Acute purulrnt inflammation of the middle ear is certainly a very common occurrence, and in the majority of cases runs its course in a few weeks without any complications. In some instances, however, the inflammation invades adjacent parts, and may give rise to very annoying, and even serious and grave results. Cases are on record where the inflammation has spread to the brain, giving rise to severe meningitis and death.
I will report one of these complicated cases, with, fortunately, a happy termination.
On April 1, 1885, I was kindly asked by Dr. Doering to examine the ears of a young lady, æt. 18, suffering with an acute purulent otitis media. The patient had contracted a severe cold five days previously. Two days later she complained of pains in the ears and loss of hearing. Counter-irritation, in the form of blisters to the mastoid region, and instillation into the ear