The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1889-07-25

should be touched with great gentle
ness. Many people incautiously make
themselves deaf by using a towel or
handkerchief, rolled in the shape of a
wedge, to wipe out the ear. An oc-
casional itching of the ear is almost
always overcome by rubbing near the
passage just in front of the ear. Where
the itching is quite constant, diseased
condition of the lining of the passage
will be found, and to effect a cure the
services of a physician will be needed.
The itching may be temporarily re-
lleved 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 certainly in some
conditions of the ear it is absolutely
forbidden as harmful. Not only is itch
ing when severe an evidence of trouble
within the ear, but all such sensations
as OF fullness, of burning or of pain,
also indicate that there is some disease
going on therein, and, of course, a
physician should be consulted. For
these symptoms and for some others
the syringe is frequently brought into
service. Very generally that instru-
ment is a small glass affair which is
well nigh valuless for the purpose to
which it is put. To syringe out the
ears is very nice operation, and one
can scarcely do it properly without be-
ing instructed by a physician. 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 di-
rected or more harm than good will
result; instead of being dislodged and
washed out. the offending substance to
be removed will be driven further in
and become packed against the drum.
Then, there are other things to be con-
sidered in this connection. In using
syringe, if a stream of water is thrown
against the drum with too great force,
injury is sure to result. In that way it
is possible to rupture the drum, but if
that is not done Inflammation will very
likely be the consequence. Again,
water too hot or too cold may set up an
Inflammation. Therefore, all things
considered, the rule is fixed that syring-
ing the ear should never be done unless
a physician has advised it and given
ample instructions as to all its details.
In all cases of earache, the sufferer
should consult a physician-a special
ist in diseases of the ear, if possible
instead oftrying the effects of poultices,
''earache drops" onions or tobacco
smoke and similar favorite remedies.
These never need to be used to relieve
painful ears. Oftentimes the earache
is only sign of disease in distant
parts; as, for instance, decaying teeth
often cause reflex pains in the ear. It
is easy to see the utter absurdity of
treating the ear in such cases. Usually,
and, indeed, almost always in children
an earache signifies an Inflammation in
the middle ear, which, as has been
stated, lies beyond the drum. In every
case where that symptom is complained
of, the parent should determine
whether or not the hearing power is i'm
paired. Thatis is easily done by stopping
up the unaffected ear and asking the
child question. If he does not answer
promptly, then his hearing power is
lessened, and there is disease. In such
cases an accurate knowledge of the
condition of the ear must be had before
rational treatment can be given. About
the only remedy which is safe to be ad-
ministered by parents on their own
responsibility is dry heat over the ear
by the means of hot flannels, bran bags
and the like. Young children by far
the most often suffer from earache, and
they are the ones who have not learned
''how to blow the nose," and so
mechanically open the passage from
the throat to the ear, through which
the air enters to the cavity beyond the
drum. Among the children who fre-
quently suffer from earache it is also
noted that quite a large proportion
have chronic throat or nasal troubles,
enlarged tonsils, ''catarrh" and the
like. When this is the case a perfect
cure is impossible unless these affec-
tions are overcome.
An irritation in one part of the body
will oftentimes give rise to a peculiar
manifestation in some other part of it,
even quite distant. One illustration
that of the decayed tooth a1d the
aching ear-has already been given.
AS another illustration is instanced the
fact that when one tickles his ear
with his finger he feels quite a strong
inclination to cough. Now, children
often have dry nervous cough with
out any apparent trouble about the
throat or chest. Very often in such
cases there is found in the ear some
thing or other, like Jumps OF wax,
which excites an irritation, and so in
duces the cough, which is then called
'Sear cough" From this it will appear
that where persistent cough exists,
for which there is no apparent reason,