of life, caused by the continual noises in his ears and head. Js'o wonder this form of deafness was called nervous deafness by the