On a new mode of treating deafness when attended by partial or entire loss of the membrana tympani, associated or not with discharge from the ear.

  • Yearsley, James, 1805-1869.
Date:
1849
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On a new mode of treating deafness when attended by partial or entire loss of the membrana tympani, associated or not with discharge from the ear. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    19/44 (page 11)
    As I have already shown, the cases in which the new treatment is at present found applicable are those in which there is’ partial or complete loss of the mem- brana tympani: such cases are very frequently accom- panied by otorrhcea; but whether this symptom be present or not, the remedy may be found successful. Upon the subject of lesions of the membrane, I there- fore offer a few remarks:— Perforation of the membrane of the tympanum may be a congenital malformation, unattended by any dis- charge, deafness, or greater tendency than usual to disease of the ear. These cases are generally known by the subjects of them being able to pass air through the meatus, by way of the Eustachian tube and tym- panum, when the mouth and nose are stopped. Many persons thus situated are able to pass the smoke of tobacco through the ear with a very slight expiratory effort. Of the morbid causes of perforations, accumulations of matter in the tympanal cavity from acute or chronic inflammatory action are the most frequent. In such cases, the membrane may itself be involved in the in- flammatory disease which precedes the suppuration, and the greater part of it may be destroyed, or it may only give way to a limited extent, so as merely to permit the exit of the matter. In the one case, the ossicula frequently remain im situ; but in the other, they are commonly detached and expelled, or at all events the manubrium mallei is removed from its natural position in contact with the membrana tympani. Perforation and loss of membrane may also occur from the extension of disease of the passage to the tym- panum. In such cases, the disease of the passage in the