Preface This supplement commemorates the sesquicentennial of The goal of the present compendium is to extend the American Otological Society (AOS), the second oldest earlier AOS histories by considering a wide spectrum of medical society in America. Eminent historian Arnold J. contemporary sources beyond the Transactions. This more Toynbee, grandson of 19th century London otologist Joseph comprehensive perspective helps to put the emergence of Toynbee who is widely credited as the father of scientific otology as a specialty into the context of medical knowledge otology, famously said that “Some historians hold that history at the time in relation to the roots of modern surgery with is just one damned thing after another.” Our goal in assembling seminal advancements such as the introduction of antisepsis this monograph is to illuminate more than merely the dates and anesthesia. The foundation of the AOS was influenced 06/25/2018 on BhDMf5ePHKav1zEoum1tQfN4a+kJLhEZgbsIHo4XMi0hCywCX1AWnYQp/IlQrHD3gMUBbG+M1ZXrHgQsCS3G8JGjz2SB6zFWW2S395vexRY= by https://journals.lww.com/otology-neurotology from Downloaded Downloaded and facts surrounding the early years of the AOS but rather by the beginnings of specialized medical practice in America to delve into the motivations of the founder generation and to and the nascent specialty organizations it spawned. The from describe the ingenious ways they strove to bring comfort to monograph begins with new insights into the fascinating https://journals.lww.com/otology-neurotology their patients despite the limitations of their day. story of how, why, and by whom the society was formed. Many aspects of the history of the society have been It continues with descriptions of the state of otological preserved in the Transactions of the AOS which began with the practice and hearing testing during the first quarter century formation of the Society in 1868 and was published annually of the AOS (1868-1893). Perspectives into the AOS official as a bound volume for 138 years through 2006 with the publications over its 150 years and its many contributions to exception of the war years of 1943 and 1945. The Transactions otological education and research are explored. The belated, by include many the seminal works in otology and represent a but increasing role of women in the specialty is described. BhDMf5ePHKav1zEoum1tQfN4a+kJLhEZgbsIHo4XMi0hCywCX1AWnYQp/IlQrHD3gMUBbG+M1ZXrHgQsCS3G8JGjz2SB6zFWW2S395vexRY= time capsule of the state-of-the-art during the later half of the The concluding paper gives a perspective on the scientific 19th and throughout the 20th centuries. Two earlier histories, contributions of the AOS over the most recent quarter primarily upon material preserved in the Transactions, were century and a provides a glimpse into the prospects for future published by the Society at its 100th and 125th years. For evolution of the field in the 21st century. those interested, the full text of the entire Transactions run and the two earlier society histories are available online at the Robert K. Jackler, MD Society’s website (americanotologicalsociety.org). Lawrence R. Lustig, MD About the cover The official Seal of the American Otological Society (AOS) AOS. Cover page of the 1st volume of the AOS Transactions was adopted in 1960. The dominant image is symbolic. A (1868-1874). Examination of the ear via sunlight reflected off scribe records knowledge on a large volume while a youthful of a hand held mirror from Roosa’s 1874 otological text. (2) student holds an oil lamp, evocative of learning and wisdom. A traditional wand of Aesculapius with a staff (walking stick) References enwrapped by a single serpent is depicted as opposed to the more common caduceus which has two snakes coiled around 1. Taylor GD. History of the seal of the Society. Transactions a winged staff. (1) The Ocean House Hotel in Newport, of the American Otological Society (Centennial Meeting), Rhode Island, was the location of the organizational meeting Vol LXVII. 1979, 112-113. of the American Otological Society on Wednesday, July 22, on 2. Roosa DBSJ. A Practical Treatise on the Disease of the Ear 06/25/2018 1868. Daniel Bennet St. John Roosa (1838-1908) of New Including the Anatomy of the Organ. New York: William York was the driving force behind the formation of the Wood & Company; 1874. 2 Copyright © 2018 Otology & Neurotology, Inc. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited. Foreword “The only thing new in the world is the history you do not es as well as synopses are available to interested readers. The know”, Harry S. Truman, 35th President of the United States. primary source – the Transactions of the American Otologi- From the vantage point of the present, President Truman’s cal Society date back to the society’s fi rst scientifi c session oft quoted adage rings true. We must know our past to bet- held during the second annual meeting on July 21, 1869 at the ter understand where we are now. The past of the American Atlantic House in Newport, Rhode Island (Figures 1, 2). The Otological Society’s (AOS) is long and noteworthy with a AOS Transactions, which summarized the proceedings of the lengthy list of contributions over the last century and a half most recent annual meeting, are available for nearly all of which shaped otologic practice around the world. As the history of the AOS.1 06/25/2018 on BhDMf5ePHKav1zEoum1tQfN4a+kJLhEZgbsIHo4XMi0hCywCX1AWnYQp/IlQrHD3gMUBbG+M1ZXrHgQsCS3G8JGjz2SB6zFWW2S395vexRY= by https://journals.lww.com/otology-neurotology from Downloaded Downloaded America’s second oldest medical society, founded in 1868, The Transactions of the American Otological Society be- the AOS has been and continues to serve as the focal point for gan with the formation of the Society in 1868 and was pub- from discoveries and discussions on otologic subjects. lished annually either as a bound volume (1868-2001) or https://journals.lww.com/otology-neurotology Why is the history of the AOS important? Modern day online (2002-06) for 138 years with the exception of the war otologists truly do stand on the shoulders of those who have years of 1943 and 1945. Typically, the Transactions included preceded us. The work of generations past has answered a list of members and incumbent offi cers, the Presidential Ad- many questions in our fi eld, but has raised more, spurring on dress, remarks of the Guest of Honor, minutes of the annual present research and the further acquisition of knowledge. business meeting, a group photo of members attending the This is an endless cycle that is best appreciated by staying annual meeting, the annual meeting program, and list of past by current and by looking back. Presidents and Award of Merit recipients. For most of the BhDMf5ePHKav1zEoum1tQfN4a+kJLhEZgbsIHo4XMi0hCywCX1AWnYQp/IlQrHD3gMUBbG+M1ZXrHgQsCS3G8JGjz2SB6zFWW2S395vexRY= The explosion of knowledge and technology has been dra- Transactions the full text of original scientifi c papers present- matic over the past 150 years, which only makes the work ed at the annual meeting were published. With the adoption of of earlier generations of otologists more impressive. Imag- the journal Otology & Neurotology (originally the American ine a practice of otology without the benefi t of a surgical Journal of Otology founded 1979) as the offi cial publication microscope or even an audiometer. Our predecessors were of the AOS in the mid-1990s, there was no longer a need for individuals with tremendous character, persistence and deter- the Transactions to serve as a vehicle for publishing AOS mination. We not only owe them a debt of thanks for their scientifi c manuscripts. For its later years, the Transactions scholarly work, but we continue to hold their principles and included only the abstracts of papers from its annual meet- grit in high esteem. ing, sometimes supplemented by comments made from the Through the efforts of past leadership, the highlights of fl oor during the meeting. With the maturation of the AOS AOS history have been well documented. Both primary sourc- online presence as a means of distributing the Society’s in- on 06/25/2018 FIG. 1. The organizational meeting of the American Otological Society was held on Wednesday, July 22, 1868, at the Ocean House (opened 1868) Newport, Rhode Island. Copyright © 2018 Otology & Neurotology, Inc. Unauthorized3 reproduction of this article is prohibited. FIG. 2. The fi rst scientifi c meeting of the American Otological Society (July 21, 1869 ) was held at the Atlantic House (opened 1867) in Newport, Rhode Island. formation, in 2007 the Council decided to cease publication tion is given to the people, events, practices, and ideas of the of the Transactions. The thousands of scholarly manuscripts society’s formative years and to the gradually increasing role which appeared in the Transactions include many the seminal of women in the AOS. Taken together, this group of nine works in otology and represent a time capsule of the state- historical papers gives us an enhanced perspective on the role of-the-art during the later half of the 19th and throughout the the AOS played in the evolution of the specialty. To make 20th centuries. this supplement accessible to the broad community of otolo- Historical publications have been produced at two impor- gists and historians of medicine the Society plans to make this tant AOS anniversaries – the 100th and the 125th. The 100th, publication accessible via PUBMED and also freely available edited by the renowned otologist Edmund Prince Fowler, was on the AOS website. published in 1968, and the 125th was edited by Wesley H. As part of our longstanding traditions, the membership Bradley and published in 1993. Both contain concise sum- of the AOS takes pride in our Society’s illustrious history. maries, most often several paragraphs long, of the most sa- Those serving now, and in future generations, owe a debt of lient points from each annual AOS Transaction distilled from gratitude to the authors and editors of this compendium for more than a hundred pages of meeting minutes and scientifi c enriching our understanding of how our Society helped to papers.