a
patient will say: "I felt something give away in the ear, a watery
discharge appeared, and the pain soon subsided." In many cases the rupture
of the drum gives little or no relief from suffering. This is due in some
cases to the small and insufficient size of the opening in the drum. If
the pain persists, after a free opening has been made, it may indicate
that pressure exists in some cavity or cavities other than the middle ear
proper. A sensation of fullness and sometimes of throbbing or pulsation in
the affected ear; roaring, singing, whistling, etc.; impairment of
hearing; increased pain, when the jaws are opened and shut, are symptoms
of minor importance. If there are no complications after free discharge
sets in the pain disappears, the fever gradually returns to the normal
point, and the patient drops to sleep. In the course of a week or two the
discharge subsides and if the rupture is not too extensive the wound will
close and the patient will soon be well. Frequently, however, on account
of disease of one or more of the bony parts, the wall of the middle ear or
the mastoid cells, the discharge continues for weeks and may become
chronic in its character.

[364 MOTHERS' REMEDIES ]

Treatment.--Apply heat or cold first. Open the bowels.

How to apply heat.--With the patient lying on his side with the affected
ear turned upward, fill the external ear canal with hot water (about 105
degrees F.), then place immediately over the affected ear a hot flaxseed
meal poultice, five or six inches square and one-half inch thick, and
spread a folded blanket or shawl over the whole to keep it warm as long as
possible. Bread and milk with catnip, or onions will do if flaxseed is not
at hand. The flaxseed holds the heat longer. Water is a good conductor of
heat, and that which fills the external auditory (ear) canal may rightly
be considered as an arm of the poultice which extends down to the drum
itself.

Leeches also can be applied in front and below the tragus (front of the
opening). If the symptoms do not improve under this treatment and
especially if the drum is bulging, an opening should be made at the
bulging point of the drum. The canal is now syringed with a warm
antiseptic solution--like one part listerine, etc., to twenty parts of
warm boiled water, with a clean syringe, or warm boiled water can be used
alone. If there is any odor carbolic acid one part, to fifty or sixty of
water can be used. A strip of sterile