Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1881-08-25


Mr.. j, act. %, has had nasal
catarrh for several years; has been
under the care of several physicians
without permanent benefit. On in
spection both nostrils show evidence
of the disase. Middle turbinated bone
of the right side presses against the
septum; mucous membrane infamed
and hypertrophied; bleeds on the
least touch. Left nostril shows the
same condition of affairs; the middle
turbinated bone does not quite touch
the septum. Pharynx shows follicular
degeneration; hearing in right ear
dull can only hear the watch when
placed against the ear. In forcing
air in the middle ear by Politzer's air
bag the hearing Immediately improv
ed, so that the watch could be heard
at the distance of twelve inches,
showing an hypertrophied condition
of the mucous membrane at the orifice
/ OF the Eustachian tube. causing its
! closure.
Treated tue patient several months
| by the usual methods OF applying
saturated solution Of nitrate of silver
to the orifce of the Eustachian tube;
/ applied it also TO the turbinated bones
/ followed by iodoform ointment, but
with partial relief, only. Slippery elm
tents covered with cotton smeared
with iodoform ointment and carbolic
acid. were introduced into each nos
| tril alternately, which had the effect
Of opening the nasal passages tor a
short time only. February 24.-The
wire of the galvano cautery was a.j
lied and cauterlzed the the membrane
over each turbinated bone and to
three different points on the enlarged
follicles of the pharynx; patient com
planned OF very little pain, and was
surprised at it not being greater.
Ten days later patient said he could
not tell his nose had been touched
with the heated wires throat, how
ever. is somewhat tender, ana gives
him pain or 0eglutitjDn. but rapidly
subsidized under the Use of 4 rargie Of
chlorate OF potash and carboIic acid.
April lO.-Palient entirely well :;
has TO trouble whatever with his ca
tarrh: brealhes through both nostriIs,
and hearing entirely restored.
, II. :. applied for treatment on Aug.
t Is. 1879. for deafness in right ear
| On examining the ear with the ear
, specuium, the membrane tympani
| was concaye. dull and thick; air
could not be forced into the middle
ear except with the Eustachian cathe-
ter. Nasal cavity. on inspection,
4 showed catarral trouble with hyper
. trophy Of mucous membrane over the
; turbinatcd bones. BY the application:
Of solution of nitrate silver. on,
e drachLn TO one ounce. 10 the oritice
Of the Eustachian tube, and the in.
: PRODUCTION OF the catheter every olhcI
: day, tie hearing became normal, and
+ vet remains SO. On January 81. he
/ caught "coid' and had an acute at
t tack of catarrhal inflammation of III,
left middle ear. which ended in spite
# OF treatment, in pertoration of tht
: drum membrane. BY Swinging tn,
; ear out three times daily with warn
water and the application of a wea!
; solution of nitrate of silver TO th'
: pertoration it soon healed. Patient
: di>gusted with his past experience
submitted to the application of tn,
= galyano-cautery to the hypertrophieC
Z mucous membrane over the turbinat
= ed bones, Al the present writing, h'
i is entirely free from his catarrh.
e Miss b, act. 10, has been troubled
: with nasal catarrh ever since she wa
0 child, lately has become mucl
Il worse; has obstructed breathing
Il tree discharge from the posteno
S mares, and sleeps with her moutI
: open on account of the obstruction
:. in the nose. On inspection, righ
e middle turhinatcd bone Is seen press
ing against the sCptum, with ulcera
h ton at the point of contact. Lei
e side, inferior turbinated bone enlars
! ed and closing up the nasal passage
5 In attempting TO clean the parts wit
l. a little dry cotton on probe, causet
Y it to bleed freely. The usual treat
= ment was followed in this case wit
but slight Improvement. AT times
l. there seemed a possibility Of success
d often disappointed The treatmen
d was continued faithfully on the par
rs of the patient for several months
Being convinced of our inability /
D petorm a cure by these means, W
is applied the cautery to both turhina'
IN Ell bones. In three weeks from III
re date of the application OF the cauter
d the patient was considered cured, an
4 has remained So ever since.
IS \ number OF other cases could /
+. cited. hut Tie above is sufficient t
We establish ior the cautery a rcputatlo
of above al! other remedies in thj
a. troublesome disease.
i'll The battery l use is one of my ow
of construction. 1t consists of six zir
u anu five carbon plates held togetht
G. by an Insulated bolt running throug
is the whole and secured by an ordinal
n nut. Each plate is separated from i
er fellow by thin strip of varnlshe
e. walnut. There are TWO rods Of bra
running horizontally across the tc
,is of the plate one is connected to II
=, zinc and the other to the carb,
ne plates each rod has hole drilled
re one end for the attachment of co
Of ductiug cords.
rs The plates rest in heavily glazt
earthen jar made 10 receive them a
he curately.
on The electrode is also of home ma
in ufacture. II consists of two pieces
ge copper wire (of sufficient thickness
H. trayersing the center of q wood'
lie handle; the end to which the plati
&C. um wire is attached is much small
gh than the end that is attached to Il
he conducting cords. One of the wir
lot is divided about its center SO as
he break the connection. On the upp
we side of the handle is small bra
ar- spring, under the control of the ind,
I'M finger of the right hand. By pressir
'er upon it the current can be connect,
ar or disconnected at will.
Dr. Tho hattery il S;m,,la in cnnStru