Show I You Y QU and andY Your our HealtH By ey MORRIS FISHBEIN Editor Journal of th American Americ n Medical Association and of the 1 Health Hulth Magazine I- I A witty Irish doctor once said that there are two kinds of deafness deaf deaf- ness one ness one due to wax in the ear which can be cured by syringing and the other not due to wax and not curable Medicine has advanced considerably considerably considerably consid consid- since this statement was made years ago but we have progressed more in determining the presence of trouble in the external external ex cx- ear and how to eliminate it than we we- we have in analyzing and controlling conditions which cause progressive deafness We have nevertheless nevertheless- m made de great progress progress progress ress in eliminating many of the causes of ear infections Most people nowadays know enough about hygiene to provide the necessary cleanliness for their ears Boils and pimples still occur occur occur oc oc- oc- oc cur and there still are cases in Inv which the removal of hardened wax is necessary This This' is done easily with an ear syringe and slightly warm water but need not be done often Needless or too frequent syringing can be harm harm- ful The syringe should be sterIlized sterilized sterilized ster ster- by being boiled before us usIng using using us- us ing and the water should be previously previously previously pre pre- pre pre- boiled and used warm but not hot Cases are on record in which living insects have entered the ear died and gradually been surrounded surrounded surrounded sur sur- rounded by hardened wax so that eventually the external canal became became became be be- came blocked and hearing was lost entirely Except for loss of hearing hearIng hearing hear hear- ing no damage is likely to result in such instances More damage results from attempts to remove material from the ear than from the material itself It is not advisable for anyone to try to remove a foreign body from the outer ear if it cannot be washed out unless he has had special special special cial training in this type of work The person whose ear is to be syringed should sit in a good light A towel should be put around his neck and tucked inside the clothing clothing cloth cloth- ing lag so as not to soil it A pan is held at the edge of his ear so that the fluid will run into the basin and not down the patients patient's neck The ear then is pulled slightly u upward p w war a r d and backward to straighten out the passage With the ear held in this position the nozzle of the syringe which has been filled and had all the air expelled expelled expelled ex ex- ex- ex is placed just inside the outer opening of the ear The water is then permitted to flow along the back wall slowly and without too great pressure so as to permit return of the excess flow as the water goes in After the ear ar has been washed the head may be turned on one side so the extra fluid will run out Pounding the head will not cause the water to come out any quicker The canal may be wiped with a small wisp of cotton but never with any hard object or under under under un un- un- un der pressure Several instruments have been developed for removing foreign objects A bean or piece of chalk has been removed removed removed-by by the use of a probe with some adhesive material on the end This sticks to the object object ob ob- ob which is then gradually with with- drawn Such performances are however best left to experts A pimple boil or any other in infection infection in- in infection in the tissue lining the external external ex ex- ear canal will cause intense pain inflammation swelling and some fever and should have prompt medical attention |