History of medical practice in Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

294 History of Medical Practice in Illinoisis well illustrated by the published articles for the year 1878. In additionto those noted above, Dr. Jones published two, the first being on "Affectionsof the Lachrymal Apparatus" and the second a report, "The Present Stateof Otology" in which his opening paragraph reads "Medicine and Surgeryhave profited by division of labor in science and arts.Otology, the onceneglected field, has been benefited by such a division to a marked degree."(Trans. 111. State Med. Soc, 1878, p. 225 and 234-244.) Here is a 20 pagearticle, replete with 23 figures practically summing up the armamentariumand the technics known up to that time. Jones covered the literature verywell commenting, "Scarcely a score of years has yet passed since all, exceptthe coarser, anatomy of the ear was comparatively unknown; its diseaseswere scarcely understood, and what treatment of them there was provedmost unsatisfactory to both patient and physician. Today finds this changed,and whilst much yet remains to be learned of the pathology and therapeuticsof this important organ, it may truly be said that much has been accomplished."In 1879 (Trans. 111. State Med. Soc.) this versatile Jones not only gavereports on ophthalmology (pages 258-274) but also the one on otology(pages 275-290) in which he continued his outstanding summary of progresswhich he had given at the previous annual meeting.Dr. W. T. Montgomery's report on otology (Trans. 111. State Med. Soc,1880, pp. 162-175) emphasized the importance of suppuration of themiddle ear for the following reasons: its frequency, its important anatomicrelations, effect on general health, danger to life, and offense to society. Of493 cases treated by him at the Central Free Dispensary, Chicago, 174 weresuppurative, while at the Illinois Charitable Eye and Ear Infirmary, of719 cases of ear disease, 187 were suppurative. The treatment consistedof warm douches, leeches in front of the tragus to withdraw 2 or 3 ouncesof blood, opium, chloral hydrate, potassium bromide, inflation followingthe Valsalva or Politzer method twice daily, treatment of the pharynx with6 percent silver nitrate up to a saturated solution applied to the tonsils ifthey were involved. In chronic cases, irrigation with antiseptics was used,and if granulations occurred, silver nitrate fused on a probe was advised.Dr. Montgomery felt that in cases of perforation, Toynbee's artificialmembrane was too irritating; he preferred placing small paper disks overthe perforation, as recommended by Blake of Boston, which occasionallybrought healing when stimulation had failed.In discussing Dr. Montgomery's paper, Dr. Jones stated that suppurationof the ear should be of interest to the family physician who usually saw thecase first. He advised relieving tension by the use of warm water douches,diaphoretics, aperients, arterial sedatives and paracentesis if the membranewas bulging. He called attention to the danger of overlooking ear complica-