View report page

29
(Fowler) gives marked relief. A 1 or 2 per cent. solution of carbolic
acid in sterile cod-liver oil gives equally good results as in
glycerin—a, point to note in the present scarcity of glycerin. We
use this method invariably with satisfactory and speedy results.
The chronic cases which have remarkably diminished in the
last few years, we treat by zinc ionisation. A number of these
cases in the present Returns are ''old mastoid" cases, operated on
same years previously, and did not heal up after the operation;
granulations have developed and more bone has become necrosed.
These are the most intractable conditions one has to deal with.
The number of cases treated for nose and throat defects, such
as sinusitis, rhinitis, nasal catarrh (often accompanied by deafness),
enlarged tonsils and adenoids, nasal respiratory insufficiency, etc ,
has been nearly doubled. This is the correct attitude towards these
ailments, and the school medical officers make a particular note
of these in their regular routine examinations. The early detection
and correction of naso-pharyngeal defects in children will
prevent an enormous amount of the consequent permanent incapacity,
especially deafness, found in later adult- life.
The audiometer, both the Gramophone and Pure Tone, are of
great value in detecting incipient deafness and checking up on
the progress of treatment.
Diastolisation has been employed in the majority of nasal
cases, frequently in association with oscillation vibration. It is
especially indicated in cases of rhinitis and deafness due to this.
For sinus conditions, we have used considerably Proetz " Displacement
" method and find the results very satisfactory.
We have increased the number of "enlarged tonsil" cases
treated by the Suction method—described in previous reports.
•Continued satisfactory results confirm our opinion of the great
value of this method. The high percentage of "enlarged tonsils"
successfully treated by Suction, as against operation, will be quite
surprising to people who have only one formula for "tonsils and
adenoids"—remove them. We preserve a reasonable balance,
and do not 'allow the pendulum to swing altogether to one side, as
there are quite definitely some cases where removal is the treatment
best suited, and we have sent for operation in the course of
the year 26 such cases, but this is a relatively small number out
of 139 referred for treatment.