Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-10-26
CONCERNING THE EARS.
COMMON PRACTICES WHICH ARB
SURE TO INJURE THEM.

| COMMON PRACTICES WHICH ARB
SURE TO INJURE THEM.
A Partial Description of tho Organ-Dan-
gers from Picking tho Ears-Favorite
! Remedies Forbidden-Those 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 SO well protected in its situation, it does
very well, as rule, under the ''let alone
treatment" There is much, however, to be
said about what ought not to be done to the
ears, for habits which tend to injure 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
be of interest.
Anatomists have divided the ear into three
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. This
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-
tiers. The middle ear, lying back of the drum,
is 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-
ryn1-.-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-
ton Of the drum will very readily appreciate
this fact, for in blowing the nose the air
escapes through the ear with a whistling
sound. The Eustachian tube plays several
important parts. Were 1t not for that the
drum, owing to the absence OF air on one side,
would not vfbrate, and the hearing power,
while not necessarily wholly destroyed, would
he very much impaired. This general idea
CT the ear is about the best one can acquire
without considerable 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
mnd 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 if universally followed there would be
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 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, 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 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
it, 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 cars People generally think
that they should remove that from time to
time, and for the purpose variety Of ear
spoons have been constructed II is true that
there are occasional cases where the wax &C
cumulates to such an extent it threatens to
fill up the passage. But that condition Of
things is scarcely ever noted in 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 mas
just sufficient pitch" 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. 1t
is generally the rule that where one is care
full to keep the ear free of wax, its secretion
is very greatly increased in consequence of
the irritation set up.
DANGEROUS 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 ear should 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 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 cure the services Of a 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 certainly in some conditions Of
the ear it is absolutely forbidden as harmful.
Not only is itching when severe an evidence
# trouble within the ear, but all such sensa
tons, as of frllness 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 it is put. To syringe
out the ears is very nice operation. and one
can scarcely do il properly without being in
structed by physician
Where there is any deposit in the ear, as OF
hardened wax, etc., 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 dlsiodrei and