The role of Adam Politzer (1835-1920) in the history of otology.

Purpose: To study and understand the contribution made by Adam Politzer (1835-1920) to 20th century otology and analyze his place in the history of otology.

Method: A study of his four reference works, some of his hundreds of publications in medical journals, and diverse publications written about him.

Results: All areas of otology have been studied, compiled, and improved through his assorted publications, notably his atlas of otoscopy published in 1865, the first work of its kind, expanded and reedited in 1896; his 10 tables of the anatomy of the ear amended in 1873; his textbook of the diseases of the ear, which was first published in two volumes in 1878 and 1882 and subsequently reedited four times as one volume, the last time being in 1908; his anatomy and histology book published in 1889; and his book on the history of otology, which up to now is the most complete tome existing on the subject, edited in two volumes in 1907 and 1913. No other has been as prolific as he. He invented, in particular, a revolutionary method of making the eustachian tube permeable--a method that made him famous and carries his name. He also developed an acoumeter to measure hearing and was the first to describe certain pathologic conditions histologically, of which otosclerosis is one.

Conclusion: Politzer is certainly the greatest otologist of the 19th century and probably one of the greatest of all time. His influence on the 50 years of otology has never been equaled. He deserves a double mention in the history of otology: as an otologist and as a historian. It is in his honor that the International Society of Otology bears his name.