The nature and causes of catarrhal, "throat", or hereditary deafness : an explanation of paracusis willisii the mechanism of aural accommodation, the regulation of labyrinthine fluid pressure, the tightening of relaxed tympanic membrances and joints, the relief of tinnitus aurium with the description of a new method of treatment and some illustrative cases / by Charles J. Heath.

  • Heath, Charles J. (Charles Joseph), 1856-1934
Date:
[1912]
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Licence: In copyright

Credit: The nature and causes of catarrhal, "throat", or hereditary deafness : an explanation of paracusis willisii the mechanism of aural accommodation, the regulation of labyrinthine fluid pressure, the tightening of relaxed tympanic membrances and joints, the relief of tinnitus aurium with the description of a new method of treatment and some illustrative cases / by Charles J. Heath. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    the labyrinth, and that the’ tympanic mechanism is subservient to labyrinthine needs, just as the ocular structures subserving accommodation are naturally regulated in harmony with retinal requirements. Unless there is unhampered adjustment between the structures dominated by the muscle of the tympanic membrane, and those controlled by the muscle of the oval window, there must be some deafness. It is so rare, however, for the labyrinth to be at fault except in regard to the tension of its window,75 that it may be laid down as a precept, that a very large preponderance of chronic deafness is due to derangement of aural accommodation. This is clearly the cause in patients with paracutic deaf- ness (and they comprise the majority), for they hear well in a noise — that is, when the muscles of accommodation, responding reflexly to the extra stimulation of a noise, overcome some obstacle to their proper working, and then are free to raise the tension of the labyrinthine window and of any Note /4—continued common abroad, they have not, hitherto been established in this country. I have already referred totheinadequateaccommoda- twn afforded by the volun ary Ear and Throat Hospitals of London. They may well be supplemented, indeed they must be.] J [Note 76.—This (oval) window being under the control of a tympanic muscle, should be regarded ns part of the mechanism of accommodation.] K