Year: 1869

A few days since young lady con-
suited me in regard to apprehended
deafness. She stated that for upward Of
year she had noticed an increasing
deafness in the right ear. At first she
thought little of it, believing that it was
a temporary disability, but, as she ex-
perienced more and more difficulty in
hearing, she began to realize the dread
full possibility of approaching deafness.
For months she concealed her condition,
but at length it became apparent to hear
friends, who, to her great modification,
addressed her accordingly. On careful
examination, / found large amount Of
wax in the external ear, and as I could
discover no other cause, and as it asnei-
ther hereditary nor the result Of recent
or former disease, attribute her deafness
to an impaction of wax against the ear
drum (tympanum.) As ! had anticpa-
ted, she quickly and sharply retorted,
rejecting my opinion as an imputation
upon her cleanliness. Iassured her that
it was rather an evidence of her special
care of her person, for in my experience
this form of deafness more often occurr-
ed in those who,,take great pains to keep
their ears clean. Ithappens in this wise:
The ear wax (cerumen) is secreted con
stan.ly along the whole extent Of the ex-
ternal ear tube, but only in sufficient
quantity to slightly lubricate the pas
sage. In the natural and healthy state
of the parts, this wax gradually hardens,
disintegrates, and falls from the ear tube
unnoticed Whenever the ear tube is
irritated, the wax is secreted in large
quantities and escapes from the passage
in masses. Many persons clean theirears
daily, generally by using a wet cloth
twisted, or upon a stick, hair pin or
something similar This frequent stim-
ulation leads to an excessive secretion Of
wax, which is not allowed to dry and
must disintegrate, owing to the constant
agitation, but is crowel to the back part
of the tube and plastered over the drum
by screwing Of the cloth. While the
external part of ne tube is thus kept
clean, the internal part becomes clogged
with a collection of wax, and finally the
drum is SO covered that it ceases to Vi
brate with its usual rapidity. Indistinct-
ness of hearing is the first evidence that
the drum is beginning to be interfered
with by the wax, and as the layers Of
the fresh wax increase the vibrations d.
minish in intensity, and the dullness Of
hearing increases.


The treatment proved that the cause
of her deafness had been correctly stated.
A few drops of almond oil were put in
the ear at bedtime to soften the wax, and
the next morning the ear tube was thor
oughly washed out with soap and water
by the means Of syringe. Large guam
titles Of wax escaped, with hardened
masses, followed by that remarkable
acutenss Of hearing that for time makes
all loud sounds in the cases painful.


Cases of this kind are very numerous.
have known Judge toleave the bench
on account of growing deafness, due to
accumulations of wax around mass Of
cotton introduced long time previously
into the ear. The ear should never be
cleaned except with soap and water, care.
fully introduced by syringe. By this
means the ear is not irritated, the wax is
thoroughly removed, even from the sur
face of the drum, and no harm can re.
sult.-Note Book of an Eminent Phys
ician IN Hearth and Home.