Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-02-04
Injuries 10 the Ear from the Firing Of
Cnunan

ARMY GusNERs.-Some Of the newspapers ad-
wise the soldiers especially artillerymen to wear
oiled wool In their ears 70 protect them from the
conclusion. correspondent Of the Philadelphia
Ledger who processes to know, says mo mans
ears will be hurt by the report Of artillery II be
Will open his mouth. Just as We throw up sash
to prevent our glass being shattered by the dis
10 save our ears. The conclusion comes then on
both sides OF the drum Of the ear and has no Ill
efect.n
To thc Editors Of the National IHteiIig.nesy:
The above paragraph In your issue Of the 18th
Of January induces me to offer few remarks on
the firing of cannon, which submit TO your con-
sideration and to the general information Of those
men engaged In our army and navy.
/. Rupture of the membrane tympani. or, as IL Is
commonly called, the drum Of the ear, generally
occurs frem sudden reports taking place when
they are not anticipated. The statement that sno
man can be hurt by the report Of artillery IL he
will open his mouth" is so far correct that have
a voluntary power Of rendering the tympanum
tense through the means Of the ossicula and their
muscles. Persons may thus prepare for loud noises
bystrengthening the drum and diminishing the in
tensity Of the sound There Is also the involuntary
provision Of reflex kind for the safety Of the
when exposed to loud sounds namely, the tension
ofthe membrane Of the tympanum Of the ear by the
small muscles Of the ear, In manner analogous to
the closure of the iris by but as In the
case Of the eye, an intense fash OF light produces
Its effects at once upon the retna, before there is
time for the reflex closure Of the iris So, in the
case OF the ear, great Impulse OF SOUND NAV both
paralyZe the auditory nerve and rupture the men,
brana tympani before there 10 time for defense Of
both by the reflex tension Of the drum. There is
no doubt that numerous cases Of ruptured men,
orane with more or less permanent deafness, will
be found among soldiefy returning from cam
paign. Gunners-particularly those of the fleet
aware OF the great danger TO which the organ
Of hearing is exposed, plug their ears well with
the amount Of injury which would otherwise be
endured nevertheless the wool, as generally
plugged In the ear, does not protect the MEM
brane. The effect of position with reference to
the gun Is pecullar-those men who stand nearest
the muzzle feel the report most, but those who are
to leeward suffer more than those to windward
Some time since published letter addressed
to surgeons, particularly those Of the navy and
artillery, In which | gave a simple yet use ful
remedy to obviate many Of the injuries to which
gunners are exposed. 1t consists CT solution of
glvcerin oil and belladonna-say about once of
glyceTin to fifteen grains Of belladonna Saturate
piece Of cotton well in this solution, and place
1t In the ear as far as possible. This solution an
1t will readily be perceived by the medical men,
forms coating In itself on the membrane, and
with the addition Of the cotton, protects the drum
10 removed the coating can re readily washed out
by Swinging the ear with little warm w1er
Since publishing this formula have arranged
an instrument and also prepared the cotton In
such manner al 70 be drawn by a small thread
which Is at the end of the cotton, through the
instrument, thereby enabling the most Ignorant
man TO Introduce 1t tendery and steadily into the
passage of the ear and guide 1t to the drum; for
need scarcely say that II ia very easy to talk of
passing foreign body down the meatus. but ii is
not so easily done. Besides 1t is not sufficient to
merely plug the ear with cotton, but when intro
duced into the ear Ii should cover the membrane,
for then, and not till then will the success attend
the application.
cannot enter into particulars about the instru-
ment and the preparation Of the cotton, but will
be most happy to exhibit Il to any surgeon or
oihcer who will call on me, when will give all
the explanation required. | would also add that
this preparation will obviate diseases to which
from dampness and incurred from sleeping In
tents and in the open fields
+ A. Won MoscHZIsKRR
Oculist and Aurist 227 Pa av., opposite Willards'