Abstract Otology 2000 D06-1

Alan G. Kerr MD (1), Stephan Schmid MD (2), Cor W.R.J. Cremers MD (3), Gordon B. Hughes MD (4), Jacques Magnan Prof.Dr.med. (5), Per Möller MD (6)

(1) Eye and Ear Clinic Victoria H IRL-Belfast
(2) ORL-Klinik Universitätsspital CH-Zürich
(3) ENT-Deptmt. Academisch Ziekenhuis Nijmegen Postbus 9101 NL-Nijmegen
(4) Otolaryngology The Cleveland Clinic Foundation USA-Cleveland OH
(5) Dept. ORL Hôpital Nord F-Marseille Cedex 20
(6) ENT Department Haukeland Sykehus N-Bergen

In this final panel the highlights and the "take home messages" will be reviewed and dicussed by experts of the Politzer Society. the idea is to give a summary of the important points we learned during this congress. There will also be an outlook of the next Politzer meeting and the new frontiers of otology an the otological skull base surgery.

Abstract Otology 2000 D06-2

Albert Mudry MD

ENT Department University Hospital CHUV CH-Lausanne

Objective: To study and understand the role of Adam Politzer to 20th century otology and analyse his place in the history of otology. Method: Study his four reference works, some of his publications in medical journals and diverse publications written about him. Results: All areas of otology have been studied, compiled and improved through his varied publications, notably his atlas of otoscopy published in 1865, the first work of its kind, expanded and re-edited in 1896; his ten anatomical drawings emended in 1873; his work based on otology which was first published in two volumes in 1878 and 1882, then re-edited four times as one volume, the last time being in 1908; his anatomy and histology book published in 1889; and his book on the history of otology which, up to now, is the most complete tome existing on the subject, edited in two volumes in 1907 and 1913. No other has been as prolific as he. He invented, in particular, a revolutionary method of making the Eustachian tube permeable, a method which made him famous and carries his name. He also developed an acoumeter to measure hearing and was the first to describe histologically, certain pathologies of which otosclerosis is one. Conclusion: Politzer is certainly the greatest otologist of the 19th century and probably one of the greatest of all time. His influence during fifty years of otology has never been equalled. He deserves a double mention in the history of otology, as an otologist and as a historian.