THE SPECIAL BENSB8, 225 



water within it ivally distends tho membrane, and the cold 

 chills tho adjacent sensitive pans. It is not surprising, 

 therefore, that the frequent introduction of cold water and 

 its continued presence in the ear enfeeble the souse of 

 hearing, (/are >liould ho takon to remove water from the 

 oar a ft or bathing, by hold ing the head on one side, and, 

 at the same time, slightly expanding the outer orifice, so 

 that the ilnid may run out. For a like reason, the hair 

 about the oars should not be allowed to remain wet, but 

 should be thoroughly dried as soon as possible. 



106. It may be stated as a general rule, to which there 

 are but tow exceptions, that no cold liquid should ever be 

 allowed to enter the ear. When a wash or injection is 

 rendered necessary, it should always be warmed before use. 

 The introduction of cold air is likewise hurtful, especially 

 when it pours through a crevice directly into the ear, as it- 

 may often do through the broken or partially closed win- 

 dow of a car. The avoidance of this evil gives rise to 

 Another almost as great ; namely, the introduction of cot- 

 ton or other soft substances into the ear to prevent it from 

 "catching cold." This kind of protection tends to make 

 the part unnaturally susceptible to changes of tempera- 

 ture, and its security seems to demand the continued pres- 

 ence of the " warm" covering. As a consequence of its 

 presence, sounds are not naturally conveyed, and the sen- 

 sit iveness of the nerve of hearing is gradually impaired. 



107. The chief source of injury, however, to the ear is 

 from the introduction of solid substances into the auditory 

 canal, with the design of removing insects or other foreign 

 objects that have found their way into the ear; or with 

 the design of scraping out the ear-wax. For displacing a 

 foreign object, it is usually sufficient to syringe the ear 

 gently with warm water, the head being so held that the 



106. The ereneral rnle as to the use of water for the ear? 



107. Chief nonrco of injury to the ear? Directions for removing foreign ob- 

 ject? from the ear ? Of a live insect ? 



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