PERHAPS the most significant event in 1963 was the second Workshop in Middle Ear Surgery held in Chicago under the chairmanship of George E. Shambaugh, Jr., MD. This remarkable program with 49 renowned participants attracted an audience of more than 700 otolaryngologists from all over the world. I heartily recommend the reading and rereading of the entire proceedings of this important meeting, published in the Archives of Otolaryngology (78:229-404 [Sept] 1963, and 78:405-632 [Oct] 1963). In modern otologic literature, this is the most condensed, complete, yet spontaneously presented collection of ideas and experiences to be found anywhere.
Otosclerosis remains a puzzling pathologic process. Although the surgical procedures for alleviating its symptomatology are highly successful, the undesirable complications encountered in their use are also frequently tragic. The search for the prevention of these complications occupied the major investigative interest during this year.
Although histopathologic and biochemical knowledge of this disease is