CARE OF THE EAR 273 



Method of cleaning. To clean the canal of the ear, a 

 rounded object such as the closed end of a hairpin, 

 should be covered with several folds of soft cloth mois- 

 tened in soapy water. This should be rotated in the 

 canal so gently that there is no feeling of pressure. No 

 attempt to remove the deeper layers of wax should be 

 made, since in normal quantities it is beneficial, not 

 harmful. When excessive, it usually works out of itself 

 and can then be easily removed. 



Removal of objects. When an object has become 

 lodged in the canal, no attempt to remove it should be 

 made, since even a slight touch may drive it through 

 the drum. A physician should be consulted immediately. 



Earache. Another danger to which the ear is ex- 

 posed arises from the necessity for a canal to the middle 

 ear from the pharynx. This canal may permit inflam- 

 mation of the membrane of the nose and throat to spread 

 to the middle ear. Such an inflammation of the Eusta- 

 chian tube closes it, with the result that the fluid caused 

 by the inflammation swells the drum out and may ulti- 

 mately burst through it. The earache which accompanies 

 this inflammation should lead one to consult a physician 

 at once. 



Effect of noise. Blows upon the ear and loud noises, 

 such as the explosion of firearms near the ear, are an- 

 other source of danger, since they may bring such a 

 sudden pressure upon the ear drum as to burst it. 



Eyes. The organ of sight, being at once the most 

 delicate and the most exposed of the special organs, 

 requires the most care from us. The dangers to which 

 the eyes are exposed are manifold. Dust, 1 cinders and 



1 The irritation due to dust can be relieved by dropping into the 

 eyes a small amount of a weak solution ( 10 grs. to 1 oz. pure 

 water) of boracic acid. 



