2i6 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



mended, to stimulate the circulation and inure the system to 

 changes of weather. 



Another great class of troubles which is sadly misunderstood 

 by the public is the acute inflammations of the ear. There are 

 few pains in the human body more distressing than earaches. 

 Many have been the nights of agony passed with pain in the ear, 

 because the proper remedy has not been known in the household. 



Almost every conceivable thing has been used for earache by 

 patients of high and low degree. With the exception of baking 

 soda, already mentioned — and I have considerable hesitancy in 

 trusting even that to popular use — nothing should ever be dropped 

 in the ear except hot water. When the ear is throbbing with 

 pain, the hot douche is the best means to employ for relief. In 

 this condition any kind of a syringe is available, for there is not 

 much probability of the sufferer throwing a stream forcible 

 enough to increase his pain. Very hot water should be used. A 

 quart of plain water as hot as can be endured should be injected, 

 repeating it as often as is necessary — every five minutes, even. 



If we happen to be beyond the reach of a physician, and the 

 hot- water douche fails to relieve, leeching should be employed, 

 remembering to apply the leech upon the little projection just in 

 front of the ear, called the tragus. Do not ever put a poultice 

 over the ear. 



To secure rest at night and between the intervals of necessary 

 douching, fill the auditory canal with hot water, cover the whole 

 side of the head with a napkin wrung out in hot water, and tie a 

 dry towel over the entire head. 



Simple tenderness in front of the external ear or in the canal 

 means either a pimple or a boil in the canal. In this condition 

 also, hot douching and hot-water applications are the only safe 

 remedies to employ at home. Medical advice must be sought 

 early, to open the little abscess and allow the matter to escape. 



Violent, throbbing, deep-seated earache means an abscess 

 within the drum cavity of the ear ; and this is a serious disease — 

 often ruinous to the hearing, and even dangerous to life. The 

 advice of a physician, preferably a specialist, is indispensable ; 

 and the above hints are not at all intended to supply his place, 

 but merely to anticipate his arrival. 



A fifth satellite of Jupiter was discovered by Prof. Barnard, of Lick Observa- 

 tory, September 12th, and had been observed by him to October 17th on seven 

 successive nights. It was also seen by Mr. Reed at PrincetoD, on October 10th, 

 with a twenty-three-inch telescope. It is a star of the thirteenth magnitude. 

 From three hundred micrometric observations by Prof. Barnard and the observa- 

 tion at Princeton, a period has been approximately deduced of eleven hours and 

 fifty-seven minutes. 



