| There is much more to the ear than appears on the | | | | diseases will determine the presence of infection |
| outside of the head. That part, easily visible, if | | | | early, and immediate application of proper treatment |
| unusually prominent gives a lot of concern. In addition | | | | can prevent extension of the infection into the |
| to the external ear, the apparatus for hearing | | | | mastoid or inner ear. |
| includes the middle ear and the internal ear. | | | | Hygiene Of The Ear |
| The external ear includes the portion that is on the | | | | An Irish doctor said that there are two kinds of |
| outside and the small canal which runs down as far as | | | | deafness - one due to wax in the ear, which can be |
| the eardrum. It is a collection of skin and other tissue | | | | cured by washing it out, and the other not due to |
| such as cartilage and muscle. In most human being | | | | wax. Most people nowadays know enough about |
| the muscles are merely remnants of the large | | | | personal hygiene to keep their ears clean. Boils and |
| muscles possessed by animals, so that few people | | | | pimples still occur, and there are still cases in which |
| are able to move their ears with any degree of | | | | the removal of hardened wax is necessary. The |
| celerity or satisfaction. | | | | cerumen, or wax in the ear, when it becomes |
| Plastic Surgery For Lop Ears | | | | hardened is most easily removed by the use of the |
| There are really few conditions affecting the external | | | | ear syringe filled with slightly warm water. Harm can |
| ear that are disturbing. Sometimes large portions of | | | | be done by needless or too frequent syringing. The |
| the ear may be absent at birth. Occasionally the ears | | | | syringe should be sterilized by boiling before using, |
| project in an extremely unsightly manner. A these | | | | and water should be previously boiled and used warm |
| extraordinary appearances are controlled nowadays | | | | but not hot. |
| by the use of plastic surgery. An expert is able to | | | | The person whose ear is to be syringed should sit in |
| fasten the ear back if it project exceedingly, to | | | | a good light, a towel should be put around the neck |
| rebuild an ear out of other tissue if portions are | | | | and tucked inside the clothing so as to prevent soiling |
| missing and to modify the shape of the ear if it is of | | | | it, a pan should be held at the edge of the ear so |
| extraordinary shape. | | | | that the fluid which runs in will run into the basin and |
| Many mothers feel that the ear became a lop ear | | | | not down the patient's neck. The ear is pulled slightly |
| because the chill lay on his ear with the ear crumpled | | | | upward and backward to straighten out the passage. |
| when he was small or because he wore his hat | | | | With the ear held in this position, the nozzle of the |
| pressed down on the ears. There is no evidence that | | | | syringe, which has been filled and has all the air |
| these factors are really of any importance. The fault | | | | expelled, is placed just inside the outer opening of |
| is one of anatomical development. Manipulation of and | | | | the ear. The water is then permitted to flow along |
| bandaging the ears to hold then against the head will | | | | the back wall slowly and without too great pressure, |
| not correct the condition. | | | | so as to permit return of the excess flow of water |
| "Tin Ears" | | | | as the water goes in. |
| One of the most common forms of injury to the | | | | Special instruments are usually needed for removing |
| external ear is the development of what the pugilist | | | | foreign objects. A probe with adhesive at the end |
| calls a "tin ear." Repeated pounding on the ear results | | | | may attach itself to a foreign object which can then |
| in the pouring out of blood into the tissues of the ear | | | | be pulled out. Usually experts have the instruments |
| and surrounding areas. At first such swellings are | | | | and can do this performance easily. |
| bluish-red; they feel to the touch like dough. In the | | | | Middle Ear Infection, Or Otitis Media |
| worst cases surgeons open the tissue and remove | | | | Infection of the interior of the ear after a sore |
| the clot of blood to prevent permanent thickening | | | | throat is not nearly so frequent as such infections |
| and swelling. They also apply special bandages to | | | | used to be. The specific action against staphylococci, |
| mold the ear and hold it in shape while repair is taking | | | | pneumococci, streptococci, and other germs that |
| place. | | | | infect noses and throats wrought by the antibiotic |
| Infection In Ears | | | | drugs and sulfonamides has enormously reduced such |
| Cases are on record in which living insects have | | | | complications. However, neglect of a sore throat or a |
| entered the ear. They died and their bodies remained, | | | | virulent infection may occasionally be followed by |
| gradually becoming surrounded by hardened wax, so | | | | spread of the germs to the middle ear. One or both |
| that eventually the external canal was blocked and | | | | ears may be infected. The condition usually begins |
| hearing lost entirely. Outside of the loss of hearing, | | | | with a pain in the ear and a high fever. The pain is |
| no damage is likely to result. More damage comes | | | | continuous, but may be irregular, and is usually worse |
| from attempts to remove material from the ear than | | | | at night. When the, doctor looks at the eardrum it is |
| ' from the entrance of the material itself. It is not | | | | seen to be bulging. If the drum is not opened the |
| advisable for anyone to try to remove a foreign | | | | pressure may cause it to burst. Then a thin watery |
| body from the outer ear if it cannot be washed out, | | | | discharge will come out, often changing to thick |
| unless he has had special training in this type of work. | | | | creamy pus. When the eardrum is cut or bursts the |
| Removing Foreign Objects | | | | pain stops immediately and usually the temperature |
| Several instruments have been developed for | | | | falls. |
| removing foreign objects. A bean or piece of chalk | | | | Blow The Nose Properly |
| has been removed by the use of a probe with some | | | | Often the middle ear is infected because a child has |
| adhesive material on the end. This becomes adherent | | | | not learned how to blow the nose properly. The |
| to the bean or piece of chalk, which is then gradually | | | | worst technique is to hold both nostrils tightly when |
| withdrawn. Such performances are, however, best | | | | blowing, since this forces the infected material from |
| left to the experts. | | | | back of the nose into the middle ear. The proper |
| A pimple or boil or any other infection in the tissue | | | | technique requires that only one nostril be held and |
| lining the external ear canal will cause intense pain, | | | | that blowing be gentle. Preferably, the handkerchief |
| inflammation, swelling, and some fever, and should | | | | or disposable tissue should be held quite loosely over |
| have prompt medical attention. | | | | the opening of the nostrils. |
| How To Avoid Ear Injuries | | | | Middle-ear infection may lead to some degree of |
| Far better than the attempt to treat such conditions | | | | deafness and, rarely, to permanent loss of hearing. |
| when they develop is the application of simple laws | | | | Following an infection the child should be taken to a |
| of hygiene that tend to prevent infections in the ear. | | | | specialist-an otorhinolaryngologist-who will test the |
| Increased bathing and swimming have multiplied the | | | | loss of hearing and do everything possible to stop |
| number of cases of infection in the ear arising from | | | | the progress of infection and restore action to the |
| that source. Children should not be permitted to swim | | | | damaged tissues of the ear. |
| more than fifteen or twenty minute at a time. If | | | | Mastoiditis used to be frequent after infection of the |
| they tend to have trouble with the ears they should | | | | ear, but now the total number of cases of |
| not be permitted to dive. The child who complains of | | | | mastoiditis has been greatly reduced by the antibiotic |
| difficulties in hearing or of fullness in the head after | | | | drugs. Pain and tenderness in the region behind the |
| swimming should give up the sport. This is nature's | | | | ear are the first symptoms of inflammation of the |
| way of warning against trouble. | | | | mastoid. The skin may be swollen so that the |
| The vast majority of infections of the ear are | | | | external ear seems to be pushed away from the |
| secondary to colds in the head and influenza. About | | | | head. Early treatment of infected ears will usually |
| 10 per cent of children with scarlet fever and | | | | prevent this complication. Surgical treatment of |
| measles develop infections of the ear. About 5 per | | | | mastoiditis involves an operation in which the infected |
| cent of those with diphtheria develop infections of | | | | area is opened and the infected material cleaned out. |
| the ear. Other cases develop after mumps, typhoid | | | | Unless controlled, a secondary inflammation of the |
| fever, whooping cough, and similar infections. | | | | coverings of the brain meningitis - is possible. |
| Prompt care of children with various infectious | | | | |