Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1888-07-19
CHAPTER ON DEAFNESS.
THE EAR A MOST INTRICATE AND
WONDERFUL STRUCTURE.
Throat Deafness and Its Treatment.
other Varieties OF omplaint-singing
in the Ears-The Deaf Colombian Eng
gllsh Physicians Suggestions

in the Ears-The Deaf Colombian Eng
gllsh Physicians Suggestions
It would take a much longer paper than 1 |
have space TO write to describe the anatomy |
Of the ear and the pathology Of the different
kinds of deafness. 1t is a most intricate |
structure, fearfully and wonderfully made,
and consisting Of tubes external and internal, |
a drum, muscles, nerves and bones Of its |
own, all lying inside one Of the hardest and
strongest bones of the human body. This
latter was specially designed by nature TO
shield it from blows. 1t IS supplied With air
by a long tube called the eustachian, opening
into the back part Of tho throat
This tube l mention specially to account
for the fact Of people becoming deaf through
bad colds or swelling Of the tonsils. Observe
that the ear must DO supplied with air, or
hearing becomes an impossibility. You hear
this air cracking in tho ear when you 50
through the process Of swallowing tho saliva
Well, il it is closed by the products Of in
dammation, or if it be shut up as to its
mouth by the pressure Of a swollen tonsil, it
is obvious enough partial OF complete deaf
ness win be tho result for the time being.
This is sometimes called throat deafness,
and, like every other form Of the complaint,
| requires special treatment Il Is, perhaps,
one Of tho commonest, If not tho conlmonest
kind Ii caused by the pressure Of tho tonsils
! il is merely mechanical, and tho remedy is
removal Of the cause When, however, it
is caused by the extension Of Inflammation
of mucous membrane during a cold, it may
or may not depart with the cold IL would
then have to be seen to surgically, and the
passing Of a catheter might be necessary, a
simple but delicate operation which only
professional man could be trusted to perform
VARIOUS KINDS or DEATNEss
| Another very common species Of deafness
Is that caused by obstruction Of the external
tube Of the ear with tax, which may be dis
solved out or syringed out by a practiced
hand, when the cure would DO complete. If
tho drum Of the car be eaten through by ul-
ceration, no permanent cure Is Of course to
be expected, but visit 70 clever aurlst
may send the patient home rejoicing never
theless. There are innammations of various
other portions of the ear which ! need not
mention, all of which cause deafness There
is also a kind Of deafness caused by paralysis
of the nerves which carry the impression TO
! the brain from tho ear.
Many forms of the complaint are accom-
panied, especially at the outset, by disagree
tblo noises in tho organ, or apparently In
that part Of the brain adjoining. It Is as If
one were actually listening to the rush of the
blood through the vessels Of tho brain am
not sure that it is not 50, and that one cannot
even Judge of the state OF his circulation by
these sounds alone Both this same singing
in the ears may occur in those who are not
deaf, and il it continues long it is well TO con-
suit your physician, especially If you be fat
and plethoric, for it may DO an early symp-
tom Of apoplexy, or What Is called "a
strole.n
We often hear ono friend say to another:
"You're very deaf today and perhaps the
reply is: "Well, / am a bit deaf today; l
vary with tho weather. This is a species of
deafness common in the nervous, and really
arises from debility, consequent perhaps
unon some temporary arrangement Of the
digestive organs People subject thereto
should live carefully and abstemiously. They
should try 20 live so as 10 be independent Of
the use of drugs.
HEARING IMPROVED BY NOISE
have heard it said that the deaf hear bet
ter when any noise is going on, probably bo-
cause then other people are talking loudest-
/ really believe that is the true reason. But
my grandfather used to relate an instance of
the deaf colonel of a regiment who was so
convinced of the truth of this opinion that
whenever he had to converse on parade
with any Of his men or officers, be used TO
+ have the drummer to beat up close along
+ side.
There is one affection Of the ear which Is
> of a very disagreeable kind, and which
must mention while 1 tnink OF Iu-running
from the ear II tho exuding matter were
. non-offensive it would be bad enough, but
/. from being mingled, l suppose, with tho SO
! erection of wax it is fetid. The most simple
form is that occurring In children of q
strumous disthesis, whore it proceeds simply
from this outer canal OF the ear. 1t is not
e then dangerous in itself, and ia remediabl'
3 by great attention to health and injections o.
2 an astringent and disinfectant nature up
1 piled by means of little syringe.
J And now what have / to say about tn
n treatment Of deafnessl Worry little, fear
d Were talking to students It would be differ
emit, but the ear is such delicate organ tina
= in nine cases out Of ten meddlesome domesti
surgery makes matters worse. Each cas-
II must DO treated on its own merits, and til
Y sooner the better-simple cases by your owl
\; medical adviser, the moro difficult by thos
N men who make tho ear a speciality.
/. But as prevention IS better than cure,
J. may mention that no ono should expose hi
cars to draughts, especially billiards.; tina
the less interference with the ear at all time
= the better; for example, picking the ear, @
: poling pins or penholders in it, does not cor
z. duce to contemplation; that wearing cotto
he or wool in the ears is q stupid and dangerou
e, practice, and moro likely to induce cold tina
d prevent it,; that scrubbing the ear ont in tn
70 morning with tho corner of the towel is ba
or practice; and finally, that boxing child o
the ear may lead to permanent Deafness
"a Family Doctor in Cassells Magazine