Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1869-12-08
A Frequent Cause of Deafness.

A few days since young lady cor.sJlted
me in regard to apprehended Deafness She
stated that for upwards Of year she had no.
ticed an increasing deafness in the right ear.
At first she thought little Of it, believing
that it was a temporary disability, but, as she
experienced more and more difficulty IN hear
ing, she begun to realize the dreadful possibi-
lity Of approaching deafness. For months
she concealed her condition, but at length it
became apparent to her friends, who, to her
great modification, addressed her according
y. On careful examination, found large
amount Of wax in the external ear, and as
could discover no other cause, and as il was
neither hereditary nor the result of recent or
former disease, attributed her deafness 10
an impaction Of wax against the ear drum
| (tympanum.) As | had ANTICIPATED, she
quickly aud sharply retortcd, rejecting my
opinion as an impu,ation upon her cleanli-
ness. | assured her that it was rather an
evidence Of her special care of her person,
for in my experience this form of deafness
moro often occurs in those who take great
pains TO keep their ears clean. II happens
in this wise The ear wax (cerumen) is
secreted constantly along the whole extent Of
the external ear tube, but only in sufficient
quantity to slightly lubrcate the passage
In the natural and healthy state of the parts,
this wax gradually hardcns, disintegrates, and
falls from the ear tube unnoticed When
ever the ear tube is irritated, the wax is se-
creted in large quantities and escapes from the
passage in masses. Many persons clean their
ears daily generally by using a wet cloth
twisted, or upon stick, hair pin, or some-
thing similar. This frequent stimulation
leads to an excessive secretion of wax, which
is not allowed to dry and must disintegrate,
owing to the constant agitation, but is crowd
ed to the back part of the tube and plaster
ed over the drum by screwing of the cloth.
While the external part of the tube is thus
kept clean, the internal part becomes clogged
with collection Of wax, and finally the drum
is so covered that 1t ceases 10 vibrate with
its usual rapidity. lndistinctness of hearing
is the first evidence that the drum is begin
ming to be interfered with by the wax, and as
the layers of the fresh wax increase, the
vibrations diminish in intensity, and the dull
ness Of hearing increases.
The treatment proved that the cause Of her
, deafness had been correctly stated. A few
, drops Of almond oil were put in the ear at
I bedtime to soften the wax, and the next morn.
Il ing the ear tube was thoroughly washed out
with soap aud water by the means uf o syr.
inge. Large quantities of wax escaped, with
hardened masses, followed by that remarka-
BILE acuteness Of hearing that for a time makes
: all loud sounds in these cases painful.
Gases Of this kind are very numerous
c have known Judge to leave the bench on
c account of growing deafness, due to accumu
: lations Of wax around mass of cotton intro
= duced long time previously into the ear
3 The ear should never be cleaned except with
= soap and water carefully introduced by q
d syringe BY this means the car is not irri
c tated, the wax is thoroughly removed, even
from the surface of the drum, and no harm
: can result.--Note Book Of an EmiaeR
Physician in the Hearth and Home.