Abstract
Results of an experimental study on so-called respiratory hyposmia are reported. Using subjects with normal intranasal findings, a rubber tube was inserted into each nasal passage so as to the end of the tube reach the nasopharynx, with which inspired air was prevented from reaching directly the olfactory region of the nasal fossa.
The subject who, in normal state, were able to detect the smell of Alinamin at a dilution of 105 times showed an elevation of threshold as to detect the smell at 103 dilution after placement of the tubes.
In the other group with hyposmic subjects whose intranasal findings showed obstruction of the olfactory region due to swollen middle turbinates, the local treatment with adrenaline solution caused reduction in threshold for olfactory sense 10 to 102 dilution of Alinamin.
Results of present study indicated that a complete anosmia does not occur even in the subjects with nasal obstruction whose olfactory regions appear obstructed completely by rhinoscopic examination. The average decrease in olfactory sense in these subjects was estimated as about 40%.
