Deafness practically illustrated / [James Yearsley].

  • James Yearsley
Date:
[1849]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

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

    49/200 page 37
    unalleviated. In such cases, the internal surface of the tympanum has become affected by the external disease, and before the cure can be established, or the hearing restored, it becomes necessary to apply remedies to the middle ear by means of the Eustachian tube. It was the practice of many of the most eminent surgeons, even of the present day, before the value and utility of catheterism were triumphantly established beyond the power of refutation, to puncture the mem- brana tympani, or make an opening into the mastoid cells, in cases of closure of the Eustachian tube, accu- mulations of blood, mucus, &c., in the cavity of the tympanum. ‘Lhe operation generally proved ineffectual, because the puncture in the membrane soon healed, and, from its returning to its original state, the benefits accruing to the patient were only transitory. By improved instrumentation, this objection to the operation no longer exists. A few years ago, an Italian surgeon, named Fabrizi, brought over to this country an ingenious instrument, termed atympanatotre, for cutting out a circular portion, or, in other words, for trephining the membrana tympani. It seemed cal- culated to realize the fondest hopes of the few remain- ing advocates for the operation, and I took the earliest opportunity of making frequent trials of it on the dead subject; but I soon found that it was quite unavailable in practice. Without, however, departing from the principle of the instrument, which is excellent, I flatter myself I have made such modifications as render it ad- mirably calculated for the object in view. But I will attempt a description of the original instrument, and the improvements I have made upon it.
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