The Washington times., 1917-03-17
POPULAR MEDICINE
BYDR. HIRSHBERG
Intelligent Observation of Rules
of Hygiene will De-
crease Illness.
BY DIR. LEONARD X. HIRsHBERG.

knowledge seldom runs hand in
hand with practice. The other day 1
saw a man digging into his ear with
a toothpick. 81 know I ought not do
this" he said. A week later he had
a boil or abscess there, but had wholly
forgotten that he had produced 1t
himself by means of the abrasion
made by the toothpick.
The "suppuration" thus started
could have been prevented. The vic
tim admitted that he knew how. He
not agree with his intellect.
Trouble is so accessible to the mid
die ear, either from the eustachian
tube, the throat, the nose, the outside
air or the blood and lymph that mere
information about the ear, without
deeds, will not save it from infiam-
nation, pus, "suppurdtion" and dis
ease.
Anything which has a tendency to
obstruct the free passage of air up
the vent pipe between the throat and
the ear or through the outer or inner
canal spells important disorders for
that delicate mechanism.
middle ear moisture and air-or for
infiammatory products when present
is the vent pipe or eustachian tube.
If for any reason this is ohstructed-
which is only too simple a matt r in in
fants and children-even for a brief
period. the moisture and matter will
cause a bullying of the ear drum.
Cause Of Running Ear.
Unless this is nicely pricked promptly
by vigilant, Argus-eyed ear specialist.
a large jagged. unbeatable hole will be
burst through the drum as a lifetime
memento of medical or maternal mad
yertence. negligence or incompetence.
The discharge then finds its way out
through the perforated ear membrane
a. q running ear"
There are many possible distractions
Of the eustachian tube, notably swollen
threats, running noses, colds in the
head. adenoids. infiamed tonsils, de-
posits OF food. dust. germs. and even
milk In the opening have been known to
produce an acute middle ear soreness.
The child will awake from a sound sleep
with a shrill. piercing pain cry. Some
times its tiny fist will wave in the dire
ton Of the affected ear; occasionally
there is no such clue. Only the sharp
eye and beam of light from the ear doc
tors head mirror will give the teIl-tale
sign, a REDEEMED, swollen ear drum
should Avoid Delay.
In adults a few hours lapse Of time
is allowable. The doctor in that inter-
val seeks the location Of the eustachian
tube obstruction II too long a delay
ensues a mastoid extension of the sup
purating matter" may call for a major
operation on the mastoid bone to the
rear Of the ear.
This, however. should be preceded
by a thorough release of all middle
ear congestion and swelling by open
ing the vent pipe in the throat and
the ear drum. All adenoids and nasal
are to be removed.
Delayed recovery from running
ears may be traceable now and then
to low nourishment. indoor life, poor
digestive powers, anemia, tuberculo-
sis, or other general decline in per-
sonal health.
Any serious or chronic ailment of
the kidneys-especially after scarla
tina-of the heart, stomach, intes
tines or lungs may so weaken the
patients vitality that the infection
OF the middle ear hangs on like a
leech. This may be due to suscepti-
or grip, which will require a vaccine
or a few weeks in bed to conquer.
(Copy't 1917, by Newspaper Feature service.)