View report page

278
There were 14 names on the waiting list at the end of the
year. The classification of cases shows a remarkable similarity to
that of previous years in the numbers in the respective groups,
viz.:—
(1) No evidence of otorrhœa past or present, or deafness
of more than a trivial or temporary nature 15
(2) Deafness only. Some of these were due to old otitis
media 13
(3) Otorrhœa, active, quiescent or cured 72
Group 2.—13 cases. Eleven were catarrhal in type and two
were cases of nerve deafness. Of the catarrhal cases, three did not
require any special treatment at the time; three required the
removal of tonsils and adenoids; three required breathing exercises,
and two required treatment by the Eustachian catheter. One
of the nerve cases was "stone" deaf after cerebro-spinal meningitis
and was recommended for a school for the deaf; the other
was referred to the Croydon General Hospital for further investigation.
Group 3.—(a) Found dry and requiring no treatment 29
(b) Found dry but recommended for accessory
treatment such as tonsillectomy 8
(c) Active cases 35
Of the active cases only 9 were considered to be uncomplicated
cases of tympanic sepsis (the type most amenable to local
applications such as ionisation). The 35 cases were dealt with as
follows:—Four were referred to the General Hospital; 7 were
recommended accessory treatment with or without treatment of
the ears; 2 were lost sight of; 5 are still under treatment; and 24
were discharged with ears dry. Only 7 of these were ionised, 5
were treated with iodine and boric powder, 2 had operations for
tonsils and adenoids, and 11 cleared up without any special treatment.
All 7 cases ionised were discharged dry within short periods.
One or two cases continuing treatment from the previous year
failed to clear up and were eventually referred for the mastoid