The Anatomy and physiology of the organ of hearing : with remarks on congenital deafness, the diseases of the ear, some imperfections of the organ of speech, and the proper treatment of these several affections / By David Tod.

  • Tod, David.
Date:
1832
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The Anatomy and physiology of the organ of hearing : with remarks on congenital deafness, the diseases of the ear, some imperfections of the organ of speech, and the proper treatment of these several affections / By David Tod. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Leeds Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Leeds Library.

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    culty in tracing the existence of the scrofulous diathesis, or some other hereditary morbid tendency to the parents. The purulent or ichorous discharge is generally found to have existed so long before such cases are brought under our notice, that the whole, or at least the greater part of the machinery of the Tympanum is destroyed, by which the foundation is laid of a considerable degree of deafness. In congenital cases, I am inclined, however, to think, that the discharge is seldom or never of an ichorous nature before birth; at least, in every case of the kind which has been under my notice, shortly after the period of birth, I have invariably observed that the morbid action was en- tirely confined to the texture which was its theatre, and that no irritation existed in its neighbourhood. It was only when the parts came in contact with the oxygen of the atmosphere, that such phaenomena were developed. This peculiar change, which suppurating matter under- goes, ought to warn us that, when the organ of hearing, or of vision, exhibits any appearance of disease, no time should be lost in the administration of those remedies which have the power of alleviating or removing it. With respect to the imperfections to which the Ossicula Auditus are liable, we may observe that they are exposed to the same changes as the other osseous textures of the body, namely, malformations and morbid alterations, which I presume may arise from the same causes as those we have already noticed. Of the malformations, the whole may be comprehended under the following divisions ; viz. in being fashioned in an unusual manner, such as on too large or too small a scale* in being only partially formed; and in being totally wanting. Of the morbid alterations, the most common are; necrosis, exostosis, and scrofula. The degree of deafness attending these morbid condi- tions will, doubtless, correspond with the importance of the part or parts which are their subjects, combined * Dr. Baillie discovered the Ossicula Auditus three times less in size • than ordinary; and Reimarus found them wanting altogether. Vide Medical and PhysicalJournal, vol. xliii. p, 520.