Francis H. Mcgovern

An immunological concept for bell's palsy — Experimental study

Bells palsy is considered by many authorities to be an ischemic paralysis. The mechanism is thought to be a primary vasoconstriction of the vasa nervorum supplying the facial nerve within the fallopian canal and a secondary ischemia induced by the bony canal. The factor precipitating the vasospasm is the proclivity of certain individuals toward segmental arteriolar spasm.

Post‐radiation perichondritis and cartilage necrosis of the larynx

Under certain circumstances laryngeal cartilage damage following radiation therapy can take place. Two cases of post‐radiation perichondritis with cartilage necrosis are reported, and the factors predisposing to its development, the methods of treatment, and the techniques of radiation therapy are discussed. The danger of repeated intralaryngeal manipulation in the radiation patient is stressed. The authors advise that T1N0 and T2N0 laryngeal lesion be treated with 6,000 rads over a three to five‐week period. Homogeneity is achieved in the treated volume by employing wedged filters. Surgery is advised in T3 or larger lesions usually after preoperative cobalt radiation.

The operation and death of henry schliemann

Henry Schliemanns reputation as an archeologist, a linguist, a financial genius and a scholar, is seldom recognized by Americans. His discovery of the ruins of Troy changed Homeric myths and legends into history and made him the founder of Aegean archeology.

The elusive henry jones shrapnell.

In a small series of articles published in The London Gazette in 1830 Henry Jones Shrapnell, surgeon, first described the correct form and structure of the tympanic membrane. He divided the drum membrane into two parts, the pars tensa and the pars flaccida. To this day the latter structure is known to every otologist and to most medical students as Shrapnells membrane. In addition he wrote on the function of the membrana tympani, the nerves of the ear, and the true anatomy of the os incus. Heretofore the lenticular process of the incus was considered a separate bone in the ossicular chain.

The use of cromolyn sodium in the prevention of nerve degeneration in bell's palsy

Clinical use by inhalation of cromolyn sulphate, a mast cell degranulator inhibitor, within four days after the onset of Bells palsy will prevent nerve degeneration and provide complete recovery within a range of two weeks. The successful administration of the drug supports our experimental concept of Bells palsy as an immunological disease. The triggering action of the mast cell as a part of IgE antibody cell mediator system is postulated as the key role on controlling the neural edema.