The disorder is of a different nature, where there is a noise within the ears themselves: and this prevents them from receiving an external sound. This is slightest, when it proceeds from a gravedo; worse, when it is occasioned by a distemper or inveterate pains of the head; worst of all, when it is the harbinger of some violent disease, and particularly of an epilepsy. If it happens from a gravedo, the ear ought to be cleansed, and the patient hold in his breath, till some frothy moisture issue from it. If, from a distemper, or pain of the head, the same rules as prescribed in a dulness of hearing, must be practised with regard to exercise, friction, pouring on of cold water, and the use of gargarisms; no food but such as extenuates must be used; juice of radish, with oil of roses, or with the juice of the root of wild cucumber, must be infused into the ear, or castor with vinegar and laurel oil. Hellebore is also rubbed with vinegar, then incorporated with boiled honey, and being made into a collyrium, is introduced into the ear. If it has begun without these, and therefore gives reason to fear the approach of some terrible disease, castor ought to be infused into the ear with vinegar, or oil, either of iris or laurel; or together with the last, castor and the juice of bitter almonds; or myrrh and nitre with oil of roses and vinegar. But a proper diet is more serviceable in this case too. And the same rules are to be observed, which I prescribed above, even with greater exactness; besides which, the patient must refrain from wine, till the noise cease.
But if, at the same time, there are both a noise and an inflammation, it is sufficient to inject laurel oil, or that, which is expressed from bitter almonds; with which, some mix either castor or myrrh.
Of extraneous bodies in the ears.
It sometimes happens too, that something falls into the ear, as a small stone, or some animal. If a flea has got into it, a little wool must be pressed in; and if it comes upon that, it is drawn out along with it. If it has not followed it, or it be any other animal, a probe wrapt in wool must be dipped in the most adhesive resin, particularly turpentine, and this is to be introduced into the ear, and turned round there: for it will certainly catch hold of it, and bring it away. But if it be any lifeless thing, it must be drawn out by the specillum oricularium, or a blunt hook, but little bent. If these means do not succeed, it may be drawn out by resin, in the same manner as directed in the preceding case. Sternutatories also are very proper to force it out, or water strongly injected by a syringe. The following method is also practised in this case; a board is laid down[(11)], supported in the middle, with both ends hanging over, and the patient is tied upon that, lying on that side, the ear of which is affected, so that he does not reach over the board; then the end of the board, where his feet are, must be struck with a hammer, and thus by shaking the ear, what is within it drops out.
CHAP. VIII. OF THE DISEASES OF THE NOSE.
Ulcers in the nostrils must be fomented with the steam of hot water. This is done both by applying a squeezed sponge, and putting under the nostrils a narrow-mouthed vessel filled with hot water. After this fomentation, the ulcers are to be anointed either with dross of lead, or ceruss, or litharge. When a person powders any of these, he may add, while they are rubbed, alternately, wine and myrtle oil, till he make it of the consistence of honey. But if these ulcers be near the mouth, and have several crusts, and a fetid smell, which kind the Greeks call ozaena[ GG ], we may take it for granted, that it is hardly possible to cure that disease. Nevertheless, the following things may be tried; to clip the hair of the head close to the skin, and daily to rub it briskly, and pour plenty of warm water over it; to walk much; to eat sparingly, and such food as is neither acrid nor of the strongest kind. Then to put into the nostril honey, with a very little turpentine resin (which is done by a probe, wrapt up in wool) and let this moisture be drawn in by the breath, till the taste of it be perceived in the mouth. For by these means, the crusts are loosened, which ought then to be discharged by sneezing. The ulcers being thus cleansed must be fumigated with the vapour of hot water; afterwards should be applied, either lycium diluted with wine, or the lees of oil, or omphacium, or juice of mint, or of horehound; or copperas that has been burnt white, and then powdered; or the pulp of a squill bruised; to any of these honey may be added, of which in the other mixtures there ought to be only a very small part; with the copperas so much as to make it liquid; but with the squill a considerable quantity; then the end of a probe must be wrapped in wool, and dipped in the medicine; and by that the ulcers are to be incarned. And further, a piece of lint is to be rolled up in an oblong form, and dipped in the same medicine, which is to be introduced into the nostril, and loosely tied at the lower part. This ought to be done twice a day, in the winter and spring, and thrice in the summer and autumn.
Of fleshy caruncles in the nostrils.
Sometimes in the nostrils there grow caruncles resembling womens’ nipples, and these adhere to its extremities, where it is cartilaginous. These ought to be treated with escharotic medicines; by which they are certainly consumed. A polypus[ GH ] is a caruncle sometimes white, sometimes inclining to a red colour, which sticks to the bones of the nostrils; and sometimes spreading towards the lips, it fills the nostril, at other times reaching backward through the opening, by which the breath passes from the nose to the fauces, increases so much, that it may be seen behind the uvula; and almost suffocates the patient, especially when the south or east wind blows. It is generally soft, seldom hard; and the latter obstructs the breath more, dilates the nostrils, and is commonly of the cancerous nature, and therefore ought not to be touched. The other kind is generally cured by cutting; sometimes, however, it withers, if by means of lint or a pencillum, that composition be thrust up into the nose, which contains of Sinopian minium, chalcitis, lime, sandarach, each p. i. *. copperas p. ii. *.