Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-11-23

running" from the ear when neglect
ed. That is why this leaf1et is pre-
pared.
Structure of the Ear-That part of
the ear which stands out from the
side of the head and collects the sound
waves is useful part. but not the
essential part of the organ of hear
ing
The outer passage of the ear about
an inch inward, is closed by a MEM
brane stretched tightly like drum
head. 1t is, indeed. called the drum
head of the ear. The cavity beyond
that is called the drum of the ear or
the middle carr 1t has no outward
communication except with the upper
cavity of the throat and nose through
the Eustachian tube. Beyond the
drum is the third cavity. called the
internal ear" The nerve of hearing
is distributed within this.
Troubles of the Outer Ear-Insects
may crawl into the ear. When they
do so their tluttering or scratching
against the drumhead of the ear
causes such annoyance and so I'M
pleasant a sensation as wildly to eX-
cite the child. Warm water or sweet
oil poured into the ear browns the in
sect and floats it out
Foreign bodies lodged in the ear arc
not nearly 50 dangerous as unSkllful
efforts at their removal, which often
cause rupture of the drumhead or
partial or complete destruction of
hearing in that ear. Their removal
is work for the physician.
Boils sometimes form in the skin
which dips down INTO the outer ear
passage. They are often very painful.
They and other troubles of the cXtcr-
nal ear are sometimes caused by the
use of the ear scoop, toothpicks, hair
pins, or other thing used in the outer
passage of the ear With such
things the outer passage of the ear
may be Infected or the drumhead Of
the ar may easily be injured or even
ruptured. Never use anything in
your ear or scratch it with anything
but your elbow, is the good advice
which the old doctor gave.
Diseases Of the Middle Far (thc
Drum of the Ear)-DiseaSeS of the
lmiddle ear usually result from I'M
healthy conditions of the throat or
nose. Adenoids or enlarged tonsils
may be the cause, or chronic ca
tarrhal process which may extend to
the EuStachan tube. Closure of that
tube removes the air pressure from
| the inner surface of the drumhcad
while the pressure from the outside
continuing, budgcS the drumhead in
ward and hardness of hearing results.
Acute Intlammations-But the main
! purpose of this leatlet is to tell about
some acute troubles which endanger
| life as well as hearing.
The inflammation of the nose and
throat caused by a severe cold or by
an attack of the grip may extend up
ward through the Eustachian tube to
the middle ear. When that occurs
the inflammation of the lining of that
tube ofetn closes the passage through
it so that the purulent or other fluids
| forming in the middle ear cannot es-
cape into the throat. The pressure
| of these pent-up Secretions often
| breaks through the drumhead and the
| fluids are discharged externally. These
| rsingS in the head or "abSceSseS in
the head" as the trouble is some
times called should be regarded as Il
serious matter. The severe earachc
may cease as soon as the rupture and
dis charge takes place. but the danger
continues. And just as long as Il dis
| charge from the ear goes on. this
serious danger hangs over tn" child;
and the discharge is more and more
| destroying the hearing.
| Greatest Cause of these Troubles
\ common cold may start this chain
| of disastrous results: but the great
| sources of it are the infectious dis
eases, particularly measles, scarlet
| fever, diphthera and grip: though the
, infection which lights up these dan
| gerOuS ear troubles may be that Of
whooping cough, mumps, pneumonia,
| crySipelas. tubcrculoSiS( or smallpox.
During an attack of any of these
! diseases. particularly Of any of the
!, four first mentioned great care should
/ be taken to prevent the extension OF
| the Infection to the middle ear.
| Treatment should be under super