Deafness practically illustrated / [James Yearsley].

  • James Yearsley
Date:
[1849]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Deafness practically illustrated / [James Yearsley]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    36/200 page 24
    Affections of the external auditory passage produce deafness by altering it in shape and calibre, so as to decrease the impression of sound upon the tympanum, and very frequently by involving the membrana tym- pani itself in the changes which ensue. It may be- come contracted by the thickening of the soft parts which line it, the result of inflammation frequently recurring and passing into a chronic form; or it may be obliterated in consequence of wounds or ulcerations, which in cicatrizing have united the sides of the canal, and thus closed the cavity. Mazzoni has remarked an imperforate state of this passage, and Blandin, its total absence. Nevertheless, none of these conditions ap- pear to destroy the hearing altogether, provided the contents of the tympanum and labyrinth are healthy. A case is recorded of a child entirely destitute of all appearance of external ears, and of external auditory passages, these openings being completely covered by the common integuments; yet the child could hear a great deal, though the sense was certainly dull and im- perfect. < By far the greater number of cases of discharge from the external ear, or otorrhcea, occur in individuals of the strumous diathesis: this fact should never be forgotten in the treatment, during which the general health should be attended to with quite as much assiduity as the local affection. Discharges from the external passage gene- rally commence as mucous otorrhea; indeed, frequently nothing more is perceived than simply an increase of the natural ceruminous secretion. The sensation at- tending the commencement is that of itching, or tingling, rather than pain, which incites the patient to attempt the alleviation of this troublesome symptom, by picking
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