to fill a niche long vacant, an object never before attempted or attained, so far as the editor is aware, in the English language-viz., an illustrated clinical handbook to act as a worthy substitute for personal instruction in a specialized clinic. It is to be hoped that the English translation will meet with the same cordial support that has been accorded the German edition, and thus prove of value to both the student and the teacher of otology. 1700 WALNUT STREET, PHILADELPHIA. March 17, 1902. PREFACE. IN September, 1898, Mr. J. F. Lehmann, of Munich, honored me with a commission to compile an atlas and abstract of otology for his series of Medical HandAtlases. The work was to contain "everything of importance in the elementary study of otology." I felt convinced that the success of such an atlas would depend on the plates representing pathologic specimens, which I believed would be rendered more intelligible by adding a number of plates illustrating anatomic specimens. This could be accomplished only by a careful selection from large masses of material; and as my own collection was quite inadequate, I addressed myself to my esteemed former chief, Professor Politzer, in Vienna, with a request to be allowed to select from his very extensive collection the specimens which I still lacked to complete the atlas. Professor Politzer in the kindest way placed his collection at my disposal for this purpose, and, further, gave me his valuable assistance by undertaking the supervision of the original pictures drawn from his preparations. I therefore wish to express my warmest thanks to Professor Politzer for his share in both the planning and the carrying out of the work. Professor Politzer's collection contributed thirty macroscopic and twenty-four microscopic preparations (indicated in the explanations of the plates by "P."); my own collection furnished fiftyfour macroscopic and forty microscopic preparations (marked "B."). Besides these, there are twelve plates representing diseases of the auricle (five from Politzer), and forty-eight flash-light pictures of drumheads taken from patients in my polyclinic, and slightly enlarged. In addition to the explanation of the plates, the atlas was to contain an epitome with text figures. This epitome is my own exclusive work, and, as space was limited, had to be exceedingly condensed, especially in the part relating to special pathology and treatment. The anatomy of the ear is discussed somewhat at length, as I considered a thorough explanation absolutely necessary to enable the student to understand the plates. The plates were prepared under my constant supervision by Mr. Hammerschmidt. The microscopic pictures drawn with Seibert's ocular are given in circular form, to save space. The dies for the figures of the instruments were made from models in the possession of the Medizinischer Warenhaus, who very kindly allowed me the use of them. Mr. Hammerschmidt deserves great credit for his faithful reproduction of the preparations and for the great care with which he prepared the figures in the text, and I wish to express to him my thanks for his unflagging industry. I also wish to express my thanks to the publisher, Mr. J. F. Lehmann, who spared no pains to make the atlas a success. DR. GUSTAV BRÜHL. CONTENTS. |