NEW YORK 
 
 EAR DISPENSARY, 
 
 N. W. CORNER NINTH A VENUE 
 AND ibth STREET, 
 
 DAILY CLINIC AT TWO O'CLOCK, P.M. 
 
when you leave, please leave this hook 
 
 Because it has heen said 
 "Sver'thing comes t' him who waits 
 
 Except a loaned hook." 
 
FIRST 
 
 ANNUAL REPORT 
 
 Board of Trustees 
 
 New York Ear Dispensary 
 
 INCORPORATED APRIL i2th, 1871. 
 
 Printed by The Major & Knapp Engraving, Mfg. and Lithographing (Jd , 
 56 AND j8 Park Place. 
 
 1873. 
 
Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library 
 Gift of Seymour, B. Durst Old York Library 
 
Rlv. B. I. HAIGHT, D.D., President. 
 
 EDWARD WOOD, Vice-President. 
 
 Gen. henry PRINCE, U.S.A., Tre.^surer 
 
 R. L. Case, 
 Henry Prince, 
 J. \V. Alsop. 
 
 ThEO. R. \^'ETMORE, 
 
 j. S. Marcy, 
 Geo. B. Pomeroy, 
 
 R. I. Haight, 
 Edward \^ ood, 
 Samuel Sexton, 
 Whitelaw Reid. 
 j. W. Bigelow, 
 R, L, Case, jr. 
 
 B. 1. Haight, R. L. Case, Jr. Henry Prince, 
 
 Geo. B. Pomeroy, Samuel Sexton. 
 
 ^finance <l\immrttcc, 
 
 Theo. R. Wetmore, |. W. Pigftow, j. S. Marcy, 
 
 The Treasurer is ex-officio a member ot this Committee. 
 
Samuel Sexton, M.D. Geo. B. Pomeroy, M.D. 
 
 W. H. Katzenbach, M.D. 
 J. W. S. Arnold, M.D. 
 
 R. A. WiTTHAUS, A.M. 
 
 Austin Flint, M.D. T. G. Thomas, M.D. 
 
 John T. Metcalki:, M.D. D. B. St. John Roosa, M.D. 
 Luis F. Sass, M.D. 
 
(fTrvtifiratr of {-ncovpovation 
 
 OK THE 
 
 NEW YORK EAR DISPENSARY. 
 
 The luidei'sigiied, being of I'ull ;iue, citizens of the United 
 States of America, and a majority being citizens of the State of 
 New ^'ork, have this day formed an Association, pursuant to 
 Chapter Three Hundred and Nineteen of the Laws of Eighteen 
 Hundred and Forty-eight, and other laws, supplemental and amend- 
 atory of said chapter, and hereby adopt the following 
 
 ARTICLKS OF INCORPORATION: 
 
 Art. I. — Tliis Association shall be known by the corporate 
 name of "Thi#Nkw York Far Disfexsary." 
 
 Art. 11. — The particular business and objects of this Associa- 
 tion are the establishment and maintenance of a Dispensary in the 
 City of Nevv "^'ork, for the professional care and treatment of 
 indigent persons aiiiicted with diseases of the car. 
 
 Art. 111. — The power of this Association shall be exercised by 
 a Board of Trustees, twelve in number. The Trustees for the 
 present year, and until ihc first " Annual Meeting" of tlie Associ- 
 ation, are : 
 
 K. L. CASK. B. I. IIAKiUT, W. E. PRINCE, 
 
 WHITKLAW KEII). TIIEO. II. WETMORE. ISAAC H. ALLEN. 
 J. S. MARC Y, EDWARD WOOD, J. W. ALSOP, 
 
 HENRY SNYDER, SAMLEL SEXTON. GEO. U. I'OMEROY. 
 
 In witness of the foregoing, tiie undersigned have here signed 
 
6 
 
 their names to duplicate copies of this Certificate, this eighth da}' 
 
 of April, eighteen hundred and seventy one. 
 
 S. SEXTON, 
 JAMES H. KNAPP, 
 GEO. B. POMEROY, 
 RUSSELL WETMORE, 
 STEPHEN WOOD. 
 
 State of New York, ) 
 City and County of New York, j 
 
 This eighth day of April, 1871, appeared before me, Samuel 
 Sexton, James H. Knapp, George B. Pomeroy, Russell Wetmore 
 and "Stephen Wood, known to me to be the persons above-named, 
 and each severally acknowledged the foregoing to be his signature 
 to the before-mentioned Certificate and Articles of Incorporation. 
 
 HENRY DE PEYSTER, 
 
 Notary Public, 
 
 New York County. 
 
 I hereby approve of the aforesaid organization and its pur- 
 poses, and authorize the filing of this Certificate and Articles of 
 Incorporation. j ^ brady, 
 
 Jusiice. 
 
 State of Nev) York, ) 
 City and Cou7ity of New York, j 
 
 I, Charles E.. Loew, Clerk of the said City and County, and 
 Clerk of the Supreme Court of said State, for said county, 
 Do Certify, that I have compared the preceding with the original 
 Certificate of -Incorporation of the New York Ear Dispnsary, on 
 file in my office, and that the same is a correct transcript therefrom, 
 and of the whole of such original. 
 
 In Witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name and 
 [l.s.] affixed my official seal, this 13th day of April. 1871. 
 
 CHARLES E. LOEW, 
 
 Clerk. 
 
7 
 
 State of Neiu York^ \ 
 Office of the Secretary of State, f ' 
 
 I have compared the preceding with the duplicate original Cer- 
 tificate of Incorporation of the New York Ear Dispensary, with 
 the approval of a Justice of the Supreme Court, and with acknow- 
 ledgment thereto annexed, filed in this office on the twelfth day of 
 April 1871, and hereby certify the same to be a correct transcript 
 therefrom, and of the whole of said duplicate original. 
 
 Witness my hand and seal of office of the Secretary of 
 State, at the City of Albany, this twelfth day of April, 
 [l.s.] one thousand eight hundred and seventy-one. 
 
 D. WILLERS, Jr., 
 Deputy Secretary of State. 
 
 9 
 
BY-LAWS 
 
 A rti cle 1 — Officers. 
 
 The Officers of the New York Ear Dispensary shall consist 
 of a President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer, to be 
 elected from among the Trustees, and holding office for one year, 
 or until their successors are appointed. 
 
 Article II —Meetings, 
 
 The Board of Trustees shall meet on the third Monday in 
 December, March, June and September, of each year ; and at the 
 meeting in December the Officers for the ensuing year shall be 
 elected. But the Board may meet at any time on call of the 
 President, Vice-President, or Secretary, or any three Trustees ; 
 and five Trustees shall constitute a (luorum for the transaction of 
 all business, and ;i majoi-ity vote shall decide all questions. 
 
 Article IIT,— Medical Officers, 
 
 The Trustees shall appoint such Medical Officers as they shall 
 deem expedient, and who shall hold office during the pleasure of 
 the Board. 
 
 Article 1 1 ,—A ttorn ey. 
 
 The Board shall have power to appoint an Attorney, wlio shall 
 perform such duties as may be properly required of hii 
 
 nn. 
 
 Article V,— Officers' Services Gratuitous, 
 
 The foregoing Officers and the Attorney, shall perform their 
 duties gratuitously. 
 
9 
 
 Article VI, — Executive Committee, 
 
 The President, Secretary, Treasurer, and such Medical Officers 
 <is may be members of the Board, shall constitute an Executive 
 Committee, under the direction of the Board of Trustees, whose 
 duty it shall be to carry out the objects of the Dispensary. 
 
 Article VII. — Committees, 
 
 At the meeting adopting these By-Laws, and afterwards at each 
 jinnual meeting, the President shall nominate the following Stand- 
 ing Committees : 
 
 1st. A Finance Committee of three, besides the Treasurer, 
 who shall be an ex-officio member thereof. 
 
 2d. An Auditing Committee of two. 
 
 3d. A Committee of two for each month in the year, whose 
 duty, it shall be to visit the Dispensary during their term 
 of service. 
 
 Article VIII.— Of the rresident. 
 
 The President shall be an ex-officio member of all Standing 
 <'ommittees. 
 
 Article IX. — Amendment of By-Laws. 
 
 The By-Laws may be altered or amended at any meeting of the 
 Board of Trustees, provided written notice of the intended amend- 
 ment shall have been sent to each of the Trustees thirty days 
 previously. 
 
FIRST ANNUAL REPORT 
 
 OF THE 
 
 3i3oarU of ^Trusters. 
 
 The New York Ear Disppjnsary was first opened for the 
 reception of patients May 25th, 1871, at 69 West 35th Street. 
 
 In June, 1872, it was removed to its present location, at the 
 north-west corner of Ninth Avenue and 36th Street. 
 
 In-organizing this Dispensary, the Trustees desired to fill the hiatus 
 that existed in this city among tlie numerous and well-managed 
 charitable institutions, by establishing a charity which shonld be 
 exclusively devoted to the treatment of diseases of the Ear, thus 
 increasing the facilities for the relief of the poor, and at the same 
 time advancing scientific medicine by offering to the profession a 
 more exclusive field for observation. 
 
 The west side of the city seemed to offer an inviting field for a 
 Dispensary of this kind, inasmuch as neaily all institutions afford- 
 ing medical aid to those affected with deafness were situated on 
 the East side. 
 
 Although this Dispp:nsary was the first charity of the kind to 
 be established on this continent, in England and elsewhere the 
 necessity had long been recognized. In London, as earl}^ as 
 1816, the Royal Dispensary for diseases of the ear was founded, 
 and the Metropolitan Infirmary for diseases of the ear in 1838. 
 The latter included diseases of the head and throat. The Trustees 
 of the Nkw York Ear Dispensary soon recognized the wisdom 
 shown by the founders of the Metropolitan Infirmary in treating 
 diseases of the throat in connection with ear diseases ; and they 
 have consequently established a Throat Department.* 
 
 * The Trustees desire to returu their thanks to Drs. Wagner and Asch for much assistance 
 in inaugurating the Throat Department. 
 
Jl 
 
 By this means, it is hoped tliatmany cases where throat diseases 
 <exist will be cured before serious deafness occurs, deafness being, 
 in the greater number of csises, preceded by some disease of the 
 throat. 
 
 The Trustees receiving no State or City aid, rely entirely upon 
 the voluntary contributions of the charitable ; and they embrace 
 the present opportunity to tiiank those who have sustained the 
 Dispensary by their donations. 
 
 Since its organization, the Dispensary has been visited by many 
 physicians and medical students with a view to increase tlieir 
 knowledge of aural diseases. 
 
 Up to June 1st, 1873, three hundred and sixty-four cases have 
 been treated in the Dispensary, a large number being young 
 children. The Trustees would here urge upon those who have 
 control of our public schools the importance of providing for the 
 education of the increasing number of deaf mutes. In many cases, 
 particularh" in those who have become deaf from crebro-spinal- 
 meningitis no benefit is to be derived from medical treatment ; 
 and many of them will become a public charge unless means are 
 taken to educate them. 
 
 In conclusion, the Trustees would respectfully call the atten- 
 tion of the pilblic to the following extracts from their Circular 
 Announcement, which was issued in anticipation of the great work 
 before them. Subsequent events have justified their sanguine 
 anticipations. 
 
 " The Trustees earnestly ask for this Institution the aid of those who wish 
 to alleviate the sufferings of the poor. 
 
 " Deafness, and diseases whicli result in permanent and irreparable injury 
 to hearing afflict a large class. Out of every three persons of from twenty to 
 forty years of age, according to a distinguished European authority (Von 
 Troltsch,) one has lost the full normal hearing power. 
 
 "The childien of the poor, either the scrofulous or those exposed to cold, 
 are great sufferers from ear diseases, and are much neglected. At school, in- 
 attentiveness and supposed stupidity are often only the early symptoms of 
 
12 
 
 deafness. Infancy and cliildliood afford the saddest instances for sympatlij. 
 The ' running from the ears ' is neglected: ' It is only a cold ' — ' the child will 
 outgrow it ' — but when old enough to talk, the child is unable to frame words, 
 for it cannot hear! 
 
 The usefulness and enjoyment of adults are destroyed by impaired hear- 
 ing, as well as, not seldom, the power of self-support. The old are robbed of 
 social enjoyment, caused constant suffering from confused noises, etc, and led 
 to needless distrust of family and friends, when this condition, wrongly attri- 
 buted to the mere decay of old age, is often curable, 
 
 " The fatal policy of ' letting alone ' has taken deep hold on all classes. To 
 the imperfect knowledge, even in the profession, (which had rarely until of 
 late, given S2)ecial attention to the ear,) may be traced this indifference and 
 a'pathy, which have largely swelled the ranks of the dc^pendeut poor, filled 
 our asylums, and added to the criminal classes. 
 
 " To counteract this tendency, and to make the recent and great scientific 
 advances in treating diseases of the ear useful to the suffering poor, and 
 through them to the community at large, the Trustees have established this 
 Dispensary. The Profession now recognize the fact that nearly all cases, 
 particularly the young, can be benefitted by treatment. Over three thousand 
 are now annually presented for treatment in this city, and members of the 
 Profession believe not less than twentj^ thousand are still neglected. 
 
 "The usefulness of this Dispensary has been fully demonstrated; and the 
 Trustees feel that to make it at all equal to the increasing demands, they must 
 ask aid of those generous citizens who have never failed to answer to the 
 calls of a genuine and discriminating organized charity." 
 
 Funds may he sent to the Treasurer , General Hj£Nry 
 Prince, U, S» A., Army Building^ corner Houston and 
 Greene Streets; or to any of the Trustees, 
 
FIRST ANNAUL REPORT 
 
 OF THE 
 
 ittftriral ^taff to tl)r iJoarti of Slfustfes. 
 
 Gentlp:mex : 
 
 The Medical Staff have to Report that 364 cases of diseases 
 of the Ear and Throat have been treated at the Dispensary since 
 it was opened. 
 
 Total number of Ear cases, - - - - 335 
 Total number of Throat cases, - - - 29 
 
 3G4 
 
 CLASSIFICATION OF DISEASES OF THE EAR. 
 
 .9 
 
 AURICLE. 
 
 Auricle Sebaceous, tumor of ----- - 2 
 
 " Eczema, acute of, ...... 2 
 
 " " chronic of, ----- 6 
 
 " " and of head, . . . . l 
 
 *' " and of head and face, - - 1 
 
 with favus, 1 
 
 " " following erysipelas, - - 1 
 
 " wound of - 1 
 
 abscess of ------- - 2 
 
 " frosted, - - 1 
 
 herpes in front of ----- - 1 
 
 abcess behind, - - 1 
 
 20 
 
14 
 
 EXTERNAL AUDITORY CANAL. 
 
 Inflammation, acute circuniscril)ed, 5 
 
 " diffused, 13 
 
 " chronic, - 4 
 
 " with perforation, ... - 1 
 
 " " with granulations, .... 2 
 
 Impacted cerumen, ^- 
 
 " " with foreign body, .... 1 
 
 Abscess, - 1 
 
 Eczema, - - ■ ■ - ■ * ' ' - ^ 
 
 Aspergillus Nigricans, ------- 1 
 
 82 
 
 MIDDLE EAR. 
 
 Inflammation, acute suppurative, 15 
 
 " " with perforation, - - 9 
 
 " of right ear and chron. inflamm., left, - 1 
 
 " " catarrhal, - - - - - '^3 
 
 " chronic suppurative, with perforation, - - 34 
 u " with nolvnoid o-r; 
 
 with polypoid granulations, 
 with polypus. 
 
 " " catarrhal, 
 
 206 
 
 LABYRINTH, EUSTACHIAN TUBES, Etc. Etc. 
 
 Hyperaesthesia of auditory nerve, from sun -stroke, - - 1 
 Deaf mutism, --------- *^ 
 
 Meniere's disease, ^ 
 
 Deafness from Cerebral disease, J 
 
 Hysteria, with tinnitus aurium, - . - - - ^ 
 Deafness, resulting from cerebro-spinal meningitis, - - 2 
 Tinnitus aurium, ^ 
 
 Abscess of mastoid, - - 
 
 Neuralgia, --------- 
 
 Otalgia, ■ " " " 
 
 Otalgia, from decayed teeth, - - - - - 
 Acute catarrh, eustachian tubes, with enlarged tonsils, 
 Chronic catarrh, eustachian tubes, - - - - ■ 
 
 Unclassified, " ' 
 
 27 
 
15 
 
 DISEASES OF THE THROAT.* 
 
 (\itarrh, na so -pharyngeal, 7 
 
 pharyngeal, ....... 1 
 
 b'oUicular pharyngitis. 4 
 
 Nasal polypus, 1 
 
 Pharyngitis, chronic, ----- . ;j 
 
 Tonsilitis, acute, 4 
 
 " with ulceration, ------- i 
 
 *' sub-!Tcute, 1 
 
 Uvula, elongation of ------ - 1 
 
 Pharyngitis (phthisis,) 1 
 
 chronic, with cardiac hypertrophy, - - - 1 
 
 Acute inflanmiation of soft palate, with great edema, - - 1 
 
 Not classified, 3 
 
 29 
 
 * This dopartmont was only established in April. 1$73. 
 OPERATIONS FOR EAR DISEASES. 
 
 Paracentesis of nieinhraiia tympani, - - - - 13 
 
 Kxtirpatiou of ])olypoi(l growths, - - - - - 5 
 
 hu-ision of abscess of auricle, ------ 2 
 
 Removal of foreign body from external auditory canal, - 1 
 
 Incision and scarification of wall of external meatus, - 6 
 
 Removal of sebaceous tumor of auricle, . - . - 2 
 
 29 
 
 OPERATIONS FOR DISEASES OF THE THROAT. 
 
 Extirpation of enlarged tonsils, ----- 3 
 
 Amputation of Uvula, 1 
 
 4 
 
 'J'otal operations, . - . . 
 
 The records of the Dispensary show many cases of cures which 
 would be of interest to its patrons. Our space will only permit 
 reference to a few. One man aged seventy years, from Williams- 
 burgh, applied for relief, lie was so deaf that Ik- could not hear 
 
16 
 
 the ordinary voice even when the speaker was standing by his 
 side. After one visit to the Dispensary for treatment, he returned 
 to thank the surgeon, and say, that for the first time in many 
 years he could hear the voice of his spiritual teacher at churchy 
 which w^as to him the most important thing in life. 
 
 A little girl, aged ten years, without parents, suffered from a 
 discharge from both ears, of three years duratit)n. She was 
 gradually losing her hearing, besides being in danger of the disease 
 attacking the bones of the head, and thereby producing death. 
 After six w^eeks treatment at the Dispensary she was discharged 
 cured. 
 
 Many children, from a few months to ten years of age have 
 been treated for otorrhea and catarrhs, the result being an entire 
 cure. 
 
 In many cases what woujd have been serious disease has been, 
 by early treatment, avoided. 
 
 Patient instruction is given in all cases to the poor who so much 
 need intelligent advice in order to av^oid the origin and extension 
 of aural disease. No organ of the human bod}^ suffers more 
 from neglect of cleanliness than the ear. 
 
 The officers have felt that their labors will be recognized by the 
 public, and their substantial sympath}' gained. 
 
TREASURER'S REPORT. 
 
 Henry Prince, Treasurer^ in account vjith the New York Ear 
 Dispensary. 
 
 CONTRIBUTIONS. Dr. 
 
 James Brown $20 00 
 
 Stewart Brown 25 00 
 
 Isaac H. Allen 25 00 
 
 A. R. T\'etniore 5 00 
 
 Theo. R. AVecmore 5 00 
 
 Edward Wood 5 00 
 
 R. L. Case, Jr 25 00 
 
 E. T. Titus 10 00 
 
 Samuel Willets . ^. — 25 00 
 
 B€«j^5%thoTn. . i/-. f^. 10 00 
 
 F. M. Weld. ; 10 00 
 
 Samuel Sexton 50 00 
 
 John S. Marcy 15 00 
 
 F. Fessenden 10 00 
 
 John R. Cecil 5 00 
 
 Charity (throu^i Edward Wood) 10 00 
 
 Geo. B. Pomeroy 50 00 
 
 Pitt Cooke 20 00 
 
 Sinclair Tousey 25 00 
 
 William Walter Phelps 50 00 
 
 Trustees' Murray Fund " 50 00 
 
 Waldo Hutchins 25 00 
 
 Mrs. B. T. Haight 9 54 
 
 Theo. B. Shelton 25 00 
 
 Advanced by Trustees. . . 254 97 
 
 $714 51 
 
18 
 
 By Cash : ' 
 
 Rent ^384 00 
 
 House expenses ^"^'"^ 
 
 Furniture 
 
 Instruments 
 
 Stove 18 75 
 
 G-as fixtures- * "^"^ 
 
 Coal ^ JO 
 
 Printing, postage, &e " ' 
 
 51 
 
 The Trustees acknowledge, in addition to the cash donations, the 
 contribution of the following articles, which aided them greatly in 
 equipping the Dispensary with the necessary instruments and 
 apparatus. 
 
 Valuable Laryngoscope, with complete atomizing apparatus, 
 from Luis Y. Sass, M.D. 
 
 A large donation of surgical instruments from Tiemax & Co. 
 
 .Galvanic apparatus from Louis Dkkschkk. 
 
 Medicines from Caswell, Hazard & Co., and the Mkthopol- 
 iTAN Drug Co. 
 
 Printing from Bowne & Co., Major & Kxapu, Spfx-tator 
 Press, and A. C. Harrison. 
 
I 
 
 9 
 
FORM OF A BEQUEST 
 
 TO 
 
 The New York Ear Dispensary. 
 
 — — — • - — 
 
 I bequeath to my Executors the sum of _ Dollars, 
 
 in trust, to pay over the same, in » _ after 
 
 my decease, to the person who, when the same shall be payable, 
 shall act as Treasurer of "The New York Ear Dispensary," to be 
 applied to the charitable uses and purposes of the said Dispensary, 
 and under its direction. \