The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-07-20
RECOVERY FROM MAsTOIDITIs

About half of all cases of mastoidits go on 10 complete recovery without special treatment often without having been recognized as mas- toiditis.
 sure upon the bone directly behind the ear canal. or swelling of the surface in that region. may indicate mastoiditis. but in many cases no such signs are found and in some very grave cases these signs are totally lacking. More less involvement of the air cells In | the mastoid bone accompanies most cases of ln- | fammation of the middle ear (otits media). When such acute middle ear inflammation | "breaks' and discharge matter from the ears Q very profuse discharge usually indicates mas toidits. If the discharge can be seen to pulsate 1t is certainly mastoidits. An ear discharge per- sisting for many days or weeks after a gath ering' breaks is indicative of cOmplfcatfng mastoid infection, especially if the patient has slight fever a little while every day
 The reason why mastoiditis is regarded with anxiety is that it involves the risk of Infection getting into the brain cavity, through the very thin bony wall between the seat of trouble in the mastoid process of the temporal bone and the meninges membranes covering the brain. There is not only the danger of a septic menin- gits or inflammation of these brain coverings, but also the danger of septic sinus thrombosis, or infection in the great vein-paths within the skull
 Fortunately these dreaded effects occur only rarely. compared with the frequency of mas
 It is well to treat every of acute earache where inflammation is assumed to be present, as potential mastOiditis, as indeed 1t is and save all the fuss and bother of chiselling into the mastoid cells later
 Mastoid operations by the way, were former Iy done too hastly--I mean the surgeons were q mite too eagre to get mallet and chisel into play In such cases Today, am just as sure, the practice of most good doctors and surgeons in dealing with this treacherOuS condition IS quite conservative.
 Doctors should be conservative in treating such cases particularly in young children, for the outlook for spontaneous recovery Is always best where the patient Is young child. Some of the older folk, who have suffered or rather tolerating chronic running ear for many years and dillydallied with 1t, seem to have little re- siliency when they develop mastoid complica- tons, and with them it's oh, pshaw it's nothing to-day and gone tomorrow. More than once when I have been at a loss what to do with q recalcitrant old body with chronic otits media, have settled 1t all by just burying him. recall only one infant that failed to recover from mastoiditis and in that case we operated.
 Aside from the treatment of the acute ear in- fammaton there Is no special remedy for told operation myself unless some good family physician sanctioned and urged 1t, on his own information and belief and without connivance of specialist.
 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
 Oh, Brethren, Listen
 During the past 15 years (Iiarvard 1915) have removed upward of 10000 tOnstls sur gicaIIy. About five months ago visited - the work these doing with dia- thcrmy. I came home determined to use 1t in patients from 10 years upward to have their tonsIIs removed by this method. - M. D.
 Answer-Your conversion, Doctor. reminds me of the story of the oculist who destroyed a bushel of eyes @ before he finally mastered the cataract operation. It will be interesting to know how many of your last thousand tonsil- lectOmy patients return to have their tonsils exterpated in the modern way. O They were pigs eyes the doctor bought from the butcher.
 Tin DOctOring fin School
 I was told by the school nurses to get glasses and I've got them but I can't sec very good and some people have told me that if you wear glasses once you will always have to wear them. (W. P)
 Answer-My advice, son, Is that you should give your eyes better consideration, for you're going to need them for many years Go to an practice to eye diseases-for examination of your eyes. The doctor will tell you whether you should wear glasses any of the time or ali of the time No one else is competent to advise you about it.
 Wife Ought to Fit Up n Stable
 I smoke two cigars every night after supper but 1t seems I must cxpectorate after each pun Of smoke. (J. ID
 Answer-Equip yourself with a small flock of pipes and q canister of good old Uobacco manufacturers write in for terms), and spend the difference Tor a new suit and new hat for the wife.
 Radium, FYbrOid, SterIIity.
 I had radium used successfully for fibroid tumOr four years ago. ! told then I could never have another child. However, gave birth to baby in September. This was ii years after the birth of my first baby It was a ver- sion case and very difficult. Is this likely to he due to the radium treatment and Is ft likely to happen again? Mrs If. P.)
 Answer--No.
 Copyright John F. Dille Co.) IA