Studies of olfactory sensation curves in a venous olfactory test

Abstract

In a venous olfactory test, a variation of olfactory sensation in those who were tested was shown as the changes of grasping power of the hand, and these changes were transduced into electrical changes and plotted as curves.Several types of olfactory sensation curves thus drawn were investigated. Experimental studies proved analysis of these curves to be very helpful in differential diagnosis of olfactory disturbances.1) In permanent consistency of olfactory substance, the more olfactory substance was injected, the longer duration time was observed, and the proportion of becoming longer in duration time was than that of growing more in olfactory substance.2) In patient with so-called olfactory nerve disturbances (olfactory epithelial type), according to the degree of lesion of the olfactory epithelium, such tendencies as a longer latent time and shorter duration time than normal were observed.3) In those with pure respiratory olfactory disturbances (morphological type), a tendency of growing shorter in duration time and no striking changes in latent time were experimentally shown.4) In olfactory disturdance of those with chronic paranasal sinusitis, a much longer latent time was observed. From this fact, this olfactory disturbance was presumed to involve a considerable degree of the olfactory epithelial factor as well as the morphological factor.5) Patients with olfactory disturbances after head injuries drew u special type of olfactory sensation curve. It was inferred that this type suggested one of the type in central olfactory nerve disturbances.