264 HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY CHAP. 



181. Care of the Ear. The delicate parts of the ear 

 are well protected and need very little attention. Even 

 the outer ear, if in perfect health, needs only to be kept 

 clean. The auditory canal requires no care whatever 

 except to remove the wax as it loosens and works out. 

 The chief caution for most persons to remember is : 

 Keep the concha clean and do not meddle with the 

 auditory canal. 



If there is "running" from the ear, or if the wax 

 accumulates on the eardrum so as to impair hearing, 

 you should consult an aurist at once. No pin, pencil, or 

 toothpick should be used to loosen the wax or to clean 

 the canal, for there is great danger of scratching, tearing, 

 or puncturing the drumhead. If a foreign substance 

 gets into the ear and cannot be easily removed, a doctor 

 should be consulted at once. Sometimes a bug, ant, or 

 other small insect crawls into the auditory canal. A 

 light held close to the ear while the canal is straightened 

 by pressing up the outer end may coax the insect to crawl 

 out. If it does not come out soon or cease irritating the 

 ear, it should be smothered by dropping in a little tepid 

 water or sweet oil. A dead insect or a small foreign 

 object may do little harm even if not removed for years. 

 Most harm comes from the attempt to remove it. Small 

 objects will often drop out at once if the part in front 

 of the ear is rubbed in a rotary manner while the head 

 is turned to the side. 



Impaired hearing and deafness may be the result of 

 scarlet fever, mumps, diphtheria, adenoid growths, colds, 

 catarrh, a sudden blow on the head, loud noises, certain 



