The original purpose of this paper was to describe the influence of aging on the nasal mucosa. This purpose has been carried out provided two important factors are taken into consideration : (1) that nearly every elderly person may have experienced several inflammatory attacks on his nasal mucosa during his lifetime; (2) that the material for this study was obtained from cadavers of persons whose fatal diseases may have altered the structure of the nasal mucosa. Obviously, the latter possibility was kept in mind in evaluating the microscopic observations. The inferior turbinates were removed from 23 cadavers of persons between 50 and 90 years of age. The causes of death varied, but in 1 person only was there a nasal disease. That person died from meningitis originating in the sphenoid sinus. Interrupted serial sections were made of the turbinal specimens and prepared for study with hematoxylin-eosin, Van Gieson, Mallory and orcein stains. GENERAL OBSERVATIONSEpithelium.\p=m-\Alltypes of epithelium were seen, but no definite relation could be established between the age of the subject and the type of epithelium. For example, in the nasal mucosa of a woman aged 85 years, who died of bronchial pneumonia, typical ciliated columnar epithelium was seen, presenting a moderate production of mucus, while in that of a man aged 52 years there was considerable transitional and squamous epithelium.Interesting were (a) the production of mucus in the epithelium and (b) the migration of leuko¬ cytes through the epithelium.With regard to the production of mucus, only in 5 specimens was there an almost total trans¬ formation of the epithelium into goblet cells ( fig. 3). In 6 specimens there was a spotlike increase of goblet cells, particularly in the crypts, while in 12 specimens the production of mucus was poor or absent. From these observations one cannot conclude that the columnar epithelium is fre¬ quently incapable of producing considerable mucus.Such a conclusion would be incorrect since the transformation of a columnar cell into a goblet cell is not dependent on age but on fac¬ tors such as infection, allergy and certain unde¬ termined conditions. The observations described can be explained by the fact that the mucosa was extirpated from persons long bedridden prior to death, and under such circumstances they did not contract any nasal infections. General emaci¬ ation prior to death is another factor, since it was present in some of the persons from whom specimens were taken.The migration of leukocytes through the epi¬ thelium was in general moderate. At no time was it as dense as in the epithelium of the ton¬ sils ; however, it was definitely seen. In some specimens there was almost no migration. In a specimen from a woman who died of pneumonia there was a considerable amount of it. In most instances in which there was no migration the reason for the lack of it was obvious. The pas¬ sage of leukocytes through the epithelium depends on the development of lymphatic tissue in the subepithelial layer. In the specimens stud...

The object of the following presentation is to call attention to a method of ionization which has a pronounced and lasting palliative effect in cases of vasomotor rhinitis. NATURE OF VASOMOTOR RHINITISThe factors underlying vasomotor conditions of the nose are not sharply defined. Some authors have assumed that vasomotor rhinitis is a local manifestation of a constitutional allergic state; others have expressed the belief that it is a symptom of some metabolic, endocrinic or nervous disorder. Whichever view is correct, it is generally agreed that this type of rhinitis is not a disease entity, even though substantial proof is still lacking. The nasal condition itself is not a true inflammation but an edema of the membranous tissues characterized by eosinophilic infiltration. As this manifestation is the predominating phenomenon for which patients seek relief, it is clear that rhinologists must pay attention to it in addition to giving whatever general treatment they deem indicated to influence the underlying constitutional factor or factors.Diagnostic difficulties are not limited to discovering the constitutional factors, for not infrequently the condition is masked by sinusitis or other nasal involvement. Lindsay and Walsh 1 have suggested a simple and effective diagnostic measure in the presence of such a complication. According to these authors, the presence of eosinophils in nasal secretions is conclusive for the diagnosis of vasomotor rhinitis. In the presence of a complicating infection the ratio of eosinophils to neutrophils is lowered, while in infections without coexisting vasomotor rhinitis the eosinophil count in the nasal secretions never exceeds 1 per cent. REVIEW OF THERAPY OF VASOMOTOR RHINITISWhile the incidence of true hyperesthetic rhinitis is probably not as large as it is commonly believed to be, it nevertheless presents a From the

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