The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1889-04-10
CONCERNING THE EARS.
COMMON PRACTICES WHICH ARE
SURE TO lNJURE THEM.


gers from Picking tho Ears-Fnyorite
Remedies Forbidden--Thosc Who Under
stand Should Be Consulted.
The ears are so often subject to disease, es-
pecially in early life, that people should
know more of them 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 50 well protected in its situation, it does
very well, as a rule, under the ''let alone
treatment There is much, however, to be
said about what ought not 10 be done to the
ears, for habits which tend toinjure them are
exceedingly common. Again, people should
be better informed about the diseases of these
important organs 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 discussion OF the subject will
DO OF interest
Anatomists have divided the ear into three
parts. A description 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
outerniost part of the external ear is, as every
one OF course knows, trumpet shaped, so as
to receive and collect sounds from all quar-
tiers. The middle ear, lying back of the drum,
Is a small cavity, which communicates with
deep caverns, which are also 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 win 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-
ton of the drum will very readily appreciate
|. this fact, for in blowing the nose tho air
escapes through the ear with whistling
sound Tho 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 necessarily wholly destroyed, would
be very much impaired. This general idea
of the ear Is about the best ono can acquire
without considerable study and the aid of
charts At any rate 1t 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 carelessness 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,
and il universally followed there would DO
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 the ear passage is quite sensi-
tive TO irritation. 1t requires but very little
rubbing or scratching to infame IT, and even
il that Irritation be limited TO the outermost
part Of the passage as it is where only the
finger is used, there Is decided tendency for
the trouble caused to extend up to and in
volve the drum. Many people must have
noticed that after even gently picking the
ear there soon was felt an uneasnfortzkss
NsIiss of fnsfnesss sseei Nitnfl, feTifg 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 small amount
| OF wax in the ears People generally think
| that they should remove that from time tc
| time, and for the purpose variety of ear
| spoons have been constructed. 1t Is true that
| there are occasional cases where the wax nc
| cumulates to such an extent IL threatens to
| fill up the passage. But that condition OF
| things is scarcely ever noted in ahealthy ear.
/ Nature has made such provisions TINT the
| wax Is properly disposed of IL IL is not med
| died with. Tho glands which secrete 1t are
on tho upper wall OF the passage, which has
| Just sufficient pitch to let 1t roll out. II
| one knows this fact no 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. 1t
| Is generally the rule that where one is caro-
| full TO keep the car free of wax, its secretion
| Is very greatly increased In consequence of
Tho irritation set up.
DANGEROUS PRACTICES.
After what has been said IL will DO seen
that all interference with the outer passage
| Of the car Is fraught with danger, and even
| in using tho towel after bathing the face, the
parts about the ear shoald be touched with
great gentleness. And here it is well TO say
| that many people incautiously make them
selves deaf by using towel or handkerchief
rolled in the shape of wedge, to wipe out the
ear An occasional itching of the car Is al
most always overcome by rubbing near the
passage just IN 'front.' Oh the ear. "here tht
itching Is quite constant, a diseased condition
| of the lining of the passage will be found
| and to effect cure the services of physician
viii be needed The itching may be tempo
rarily relieved with warm, weak saleratui
water, dropped into the passage.
| II is q common practice in such cases and
many others to drop into the ear sweet oil OIL
| glycerine. Their use can scarcely ever bs
| justified, and certainly IN some conditions o.
the ear 1t Is absolutely forbidden as harmful
Not only Is itching when severe an evidence
OF trouble within the ear. but all such sensa
lions, as OF fullness, OF burning or OF PAIN alst
Indicate that there Is some disease gong OF