[«Our whole family does not get out of the common cold»: an ear, throat and nose disease in the conditions of S.P. Botkin].

The article presents an epistolary insight into the history of otorhinolaringology in Russia. It shows pathology of ear, nose and throat, which S.P. Botkin faced: cases of diseases of empress Maria Aleksandrovna, grand duke Vyacheslav Konstantinovich, poet N.A. Nekrasov, publisher A.A. Kraevsky, Sergey Petrovich himself, his relatives and loved ones. The biographical singularity of the famous doctor's patients is noted. On the materials of family letters of 1855-1889 yrs., service diaries of 1872-1889 yrs. and S.P. Botkin's clinical lectures it is shown how daily cases and casuistry of otorhinolaryngology pathology formed scientific innovative ideas.