Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1839-02-14
= ---7-------
Medical.

The rounds of the papers in substance that
some Northern physician in New York or
Boston, lately relieved person of deafness
ny speedy operation, and all who are af>
iected with this distressing affection are as
sured of immediate relief from the skill of
The said operator. Some such notice circu-
lated Two or three years ago, and many TO
our knowledge visited the North in the hope
oil relief, but returned without profit. end
minus the expenses Of the trip, including
sundry fees and withered hopes "A S our at
tention has been drawn 10 this disease, which
has, OF late years, become very common, not
IN the aged only, but in children and per-
cons in the vigor of life, we would add a re,
mark or two, that may lead any intelligent
person TO decide on the probability of relief
in any given case.
III, as is stated, patient was cured ofdeaf
ness ny an operation, the process must have
been either the removal OF wax from the ex
ternai ear; the puncture Of the membrane
of the drum (membrana fympani, } or the in
PRODUCTION o! an instrument into the cariiis-
gInous canal that conveys air from the throat
into the inner ear, which is commonly call
cd the Eustuchian tube. In the first case,
when deafness is produced 10y wax, its pres
ence IS easily detected by the introduction Of
probe, or by examining the ear placed in
position TO receive tho direct rays of the
sun. Should wax be found, the best way of
removing II will be TO syringe the ear with
Old CASTLE soap and warm waller, which will
either dissolve The mass, or render its remo>
val easy and without pain OF injury 10 the
ear. Any careful observer, and, OF course,
any medical friend, can determine this point
at once. 1.-THE deafness arose from the pre-.
sence of wax, il will he relieved by its re.
moval; and, il it is not relieved by the re-
moval OF the wax, the sufferer may rest as.
sured that il did not originate from lis pre-.
sence.
The second mode in which il is possible
that deafness may be relieved bv an opera.
ton, is by puncturing The membrane ofthe
drum with sharp instrument; but az this
operation is only required in the event ofthe
destruction or stoppage OF the EustachIan
tube above mentioned, il becomes highly
important 10 ascertain whether that tube is
clear or obstructed, and fortunately this Oh
ject may be attained by simple experiment
in the power of all. Let the patient inhale
the smoke of segar or pipe, and, stopping
his nose and mouth, seek TO force the smoke
through the ears. u he succeeds in forcing
The smoke into the inner ear, Of which he
will be easily sensibls from The pressure of
The membrane OF the drum, the passage 10
unobsirnc,ed, aud the puncture of the mem
S'~'S W WV NtuftiB tuc Ot,JtCt VI WDICn OpeS
ration is TO convey air into the inner ear, is
not only not required, but would be decided
~ misappIied and injurious. But If he can
mo-! force the smoke from The mouth into the
inner ear, then is the Eusiachian tube OBJ
sifucted, ard The operation Of puncturing
may relieve the deafness This mode of re-
lief was first employed by Sir Asily Cooper,
and has been adopted by others but as The
operation, IS not free from danger, The nature
of which need not be detailed here, but re-
quires repeated renewals from the tendency
OF The membrane Of the drum 10 heal, and
as the cicarisng Of each pucture dickens
the coats Of the membrane, the operation is
now rarely performed, and il had better be
left alone
The third and only ether mode Of relief
by an operation is the introduction of sy-
hinge, fashioned for The purpose, throue h The
nose into the Eustocbian tube. An entrance
is thus forced into the tube, which may have
been closed by Inflammation arising from
sore throat or other causes, and The air is ads
united TO The inner ear; and, il the absence
OF the air produced the deafness, as must al.
ways be the Case when il is excluded. the
hearing will re restored.
These three netbcds only OF operation on
The ear, are proper and we'll timed, and the
reader may be assured, that any other ot,
GRAFTON prolessed aurisis may talk about, is
unauthorized bys knon ledge Of The anatomy
OF The ear, and of the diseases which afflict il.
We regret that ;be subject is of such ma
lure az TO require The striciest attention Of
The reader, butswe have made il as simple
ass technical topic and our knowledge Of
Language would enable us 10 render it.
On the subject OF deafness, The afflicted
may be satisfied .hal nosirums are Of no a.
vail. 10 wash The ear With soap and warm
water, 10 keep the head warm, and if the
wax is inclined 10 harden, TO place piece
OF wool or cotton moisiened with oIiye oil in
The ear, are all the remedies required and
II these ito mol suffice 10 remove The deafness
The patient must trust 10 The reyivjng vigor
OF his constitution, add ocquiese IN the oil