Show catarrh may result fro from bent by DR JAMES W BARTON MOST physicians pay little or no attention t to 0 bends in the th e partition between the two nostrils As a matter 0 of f fact a nose with HEALTH a straight septum is a almost I 1 most COLUMN rare it is estimated that perhaps one in every five or ten is about t the he average finding the reason lit little tle or no attention is paid to a bent or deflected septum is that the physician figures that there is no difference in air space between 50 and 50 each side in a r straight septum and 60 and 40 with abent a bent septum they both add up to this of at course refers to slight bends or deflections what about severe bends or deflections of the septum can the severe deflection cause symptoms when the deflection is so severe that tha t it actually closes up one side of the nose there will not be any air going to or coming from the lungs on that side this means lack of ventilation of the sinuses on that tha I 1 side of the head and lack of draining of any mucous from the sinuses dr barton or W S syme of glasgow whom I 1 have quoted before in the british medical journal tells us that mid dle die ear and catarrhal conditions are found very often with deflection of the septum when severe it in may ay cause pain by pressing against the side wall of the nose however the blockage of the little ope opening ning from sinus into the nose prevents in mucous or pus from draining out into nose and throat causing se vere pain from pressure in these cases the bend or deflection Is ii high up in the nose due to injury foot toot ball all boxing or a tall fall the point about this is that while most of us have a bent septum and no treatment is required in cases of sinus trouble catarrh or middle ear conditions where good bentila tion and drainage is necessary one with a bent septum is more likely to have severe pain and require op aeration than one whose sept septum is straight A bent or deflected septum even if badly deflected which is causing no symptoms requires no treatment |