Intranasal ionization with zinc sulfate is attended by destructive changes in the nasal mucosa (McMahon,1 Hollender and Gorin2 and Smit3). These changes consist of coagulative necrosis and desquamation of surface epithelium, atrophy and loss of glands, extravasation of red blood cells, leukocytic infiltration, fibrosis of the submucosa and thickening of the periosteum. Unless a chronic inflammatory process becomes established, the denuded epithelium is replaced by stratified dedifferentiated epithelial cells, which give rise to normal ciliated columnar epithelium within from six weeks to three months. During this time secretion is diminished because of the loss of functional secreting cells of the intra-epithelial and subepithelial glands. The mucosa presents a dry, shrunken appearance.
The shrunken, blanched appearance of the nasal mucosa, as observed clinically and experimentally, may be the result of several changes induced by ionization. Koeppen4 showed that a galvanic current of 24 milliamperes may