Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1891-07-31
Natures Ear Pick.


Professor Julian J. Chisolm, of the
University Of Maryland, makes the
curious announcement that nature
has provided permanent ear pick in
the continuous working Of the lower
jaw in talking and eating. Just as
the lachrymal gland, or tear-bag, has
its principal duty to moisten and keep
the cornea clean, there is device in
the ear to keep the drum-head clean.
The waxy secretions which come
therefrom do not get down as far as
the tympanum itself, for that organ
does not need it; nor are they meant
for the external meatus, or entrance
to the organ of hearing. But the glu-
tinous exudations are for the purpose
of keeping away from the ear drum
any particles of dust or dirt that may
enter with the waves Of air transmit
ting the sound. Not only is the sound
reverberated from side to side down
the auditory tube toward the drum
head. but the air has just to travel
the same course, and thus has just so
many more opportunities to be caught
by the sticky walls, so that the sound
may impinge on very sensitive drum
| free from extraneous matter. The
| sticky wax combines with the dust
particles, and is made very friable.
This wax might clog up the ear pas
sage, and nature, knowing the necessi-
ty of keeping it clean, has provided the
means without the aid of human de-
| vices
The very part Of the auditory canal
where the largest number of these
wax-secreting glands is found aids in
forming the joint on which the lower
jaw works Fragments Of wax every
now and then tumble out Of the ear.
| 1t is the constant motion Of the lower
jaw that loosens them from their bed
and keeps them rolling toward the
natural outlet until they escape from
the passage. The outer half Of the
canal is inclined downward as well as
outward, and this makes an inclined
plane. down and out of which parti-
cles of wax are made to move by the
continuous motion of the lower jaw.
1t is only necessary to thrust the lit
tie finger in the ear and to work the
Jaw to discover what a commotlon Is
imported by these movements to the
walls of the auditory tube. 1t is by
these constant jars that the wax crusts
are thrown out. He concluded his
remarks to the class by saying: 1T
is only when we obtrude our coarse
help on natures refined methods, and
use ear-picks to interfere with nature S
methods Of cleansing, that the wax
masses are pushed too far over the
inclined plane and toward the drum
head, beyond the influence Of the
movements impaired to the auditory
passage by the lower jaw. From this
meddling wax accumulations occur.
The lower-jaw is natures ever-act-
ing ear-pick. 1t is at hand to work,
keeping both aural passages clean,
when engaged in what we have here
tofore considered its sole dual avoca-
tions-talking and eating" The doc
tor then told of the danger of picking
the ear with ear-picks or the common
substitutes -hairpins match sticks
pencils, sc. A patient whom he
showed the class was picking his ear
with u wooden tooth-pick when, turn
ing around to notice someone, his el
bow struck an open door, which drove
the toothpick deeply into the ear and
through the drum-head, causing pain
and impairing his hearing.