Book Description

Excerpt from The Cincinnati Medical News, 1880, Vol. 13: Vol. IX, New Series Suppose a person has a perforation in the membrana tym pani, and suppose the action of the atmosphere should irri tate and cause an in ammation of the mucous membrane, wherein lies the danger? As we have already stated, the roof of this cavity consists of a thin septum of bone, which lies in juxtaposition with the membranes of the brain upon one side, and the mucous membrane of the tympanum on the other. An in ammation of the latter membrane may continue until it \destroys or perforates this septum, and then produce meningitis or cerebral abscess with fatal results; or, the in ammation may extend to the mastoid cells and then destroy the septum, the latter being more prolific of cerebral trouble. In some cases, this in amma tory action may continue for months and years without producing anything more than an annoying otorrhoea. The formation of pus is due to a modification and pro liferation of the cellular elements, the amount produced being dependent upon the vascular supply and the degree of stasis. As fast as this proliferation takes place, it is thrown Off in the shape of an otorrhoea. This corrects the false premise referred to in the first part of this arti cle. This process may continue indefinitely, progressing no further than a chronic otorrhoea, and the patient finally be carried off by intercurrent trouble alter the lapse Of years. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works."