Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 2, 1802).djvu/143

123&#93; DE rtrudure iif the ear ; in v I unhappy individual < i. such a* injuries sustain car from v (Hinds ; ulcei ive noise ; i colds in the head j fc t rs ; wax adhering to the cavity of the ear ; or, too gn e ot" either moisture or dryness in that n. W h< o it is the effect of old tnds and ulcers in the ears, it is not easily remedied. If ii proceed from a catarrh affecting the head, especially after cold-bath- ing, the patient must be careful to rye that part constantly warm, particularly during the night : he should likewise take some gentle laxatives, keep his feet warm, and Lathe them frequently in tepid or Juke-warm water, at bed-time. Mercurial frictions have, in this case, been applied with success. But, if the com laint or ginate from fevers, it will generally dis- appear v. hen the patient recovers health; or if it arise from dry "wax clogging die ears, this may be sbftened, by dropping a little sweet oil, or oil of rosemary, into them; after which th y should be syringed with warm milk and water. If deafness be occasioned by too great a dryness in the ears (which nia>. be easily ascertained by in- specting them), half an ounce of the oil of sweet almonds, and the same quantity of camphorated spi- rit of wine, or tine ure of asafoe- tlda, may be mixed together, and a lew drops poured into the ear €r.ry night, previously to going to
 * care being taken to close

them afterwards with a little wool, c-r cotton. When the ears abound moisture, the superfluous hu- I) E A tnour nm i ii ar as ] af- fected. Various oth< n bav< been iyed ior the cure of cleat i. . ; such as the gall of an eel mixed with spirit of wine; or equal | lungaiy water, and spirit of lavender; to be dropped into the ear. Etmuj.lkk highly extolls amber and musk ; and Brooks af- firms, that hardness of hearing has often been cured by putting a grain or two of musk into the car with cotton wool. Where, however, a powerful stimulant becomes abso- 'lutely necessary, camphorated oil, with the addition of a few drops of volatile alkaline spirit, may bf con- sul red as one of the most powerful applications. It will be proper, in such case, to begin with a very small quantity of the alkali, and to increase it progressively t as the ear is enabled to bear it. In several instances, where the disease de- pended on a state of insensibility in the nerves, both the shower-bath and electricity hae been success- fully resorted to. — We can from experience recommend a few drops of onion jmce on cotton, to be Worn in tire ear for several week-,, and daily renewed: — Br. Sims ju- diciously advises deaf persons to expire forcibly, with their mouth and nose closely stopped ; a simple but rational expedient, which ought to be frequently repeated, though it has sometimes afforded instant relief. These various remedies, how- ever, should be judiciously adapted to different states of the disorder; for, though real benefit has occa- sionally. been derived, from them, yet they also often fail, and, not unfrequently, are productive of in- jury.