CHRONIC CATARRHAL DEAFNESS.NOTES ON SOME VERY SIMPLE EXPERIMENTS AS TO THE INFLUENCE OF SOUND WAVES ON OSSICULAR RIGIDITY.

Abstract

That most cases of chronic catarrhal deafness are due largely to rigidity of the ossicles depending on morbid changes within the tympanum is an etiologic truism. The correction of this condition by some form of passive exercise—exercise that will move, not segments of the drum membrane, but the drum membrane and ossicles together—is not yet within our grasp. It is a fascinating possibility, a problem the solution of which would be of more value to humanity than could possibly result from the most brilliant development of otology along any other lines. METHODS USUALLY EMPLOYED. I wish (1) to consider, briefly, the methods usually employed for exercising the drum membrane and ossicles, and (2) to speak of some very simple experiments as to the influence of sound waves on ossicular rigidity. Of the various measures employed, inflation and pneumatic massage are in most common use. Inflation of the tympanum either by