272 THE WONDERFUL HOUSE THAT JACK HAS 



Hearing is also sometimes injured by substances be- 

 ing forcibly snuffed up the nose, as some of the 

 liquid or powder gets into the Eustachian tube, causing 

 inflammation. Atomizers that spray gently will do 

 no harm, but a quantity of liquid or powder forcibly 

 impelled or snuffed up the nostrils can do little good to 

 the nose or throat, and may cause injury to the ears. 

 Taking too much quinine is another cause of deafness. 

 This drug is often used in cases of colds or fevers, and, 

 when long continued, sometimes causes loss of hear- 

 ing. In tropical countries, where it is largely used 

 as a remedy for fevers, many persons can be found 

 whose hearing has been impaired by its use. 



One of the greatest dangers of deafness is that the 

 affliction comes on so gradually that it is often not 

 noticed or considered seriously until ordinary conversa- 

 tion becomes difficult to hear. This follows naturally, 

 because persons slightly deaf are likely to think that 

 their inability to hear is due either to their own care- 

 lessness or to the indistinct speech of others. These 

 faults they try to correct by the most eager listening, 

 as well as by watching the lips of those with whom they 

 are conversing : and the latter, noticing that they are 

 frequently misunderstood, raise their voices a little 

 or speak more distinctly. This mutual help prevents, 

 for a time, a discovery of the real source of trouble. 

 As the idea of being deaf is disagreeable, friends hesitate 

 to call attention to anything about which they think 

 one may be sensitive. For these reasons the danger- 



