On a new method of treating otorrhoea / by James Yearsley.

  • Yearsley, James, 1805-1869.
Date:
1856
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On a new method of treating otorrhoea / by James Yearsley. 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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    taining alum, salts of lead, zinc, &c., which from time immemorial have formed a prominent feature in the routine treatment of otorrhcea, have sometimes been successful in suppressing the discharge; but how often have practitioners and patients had reason to regret in such cases, that in an exact ratio with their success,—that is, in exact ratio with the sub- sidence of the discharge,—has there been a cor- responding diminution of the sense of hearing. In my experience this has been so manifestly the case, that for many years past I have preferred recom- mending patients to submit to their malady, rather than incur the alternative. I have accordingly limited the treatment generally to the mere cleans- ing and soothing of the ear, without prescribing the use of such means as might be supposed capable of suppressing entirely the discharge. I had not long practised my plan for the relief of deafness arising from partial or entire loss of the membrana tympani, ere my attention was arrested by the fact adverted to; namely, the gradual diminution, followed by the entire cessation of the discharge, which almost invariably occurs in cases where the wetted cotton is used for the purpose mentioned, and to the use of which there can be no doubt such a result is alone attributable. Frequently would some patient exclaim with no little satis- faction, if not exultation, “ Your remedy has not