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15
"The fall in the incidence of chronic otorrhoea is very satisfactory,
and we would wish again to repeat what we have stated
in our previous reports, that zinc ionisation is the best, most rapid
and lasting method of treatment for the majority of chronic
discharging ears. Some of those treated and cured had already
been given prolonged treatment at hospital by other methods
without any effect on the discharge.
"There were in all, school and pre-school, 51 cases of acute
otorrhoea (discharging ears). 39 were quickly cured with treatment
at the clinic during the year, and six, late cases, continued under
treatment at the end of the year. Three were referred to hospital
as acute mastoids. These results are also very satisfactory. We
cannot emphasise too strongly the importance of immediate and
correct treatment in the case of acute discharging ears and that is
why we invariably insist on every case attending for daily treatment
at the clinic where all the required facilities are available for
efficient treatment. For various reasons, home treatment is not
successful; the ears continue to discharge and then become chronic,
seriously affecting the hearing and making final cure much more
difficult. We have found, as stated in previous reports, that ear
suction with Albucid or Penicillin, is a most excellent method
for getting these ears 'dry' quickly. Any nasal complications
present must receive, as well, suitable attention.
' 'As in previous years, most of the new cases seen at the Clinic
during the year were for affections of the nose and throat. Of the
total, 18 were cases of sinus infection. This condition is much
commoner in children than is supposed and accounts for a number
of children suffering from 'frequent colds', 'catarrh,' 'headaches'
and 'recurring attacks of tonsillitis.' Many such patients are often
advised removal of tonsils and adenoids to relieve the condition and
the resultant failure of the operation to have this effect is not
surprising when it is remembered that the tonsils and adenoids are
not the primary cause of the trouble.
"Proetz 'sinus displacement' is the best method now available
both for diagnosis and treatment. The marked change in many of
these cases after a few treatments is very remarkable. We use a 10
per cent. Albucid solution after Ephedrine solution to fill the sinuses.
"130 cases were treated by the French method of diastolisation.
In cases of deafness associated with rhinitis this procedure gives by
far the best results we have seen.