Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1888-08-22
?Mlistellaneuns &eadim9.
CHAPTER ON DEAFNESS.

CHAPTER ON DEAFNESS.
1t would take much longer paper than
I have space to write to describe the anato-
my of the ear and the pathology of the
different kinds of deafness. 1t is a most
intricate structure, fearfully and wonder
fully made, and consisting Of tubes exter-
nal 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 is specially de-
signed by nature to shield it from blows:
It's supplied with air by a long tube called
the eustachian, opening into the back part
of the throat.
This tube 1 mention specially to account
for the fact Of people becoming nf fgo aeal aen
sils. Observe that the ear must be sup
piled with air, or. hearing becomes an i'm
possibility. You hear this air cracking
in the ear when you 60 through the pro
cess of swallowing the saliva. Well, II 1t
is closed by the products of Inflammation,
orif it be shut up as. .ta-its mouth by the
pressure of swollen tonsil, it is obvious
enough partial or complete deafness Will
be the result for the time being.
This is sometimes called throat deafness,
and, like every other form OF the COM
plant, requires special treatment. 1t is,
perhaps, one of the commonest, if not the
commonest kind. If caused by the pres
sure of the tonsils it is merely mechanical,
and the remedy is removal Of the cause.
When, however, it is caused by the extern
sion of Inflammation of the mucous mem
brane during a cold, it may or may not de-
part with the cold. 1t would then have
to be seen to surgically, and the passing
of catheter might be necessary, a simple
but delicate operation which only h pro-
fessional man could be trusted to perform.
VARIOUS KINDS OF DEAFNESS.
Another very common species OF deaf
ness is that caused by obstruction of the eX-
ternal tube of the ear with wax, which may
be dissolved out or syringed out by prac-
ticed hand, when the cure would be COM
plete. If the drum of the ear be eaten
through by liberation, no permanent cure
is of course to be expected, but visit to
clever aurist may send the patient home
rejoicing nevertheless. There are int1am-
nations of various other portions of the
ear which need not mention, all OF which
cause deafness. There is also kind OF
deafness caused by paralysis of the nerves
which carry the impression to the brain
from the ear.
Many forms of the complaint are accom-
panied, especially at the outset, by dlsa-
greeable noises in the organ, or apparent
Iy in that part of the brain adjoining. 1t
is as if one we're actually listening to the
rush of the blood through the vessels OF
the brain. am not sure that it is not so,
and that one cannot even Judge of the
state of his circulation by these sounds
alone. Both this same singing in the ears
NAV occur in those who are not deaf, and
if it continues long it is we'll to consult
your physician, especially if you be tat
and plethoric, for it may be an early
symptom of apoplexy, or what is called
"a stroke"
We often hear one friend say to another {:
"You're very deaf to-day" and perhaps
the reply is: "Well, I am bit deaf to-
day; + vary with the weather" " This is
a species of deafness common in the ner-
vous, and really arises from debility, con-
seuuent perhaps upon some temporary
derangement of the digesti}e organs.
People subject thereto should 1--we Careful
ly and abstemiously. They should try to
live SO as to- be independent Of the use OF
drugs.
HEARING IMPROVED BY NOISE.
have heard it said that the deaf hear
better when any noise is going on, proba-
bly because then other people are talk
ing loudest. I 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, he used to have the drum
mer to beat up close alongside.
There is one affection of the ear which is
of a very disagreeable kind, and which l
must mention while 1 think of it-run-
ming from the ear. If the eXuding matter
were non offensive it would be bad enough,
but from being mingled, / suppose, with
the secretion of wax, it is fetid. The most
simple form is that occurring in children
of a strumous diathesis, where it proceeds
simply from the outer canal OF the ear. 1t
is not then dangerous in itself, and is rem,
ediable by great attention to health ana
injections Of an astringent and disintect-
ant nature applied by means OF little
syringe.
And now what have to say about the
treatment of deafness? Very little, !
fear. Were talking to students 1T would
be different, but the ear is such a delicate
organ that in nine cases out of ten meddle-
some domestic surgery makes matters
worse. Each case must be treated on its
own merits, and the sooner the better
simple cases by your own medical adviser,
and the more difficult by those men who
make the ear speciality.
But as prevention is better than cure,
NAV mention that no one should expose
his ears to draughts, especially blizzards;
that the less interference with the ear at
all times the better; for example, picking
the ear, or poking pins or penholders in It,
does not conduce to contemplation that
wearing cotton or wool in the ears is stu
pid and dangerous practice, and more
likely to induce cold than prevent it; that
scrubbing the ear out in the morning with
the corner of the towel is bad practice; /;
and finally, that boxing child on the ear
may lead to permanentdeafne Family
Doctor in Cassell's Magazine.
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