A contribution to the pathology of congenital deafness / by Edward Cock.

  • Cock, Edward, 1805-1892.
Date:
[1838]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A contribution to the pathology of congenital deafness / by Edward Cock. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    membrane, which disappeared on the parts becoming dry from exposure. The fenestra rotunda could hardly be said to exist. (Vide Plate, Fig. 2.) • Case 2. A boy, about twelve years old, who had been deaf and dumb from birth, and subject to epileptic fits. All the vessels of the body, but particularly those about the head, were remarkably distended with fluid blood, which flowed copiously from every incision. The brain was exceed- ingly hard and firm, resembling cheese in its consistence: its vessels were strongly injected, and the ventricles contained a considerable quantity of fluid; but no tumour, or other un- natural appearance, could be discovered within the cranium. The mesentery was studded with innumerable bony deposits, contained between its layers ; but which, apparently, had not interfered with the function of the lacteal absorbents, as the lad was remarkably well grown, and stout for his age. The temporal bones were exceedingly large, massive, and heavj''; and in this respect would have been remarkable, had they belonged to an adult instead of a child. The cancellated structure which generally exists in the petrous portion was entirely deficient; and the bone presented, throughout, a dense compact texture, of almost iron hardness, and resem- bling the closest-grained ivory. The meatus externus, on both sides, was partly filled with dry inspissated cerumen, and the position of the membrana tympani was nearly horizontal. Interior of the right ear.—The cavity of the tjTiipanum was completely filled with dense fleshy granulations, adliering most firmly to the walls, completely enveloping and conceal- ing the bones, adapting themselves to all the crevices and irregularities, and extending into the mastoid cells and the commencement of the Eustacliian tube. A small quantity of thin purulent fluid escaped, when the roof of the tympanum was removed. The membrana timpani was exceedingly convex, being drawn inwards until it nearly touched the promontory; thus diminishing the size of the ca^-ity, and pushing the bones out of their place, so that the extremity of the manubrium of the malleus and the long crus of the incus were in close contact, and carried to the edge of the
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