The Washington times., 1918-03-30
WARDING OFF
DEAFNESS
A Medical Authority
Gives Some Excel
lent Advice

By Brice Belden, M. d.

A BOUT ons-thfrd Of the psDa-
- lstisn n notably DEAF In 0as
or BETH ears. The snor,nsus
popularity OF the movies 10 un-
doustsdiy dls In part 70 the fact
that this form Of sntsrtAfnmsnt in-
poses no strain Opon the organs sf
hearing.
Disssss sf the middle ear. fying
behind the drum. and Of the Eus-
tsehian tube, which vs.tiiatss al
drains the cavity 81 ths niddls ear.
10 the csmmousst eauss 81 Gsafness.
This tnbs connects TIE middis ear
with the throat. and u the avenue
by which air. from the threat E.Ins
access to the missIs sar. N the
presence Of air on both sidss Of thu
drum that permits Of the vsbratisa
that makes the trahsmis1ion of
sound possibis.
ne whole aiddls ear n lined with
mucous nsmhfans which II Ebss-
lntsiy continzpus with that IN the
nose ana thrDat. hence Il can readily
be sean that infsotions ef The lattsr
are apt to inyad. the skr. 50 great
is the ,innusnes Of nassi and throat
siseass on the sar that one can
practically say that the prsvsntion
Of ear disease depends upon the
hygiene Of the nose snd throat.
The mouth Of the EnstAchian tube
lies above the soft palate IN close
relation to Sthe upper part Of the
tonsil and to thu adsnoid tissue high
up IN the throat. Conssausntly ton
siIlar disease or excessive adenoid
growth (, apt TO lead 70 tubai trou-
bles. which mean ear troDblss-
II the mouth OF the -Enstaehian
tube - closed By the pressure OF
sdenoid srowths. or II the tube 30
comes obstructed By reason Of In
nannafiona due 70 bacterial inva-
sion. air win cease to reach the nid-
die ear and more or. lssA deafness
results.
swallowing and yawning open the
tubes and thus help in the equal
isation Of air pressure. but II the
nossL Is stopped up the proes,s is
reversed ana swallowing or yawn-
ing draws air out Of the ears. thus
perrntttIng the air pressure external
to the drum 70 force ths. drum
head IN and make II 20 tense or ont
Of. shaps that hsaring is intsrfsrsG
with The fnware pressure Of the
drum also Jams together the small
bones of the middle ear which
transmit sound vibrations from The
drum to the delicate structures q
the internal ear.
Blowing the nose BY comrresHinB
one or both nostrils. neanwhiis
holding the mouth closed. directly
favors deafness In two ways: te
forces infectious material from tha
nose aud throat Into the middle ear
by way OF the Eastaehian tubes and
II leads to distention outward Of
the drum, the often repsatsd
stretehinss OF the membrane finally
iessening sits value a a sound
transmitting Diaphragm Never
compress- the nostrils. and never
close the mouth when blowing the
nose; hold the handkerchief close to
and under the nostrils and snin the
secretions out
Abscsss of the middle ear and
mastoid portion OF the temporal
bone behind the ear 10 vastly IN
creased In frequency BY the COM
mon method OF blowing the nose
which we have Just described Dur
ing a cold in the head this msthed
Is particularly dangerous
Speaking generally. deafness may
be prevented or cured by the re-
uaovai of diseased tonSils and ade-
noid E-owths. By the breaking u3 0;
adhesion bands near the mouths o:
the Eustachian tubes. by the cure
or SINUS u1seNSe III eN0 nSS
sinuses ara cavities communicating
with the nasal cavity proDer). By
the straightening or removal OF .
crooked nasal septnm. and by ra-
tional method OF blowing ths aose.
were asscessss of the middle ear
occurring IN the course OF such dis
eases as scarlet fever and infuenzA
to be opened early and freely. deaf
ness from such causes would be far
less frequent