The Washington times., 1917-02-19
POPULAR MEDICINE
BY DR.. HIRSHBERG
Intelligent Observation of Rules
Of Hygiene Will De-
crease Illness.
BY DIR. LEONARD *. HIRsHBERG.

- DAAs AAA1o&NAAhD AAs
You often wonder-or you should
wonderfully sounds 'go in at one ear
and out of the other" without any ef-
fort on your part. walls have ears"
but literally a wall cannot give out
ward evidence that it has heard.
The exquisite motor called the ear
is "a small bore, long stroke engine"
with great capacity and low horse
power. AS a matter of fact your two
ears are really half a dozen. They are
three on each side.
About an inch and a quarter from
the outside trumpet part of the ear
which adds much to the beauty of the
human and detracts from that OF an
ass's head is the drum of tympanic
membrane. This bit of parchment
stretches across the cave of the ear
like the celebrated spider-web, which
blocked the cavern that hid the
Scotch hero. 1t is about the thickness
of an English five-pound note pa
per.
Damage to this drum or parchment
is common in children, whose mothers
and fathers allow colds" adenoids
and infected tonsils to remain as con-
stant irritantss and sources of matter.
If, at the first sign of a congested
ear drum in children, the ear special
ist does not pinprick this parchment,
hole or permanent opening may
burst through it by pressure of the
pus.
Use of Drum.
Since almost all deafness owes Its
origin to trouble in and beyond this
impossible drum, frequent examina-
tion of its rejecting surface may save
you much unhappiness. Peas, buttons,
hairpins, penholders. and other objects
must. therefore not be allowed any
where near them.
The drum separates the outer from
the middle ear. This is in direct COM
munication with the back of the
mouth and throat by a pipeline CALL
ed the "eustachian" tube, which is
about two inches long.
1t is as plain as a pike-staf that
affections of the nose and throat
which permit matter, mucus and mi
crobes, such as "colds," to be around
loosely, may penetrate the middle ear
via this pipe line and cause ringing
in the ears" deafness. and other ear
troubles.
The normal anatomy of the ear
then changes. The lining membranes,
or thick, red wallpapers, become
swollen and inflamed. AS "cold fol-
lows cold" the thickening becomes
permanent and hard and the curious
chain OF three bones slung with
loose joints behind the drum, instead
of swinging lightly like a hammer
on an anvil-one Is shaped like
stirrup, one like a hammer and one
like an anvil-become stiff, rigid and
scleratic. Vibrations OF sound do not
easily pass through them, hence
form Of deafness ensues.
How You Hear.
1t is these bones which carry the air
movements across the middle TO the
inner ear. The tiny stIrrup moves like
a piston rod sixteen times a second up
10 10000 times a second. Between thes.
lowest and highest vibrations the nu
man ear hears. All other music and
rOises above and below are not heard
by man. Some insects. birds. and beasts
can hear more than man.
Sounds which you hear may be air
waves twenty-one yards long or only
cne-third of an inch long. Shorter and
longer ones go unperceived by you, who
in your human vanity think you are the
lords OF all creation"
The little knob on the top Of some
cars is explained by an additional thrust
at human vanity. While it Is mora cas-
lily felt in some ears than In others. 81
is held to be what is left Of the original
pointed ear OF animals.
(Copy't, 1917, by Newspaper Feature servicel.