The anatomical and histological dissection of the human ear : in the normal and diseased condition / by Adam Politzer ; translated from the German by George Stone.

  • Politzer, Adam, 1835-1920.
Date:
1892
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The anatomical and histological dissection of the human ear : in the normal and diseased condition / by Adam Politzer ; translated from the German by George Stone. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library at Columbia University and Columbia University Libraries/Information Services, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the the Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library at Columbia University and Columbia University.

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    The progress which during recent years has been attendant upon medical research in the field of Otology has been most marked. No doubt the sound pathological methods pursued in modern investiga- tion into this subject have contributed very largely to this desirable condition of things, and have materially assisted to popularize the hitherto neglected study of the anatomy of the human ear. Ever since the labours of Toynbee, it has been fully realized that a know- ledge of the pathological anatomy of the organ under discussion is absolutely necessary to a right comprehension and successful treat- ment of its diseases. The complicated character of the structure of the organ of hearing, and the involved nature of its connections with the adjoining structures and cavities, are such that they can only be intelligently studied by frequent practice in the preparation of speci- mens. Those who look for instruction on the subject of the structure of the ear from preparations ready to hand, or are satisfied with pictorial illustrations and letter-press description, will never acquire a thorough knowledge of the topographical position of the various parts of the ear. To the aural surgeon in particular, piactice in dissection work is indispensable. It is onlj^ by unremitting study and manipulation of specimens that he can hope to attain to that deo-ree of confidence so necessary to produce satisfactory results, when per- forming an operation in such close proximity to organs of vital im- portance. If any further argument were necessary to show that a methodical study of models is a sine qua non of proficiency in this department of medical research, it is to be found in the fact that it is only by a thorough acquaintance with the topographical relations of the parts of the normal ear that anything like a safe theory can be formulated as to the conditions obtaining in the abnormal ear under observation. The beautiful anatomical work of Scarpa, Breschet, and the artistic preparations of Sommering, Ilg, Hyrtl, and others, are greatly to be admired, although the methods of dissection bequeathed them by the older anatomists could only be denominated imperfect. For ordinary purposes, however, a more simple type of model sufiices.