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Dr. F.P.M. Clarke, Consultant Ear, Nose and Throat Surgeon to the Hornsey Town Hall and Stuart
Villa Clinics, reports:-
"The ear, nose and throat clinics at Weston Park and Stuart Villa were carried on during the year
1965 along similar lines to those of previous years. The nature of the complaints for which patients
were referred to the clinics followed much the same pattern as those in preceding years.
There has been a very noticeable decline in recent years in the incidence of chronic otorrhoea
(chronicdischarging ears). During the earlier period of these clinics and up to the last few years chronic
suppurative otitis formed a very considerable part of the work of the clinics and has been found one of the
most intractable conditions todeal with, requiring a very specialised technique of treatment to correct this
potentially very serious septic affection, and its equally serious sequelae. The decline in the incidence
of chronic otorrhoea can, I think, be fairly explained by the great advance in modern treatment, in the
suppression, and prevention of those 'fevers' which were the chief exciting causes of ear affections, and
also by the use of suitable antibiotic and sulphanilamide drugs given in the very early stages and first
symptoms of ear infections.
The chief 'complaints' with which the clinics are now concerned are diseased and abnormal
conditions of the nose and naso-pharyngeal areas, nasal obstruction, nasal respiratory insufficiency,
rhinitis, sinus affections, etc. and their consequent effects in the causation of many local and also
widespread,defects, some far removed from the existing cause in the nasal area. Among the commonest
ill effects are those affecting the ears, and hearing, many eye affections, mouth breathing, and lung
affections, disorders of digestion, tonsillitis, and laryngeal and pharyngeal defects, aprosexia etc.
During the year a number of these nasal conditions were met with at the clinics, and with suitable
treatment the results have been very satisfactory. Proetz technique of 'sinus displacement* - using
certain medicaments, such as albucic solution, lipiodol, etc. as indicated has been regularly employed
in suitable cases and has given, as usual, excellent results. Other special treatments, Dowling's nasal
argyrol packs, 'Gautier's; (French) diastolisation for nasal obstruction, nasal Zinc ionization,'drops',
etc. have been used in the appropriate cases. 'Hay-fever' cases have, in the main, responded very
favourably to nasal zinc ionization- one or two applications relieve all symptoms for the remainder of
the season.
The early detection and prompt correction of any abnormal conditions in the nose and naso-pharyngeal
areascannot be too strongly emphasised because the removal of these defects is one of the most important
factors in the prevention of otitis media and impaired hearing in young children. It is equally essential
by the correction of nasal obstruction - in restoring and maintaining a normal nasal respiration which is
fundamentally requisite for the function of normal breathing and a healthy condition of the lungs and,
indeed the general health. It is the first principle in the recovery of the hearing in a very large number
of cases of deafness in children,due mainly to eustachian tube obstruction and deficient aeration in the
middle ear - an extension from that in the nose.
The present systematic audiometric screening of school children for any impairment in hearing has
been found very helpful in picking out these children with minor degrees of deafness who might easily be
missed inthe ordinary school routine medical examinations. It is in these instances that prompt treatment
is so essential and effective in restoring normal hearing and in preventing any further advance in the
deafness. At this stage the response to treatment is usually the most favourable".
Audiology Unit
The Audiology Unit is held within the precincts of Blanche Nevile School for the Deaf, and there
is close co-operation between the medical and teaching staff. Three sessions are held each week, and
the Unit continues to serve the whole of the London Borough of Haringey, and also the London Boroughs
of Enfield and (part of) Barnet.
Dr. L. Fisch, Consultant Otologist, reports:-
"The most urgent aspect of the work during the past year was to keep the list of children waiting
for examination within reasonable limits. It is important to examine children as soon as possible when
deafness is suspected.
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