The history of Meniere's disease

Prosper Meniere is widely credited with the first description of endolymphatic hydrops. Meniere's discovery was made possible through a combination of technical and scientific advances, a supportive scientific environment, and a keen intellect able to put the pieces of a puzzle together. Meniere's novel concept, however, that vertiginous disorders were caused by a pathologic process in the semicircular canals was not accepted overnight, but realized only after another 70 years of scientific debate. This article traces the story of endolymphatic hydrops from its anatomical beginnings to its current place in otolaryngology and the individuals who brought us to this point today.