Another way is to syringe the ears very gently with this dilute acetic acid; do not force the acid strongly against the internal parts of the ear, but rather let it soak in. It may be continued as long as is felt agreeable. Do this twice a day; have also a good warm bran poultice placed at the back of the head and neck for an hour each day, oiling the skin before and after. This is best done at bedtime. If this treatment be pursued carefully, the ears should soon come right.
Ears, Singing in the.—Partial deafness is often accompanied by noises in the ear, which are very annoying. This is caused by the internal state of the ear, and is often due especially to the state of the aural nerve. Similar noises are heard also when we place our fingers in our ears, or when we hold a shell or hollow vessel against one of them. In the latter case, what we hear is the rush of blood in the vessels of the ear. In this way, singing in the ears often arises in the course of the treatment recommended in the last article for running ears. If it become too loud, a cessation of the heating at the back of the head, and a brief cooling application, will relieve it. Therefore, in such cases, it is well to use cooling in heating (see).
Eczema.—Skin eruptions, known under this name, have very various causes. Treatment must vary accordingly.
Where the cause is a failure of the skin to act properly, the whole skin of the body, especially the chest and back, will be dry and hard. In this case apply soapy blanketS (see).
If the soapy blanket be too severe on the patient, then apply general lathering with M'Clinton's Soap. Use a badger's-hair shaving brush, and have the lather like whipped cream with no free water along with it. We have known a few of these applications cure a case of long standing.
Where general debility is present, along with the disease, use all means to increase the patient's vitality. Simple diet is best (see Diet, Saltcoats' Biscuits, Barley, Assimilation, Digestion), and abundance of fresh air, within and without the house, by night and by day.
Where the disease results from a parasite, some ointment should be used, and is best applied under the immediate direction of a specialist in Diseases of the Skin.
Elbow Joint.—See Armpit Swelling and Bone.
Enemas, Cold Water.—Prejudice often exists against cold treatment of any kind, but it must be overcome, unless the sick would lose some of the most precious means of relief which we possess. The Enema Syringe, or Fountain Enema, may be had from any druggist, and is used to inject liquid into the lower bowel. To inject cold water by this means is a most efficient method of relief for internal heat and irritation, as well as for diarrhœa (see). Sick headaches are also often instantly cured by this means. What we are here concerned with, however, is to say that this remedy is as safe as it is simple, so long as discomfort is not felt by the patient. Cold enemas may be given repeatedly, where they are felt to be comforting, without any danger whatever. If the bowels move after the first application, there is no need to be alarmed. Repeat the cold injection, and the diarrhœa will cease. The cold enema does not produce or aggravate constipation; on the contrary, it often relieves and cures the sluggish bowels. In cases where medicine has to be almost constantly taken, its use, and the disuse of the drugs, will often effect a complete cure. In many instances in which outward cooling cannot be borne, the thermometer will indicate that there is excessive internal heat, and the pulse will be quick also. In such cases it will be possible to give the most delightful relief by cautiously applied internal cold.
Fever that might be relieved by cold packing and sponging with vinegar, or some such means, will be far more speedily reduced by these cold injections, and fever which cannot be reduced by these means alone will give way when this is added.