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Show Advi ce on Your Health By Morris Flshbein, Editor, Journal American Medical Association This is the time of the yesr when minor Infections of the ear sometimes spread to the mastoid process behind the ear. The mastoid is the name of a bone. It is not a disease. When an infection in-fection occurs In the cells of this bone and there la Inflammation, the condition is called mastoiditis. mastoid-itis. The cells of the mastoid are close to the mechanism of the Internal ear with which we hear and with which we maintain our equillbrum. They are also close to the outer covering of the brain and to many of the important impor-tant nerves which supply the face with the power of motion and sensation. Finally, they are close to a large blood vessel which passes from the skull to become the deep Jugular vein. Obviously, an Infection In such a spot Is a serious matter. The trouble begins when the little boy with the running nose and sore throat blows his nose vigorously, at the same time keeping both nostrils shut. If he knew how to blow his nose correctly, cor-rectly, he would hold his nose loosely and would always keep both nostrils open. When he compresses the nostrils and blows hard, the air is forced from the throat and back of the nose into the eustachian tube which passes from the back of the nose to the ear. As the air passes through, germs are forced into the eustachian tube. Soon the little boy hears a clinking sound in his ear. Then there la a dull feeling, and soon the ear begins to ache. When the doctor calls, he finds that the eardrum la very red and that the boy cannot hear. The doctor can ease the pain by applying ap-plying a hot water bag and putting put-ting "drops" Into the ear. If the eardrum continues to swell and there la more pain and a rise in temperature, it la important to open the eardrum aa soon as possible so the infected in-fected material can escape. However, If the Infection la not controlled. It will spread to the mastoid cells. Infection of ' the mastoid frequently follows , su h diseases ss measles, scarlet fe er and diphtheria. Llastolditis Is not a condition to be trifled with. Ni. it it . Is ativen proper attention, there Is great likelihood of complete recovery, re-covery, j |