Medical statistics based on a sufficient number of patients to be of value must of necessity come from clinical centers, but the problem of the individual patient in the presence of complications of operation for acute mastoiditis has no such limitations. The otologist away from clinical centers, with less opportunity for counsel, confronted with more economic problems and with a limited personal experience, may have his surgical judgment put to the most severe test.
Otitic sepsis, thrombophlebitis, petrositis, labyrinthitis and meningitis are the major complications encountered. The incidence of and the measures for the relief of abscess of the brain following acute mastoiditis constitute an entity in themselves. A historical survey of the indications for surgical treatment in cases of acute mastoiditis shows a consistent trend to the position that, with some few exceptions, operation for acute mastoiditis is not considered an emergency procedure. The complications following surgical treatment of