Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-04-16

pecially in early life. that people should
know more of hem than they now generally
do. A little, but not much, can be said about
the care they need. The real apparatus of
hearing is fortunately so well constructed
and so well protected in its situation, il does
very well, as n rule, under the ''let alone
treatment" There is much, however, 10 be
said about what ought not to he done to the
ears, for habits which tend to iniure them are
exceedingly common. Again, people should
oe better informed about the diseases of these
important org tns, not only for the reason
that many of them may be prevented, but
because, as general thing, they are improp-
erly treated. Considering these facts, it is
assumed that a discussion of tile subject will
be of interest
Anatomists have divided the car into three
parts. A descrl ption of two is comparatively
easy, but of the other is too difficult to under
take. The drum of the ear is the dividing
line between the external and the so called
middle ear. The drum lies about an inch and
quarter within the passage Beyond the
drum Is the actual hearing apparatus The
outermost part of the external ear is, as every
one of course knows, trumpet shaped, so as
to receive and collect sounds from all quar-
ters, The middle ear, lying back of the drum
Is a small cavity, which communicates with
deep caverns, which are also ii part of the
hearing apparatus.
THE EUSTACHIAN TUBE
The middle ear also communicates with the
upper part of the throat-properly the pha-
rynx-by narrow passage called the Eusta-
chan tube. Hence it will be seen that but
for the drum of the ear there would be one
continuous passage from the outer ear to the
throat Patients who have suffered perfora
tion Of the drum will very readily appreciate
this fact, for in blowing the nose the air
escapes through the ear with a whistIinp
sound. The Eustachian tube PLAYS several
important parts. We're it not for that the
drum, owing to the absence of air on one side
would not vibrate, and the hearing power
while not neces arily wholly DESTROYED would
be very much impaired. This general idea
OF the ear Is about the best one can acquire
without conside rable study and the aid of
charts. At any rate it is quite sufficient for
the purpose of this discussion
Although the drum of the ear lies an inch
and quarter within the passage, it is very
often injured. and, in fact, destroyed by the
wanton careless hess in picking the ears An
instrument quite often used for that purpose
is the hairpin. Never put anything into
your ears but your elbow, is sound advice
decidedly fewer cases of deafness. In picking
the ears, possible injury to the drum Is by no
means the only danger to be apprehended
The lining of tie ear passage is quite sensi-
tive to irritation. 1t requires but very little
rubbing or scratching to inhame it, and even
if that irritation be limited to the outermost
part of the passage, as it is where only the
finger is used, th ere is decided tendency for
the trouble caused to extend up to and in
volve the drum. Many people must have
noticed that Ter even gently picking the
ear there soon was felt an uncomfortable
sense of fullness deep within, giving evidence
of an extension of the irritation. Picking
the ear, even If limited to the outer part of
1t, also gives rise to small Assesses, which
many can testify are exceedingly painful
and slow to disappear
There is naturally always a small amount
of wax in the ears People generally think
that they should remove that from time to
time, and for the purpose a variety of ear
spoons have beer constructed 1t is true that
there are occasional cases where the wax ac-
cumulates to such an extent it threatens to
fill up the passage But that condition of
things is scarcely ever noted i'll healthy ear.
Nature has made such provisions that the
wax is properly disposed OF if it is not med
died with The glands which secrete it are
on the upper wall of the passage, which has
just sufficient ''p tch' to let it roll out If
one knows this fact he need not try to aid
nature in removing the wax, for in doing SO
he will most probably defeat her plans by
pushing it far within, where the floor of the
canal slopes in the opposite direction. That
done, the wax Is liable to remain there until
picked out or in some other way removed It
tS llx Ia ,t,Ia thot l..
full to keep the ear free Of wax, its secretion
is very greatly increased in consequence of
the irritation set up
DANGT ROUs PRACTICES.
After what has been said it will be seen
that all interference with the outer passage
of the ear is fraught with danger, and even
in using the towel after bathing the face, the
parts about the should be touched with
great gentleness And here it is well to say
that many people incautously make them
selves deaf by using towel or handkerchief,
rolled in the shape of a wedge, to wipe out the
ear An occasional itching of the ear is al
most always overcome by rubbing near the
passage Just in front of the ear Where the
itching Is quite constant, a diseased condition
of the lining of the passage will be found,
and to effect q cure the services of physician
will be needed. The itching may be tempo
rarily relieved with warm, weak saleratus
water, dropped into the passage.
1t is a common practice in such cases and
many others to drop into the ear sweet oil or
glycerine. Their use can scarcely ever be
justified, and Ger ainly in some conditions of
the ear II is absolutely forbidden as harmful
Not only is itching when severe an evidence
of trouble within the ear, but all such sensa-
tions, as OF fullnes, of burning or of pain, also
indicate that there is some disease going on
therein, and, of Course, physician should be
consulted For these symptoms and for some
others the syringe is frequently brought into
service. Very generally that instrument is a
small glass affair which is well nigh valueless
for the purpose to which 1t is put. To syringe
out the ears is very nice operation, and one
can scarcely do l. properly without being in
structed by ply sician-
Where there is any deposit in the ear, as of
hardened wax, etc, a considerable quantity
of water must be thrown into it in order to
do any good. Again, the stream must be
properly directed or more harm than good
will result instead of being dislodged and
washed out, the offending substance to be re-
moved will be DIR ven farther in and become
packed against the drum. Then there are
other things to be considered in this connec-
tion. In using a syringe, if stream of water
is thrown against the drum with too great a
force, injury Is sure to result. In that way
it is possible to rupture the drum, but If that
is not done infiar lmation will very likely be
the consequence. Again, water too hot or
too cold may set up an inflammation. There
fore, all things co asidered, the rule is fixed
that Swinging tho ear should never be done
unless physician has advised it and given
ample instructions as to all its details. .-Bos-