This is one of most common diseases of the nasopharyngeal tract,
causative of many complications and yet perhaps the least recognized in
proportion to its significance. The frequent occurrence of adhesions
of the pharyngeal fossæ, hypertrophied membranes, enlarged spongy
extensions of the inferior and middle turbinates (the posterior
turbinate bodies) occlusion of the orifice of the Eustachian tubes and
chronic, excessive secretion of thick mucus all show that this disease
has either gone unrecognized or at least has not received proper
treatment.
=Treatment.=—Complete surgical removal of all abnormal growths,
adhesions, etc. as described under the treatment of chronic
non-suppurative otitis media and this followed by thorough irrigation
and other methods of local treatment described above are efficient.
The successful treatment of this disease requires time. There has been
a partial or, in some cases, almost a complete loss of the normal
functions of the nerve reflex mechanism of these parts, peripheral
reflex inefficiency and this must be restored. Efficient and long
continued treatment of the lesions commonly found in the cervical and
upper thoracic regions will do much to restore these normal functions,
but this alone without the surgical treatment will never effect a
permanent cure. Neither will the surgery and local treatment alone
effect a cure. The whole treatment is required.