Author Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1860 Excerpt: ...there may still exist a probability of a cure, or at least of a certain amount of relief, is truly extraordinary. It is, however, advisable to address oneself to the treatment of this form of disease as early as possible. Attacks of this kind are usually preceded by some marked disorder of the digestive functions; the secretions are generally unhealthy, more especially the urinary. I have observed that as the extremities become in a more healthy state, and are less swollen, so these diseased phenomena in the ears and head increase in severity. In many instances I have traced this gouty affection of the ears and head to hereditary tendency, and in others I have observed it to be subsequent to the first attack of gout in other parts of the body. The pain and inflammation in these cases do not reach the ordinary degree of intensity, or, at any rate, do not continue for the usual time, and then disappear gradually; but they cease abruptly and entirely, while symptoms of severe and alarming disorder arise as suddenly in some internal organ. This sudden metastasis is often mistaken when the ear is the part affected; and as it is generally for days previously the seat of the abnormal noise or of imperfect hearing, the organ is often subjected to much irregular or injurious treatment, such as violently syringing the external ear-passages, practised, in all probability, again and again, and followed by the use of all sorts of acrid and stimulating lotions and ointments, applied to the same part. I have in more than one instance known the organ to have been irreparably destroyed, as regards its function of hearing, and even in some measure, as regards a portion of its delicate structure, after a forcible syringing, with the view of removing diseased wax which was sup...