running ear is
in danger, for it may at any time become closed up and serious.

ECZEMA OF THE EXTERNAL EAR (Auricle).--This is an inflammatory disease of
the skin, and in the poorer classes it is very frequent. It is quite a
common disease in old age. It develops in other parts of the body at the
same time in a certain percentage of cases.

Causes.--Soaps, alkalies, foreign bodies in the ear, removing ear wax and
a chronic discharge from the middle ear. There is a tendency to it in some
families; stomach trouble, improper food are also causes.

Symptoms.--Itching,--and this is very pronounced,--burning feeling. The
part is somewhat reddened, fluid oozes out, crusts form, the skin
thickens, and scales. Sometimes it swells very much.

Treatment.--Regulate the bowels, give a simple easily digested and proper
food for children and adults. Cleanse the inflamed skin gently with
castile soap and tepid water once a day. Cloths dipped in some cooling
lotion, such as the lead and opium wash, or in plain water to which has
been added a little alcohol or eau de cologne, should be wrapped around
the inflamed ear during the acute stage and they should be kept wet. Clean
vaselin, etc., is good to put on the scabs. The ear should be covered as
before directed to keep dirt, dust, etc., out.

[360 MOTHERS' REMEDIES]

HARDENED WAX OR IMPACTED CERUMEN.--This mass may be mixed with foreign
bodies or be made up of "wax" alone.

Symptoms.--A large mass of wax may remain in the ear for many years
without causing any special loss of hearing so long as the plug does not
rest against the drum and there remains a passage between the mass so that
the sound-waves can strike the drum. Generally the hearing gradually grows
less. Loss of hearing may take place suddenly, as after washing the head,
or after a general bath, or after an attempt to clean the ear with the end
of a towel. Patients will often say the dullness of hearing appeared
suddenly. This no doubt was due to the fact that the mass of wax was
displaced against the drum suddenly by an unusual movement of the head or
the jaws, or the mass became swollen through fluids getting into the
canal. If the canal is filled there will be more or less deafness, ringing
in the ear, and there may be piercing pain produced by the hardened mass,
especially if the jaws are moved from side to side. If the mass is
thoroughly and carefully removed, the hearing may entirely return if it
was caused