Ear Diseases


All types of Ear Diseases including diseases of external meatus like eczema, furncle, hardened cerumen to all types of otitis media- acute and chronic with their homeopathic therapeutics by E.H.Ruddock….


12. Diseases of the External Meatus.

ECZEMA.

ECZEMA appears commonly behind the ears, but also invades the auricle, and not unfrequently extends to the meatus. Not unfrequently there also exists a chronic suppuration from the middle ear, which may be the cause of the eczema. When this extension takes place there is some degree of deafness, in addition to the great smarting and itching which characterize the disorder. The general causes and symptoms are similar to those of Eczema when it occurs in other parts of the body.

TREATMENT. Belladonna, or Puls, for the smooth variety; Rhus or Verbascum Vir. for the vesicular; Graphites for Eczema behind the ears; and Arsenicum or Sulph. for chronic cases.

ACCESSORY TREATMENT.- Keep the ear clean by syringing and careful drying; dust the part with flour or finely powdered starch to soothe irritability, and to absorb any fluid that may exude. Daily soft water baths for the general surface of the skin, the use of small quantities of uncooked vegetables, such as lettuce, watercress, celery, etc. and the correction of any derangements of digestion and assimilation will favour the cure of Eczema. Erysipelas, and other cutaneous affections of the ear, as they do when these disease affect other portions of the skin.

HARDENED CERUMEN.

Cerumen, or ear-wax, is composed of oil, stearine, a little coloured matter, scales of epidermis from the lining of the meatus, and other substances. It contains only about 0.1 per cent. of water, and is only very partially soluble. After remaining for sometime in the canal, its watery constituent passes off by evaporation, and thus it becomes a hard mass. In advancing age, the cerumen seems to contain less proportion of water than during the earlier periods of life, for it becomes drier and more brittle. The function of the ceruminous glands which secrete the wax seems to be to eliminate a product which will render the canal pliable, and perhaps also prevents the entrance of insects.

An accumulation of wax may be caused by the too zealous attempts of the patient to keep the ear clean the wax being forced into the narrow deeper part of the canal.

SYMPTOMS.- The chief symptom of impacted wax is deafness, which is often of sudden onset. Impaction of wax causes deafness only when the lumen of the auditory canal becomes completely occluded by the plug. Noises and giddiness are sometimes present. Pain is occasionally complained of, and is usually due to the pressure of the plug upon an inflamed area of skin. Certain reflex symptoms such as coughing and sneezing have been met with.

Diagnosis is best effected with the head mirror and ear speculum.

TREATMENT.- The wax is best removed by a careful use of the syringe, throwing a small jet of water, at the temperature of full blood heat, along the roof of the meatus. If the water be too hot or too cold it will cause giddiness. If pain ensue, the syringing should be discontinued. In syringing, the ear should be seized with the thumb and finger of the left hand, and pulled gently upwards and backwards as far as it will go, thus straightening the meatus. A few drops of warm almond oil, or glycerine, or warm solution of soda (ten grains of soda bicarbonate to one ounce of water or glycerine) put in the ear at night will soften the wax and facilitate its removal. To ascertain the progress of removal, the ear should be frequently examined with the speculum.

ABSENCE OF WAX. -Sulph., Graphites, or Spongia, will be found remedial.

FURUNCLE, OR ABSCESS OF THE MEATUS.

This is a very common, painful, and somewhat serious disease, to which some persons seem peculiarly liable. It is often associated with boils in other parts of the skin. The frequent recurrence of abscesses causes thickening of the walls of the meatus and of the drum, and if the tendency to them is not eradicated some degree of deafness is an invariable result. They are always exquisitely painful, and produce very decided tenderness round the ear. They are liable to recur.

SYMPTOMS.- Acute throbbing, darting pain in the meatus, great tenderness, tense swelling, temporary partial deafness, consequent on obstruction of the canal.

TREATMENT.- Belladonna.-Local redness; headache; flushed face; throbbing. If taken promptly, on the first appearance of inflammation, this remedy will often prevent the formation of the Abscess.

Mercurius Sol.- This is appropriate before suppuration sets in, and may be alternated with Belladonna

Silicea.-If Belladonna does not prove arrestive, this medicine will often succeed.

Hepar-Sulphuris.-If the abscess be formed, its suppuration will be facilitated by this remedy, and its extension within the meatus prevented.

Sulphur.- This should be given after the resolution of the abscess to prevent re-formation, and to correct the constitutional diathesis.

ACCESSORY TREATMENT.- A free use of fomentations and poultices as hot as can be borne will relieve the acute pain often experienced, and hasten the formation of matter. The abscess should be opened early, as soon as the throbbing indicates the formation of matter, the tissues are so dense here, and spontaneous rupture is a long and very painful process, and the bone may become carious. When Belladonna is given internally to mitigate pain, a topical application will be serviceable. A little piece of lint may be moistened with two or three drops of the tincture, and introduced into the ear. Subsequent cold must be averted by avoiding draughts after fomentation, and by insertion of cotton-wool in the ear. The latter is desirable for the absorption of the suppurating matter, but should be frequently changed, lest, by drying, the wool should increase the irritation.

128. Disease of the Tympanum.

ACUTE OTITIS MEDIA.

Usually arises in connection with septic conditions of the throat and naso-pharynx. It varies considerably in its severity, and may run a mild or a severe course.

SYMPTOMS.-Pain in the ear, deafness, and certain degree of fever. In children the symptoms may stimulate those of meningitis. The sudden cessation of pain and the appearance of a discharge from the ear indicate perforation of the membrana tympani.

CAUSES.- Naso-pharyngeal catarrh, which extends through the Eustachian tube to the tympanum. In the latter manner the ear becomes implicated in course of the various exanthemata. The disease may also be coincident with affections of the skin, or mucous membrane in other parts of the body; these causes are especially operative in weak and neglected children.

TREATMENT.- Aconite (early stage of Inflammation); Belladonna (congestion; cerebral symptoms); Pulsatilla (inflammation following Measles; darting, tearing pains); Mercurius (pains extend to the teeth, and are worse in a warm bed; following Small pox); Chamomilla (excessive, almost unbearable pain); Sulph. (convalescence).

ACCESSORY TREATMENT.- Pain may be allayed by repeated instillation into the ear of a few drops of cocaine and carbolic acid in glycerine (five grains of each to a drachm of glycerine). A few drops of laudanum hot boracic installations, or the application of a dry hot sponge may prove soothing. After rupture the meatus must be kept clean. Attention must be paid to any affection of the throat or nose that may be present.

SUPPURATION IN THE MIDDLE EAR.

This is the source of all chronic discharges from the ear which were formerly classed as Otorrhoea. Acute suppuration may pass into the chronic variety, which is characterized by a perforation of the tympanic membrane, a persistent purulent of the tympanic membrane, a persistent purulent or muco-purulent discharge from the middle ear, and a certain amount of deafness.

There are various serious complications, to which a person who is the subject of chronic discharge from the ear is liable, and measures should be taken to cure it as soon as possible.

TREATMENT.- Mercurius.-Thick, bloody, and foetid discharge, accompanied by tearing pains in the affected side of the head and face, and swelling and tenderness of the glands about the ear. Also when the disease has followed Small-pox.

Hepar Sulph.-Discharge of pus and blood; and when the patient has been dosed with Mercury.

Capsicum.-An especially valuable remedy. It seems to have a specific relation to the ear, and is often curative, even when the mastoid cells are implicated (Haughton).

Pulsatilla-Discharge of a thin watery character, or purulent, and when it follows Measles or Mumps. K-Bich. is indicated by similar conditions.

Ac-Mur.- A remedy of great value in affections of the ear consequent on Scarlet fever; or Eczema, with burning itching.

Arsenicum.-Excoriating discharge in feeble constitutions.

Causticum.-Otorrhoea with eruptions behind the ears and about the nose in tubercular subjects.

Calcarea and Sulphur.-Tedious cases; and tubercular patients; the former may by administered morning and night for a week to be followed, after a couple of days’ interval, by the latter.

Ac-Nit., Iodium, Aurum, Merc-Iodium, Silicea, K.-Hydriod, or Tellur., may also be required in some cases.

Edward Harris Ruddock
Ruddock, E. H. (Edward Harris), 1822-1875. M.D.
LICENTIATE OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS; MEMBER OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS; LICENTIATE IN MIDWIFERY, LONDON AND EDINBURGH, ETC. PHYSICIAN TO THE READING AND BERKSHIRE HOMOEOPATHIC DISPENSARY.

Author of "The Stepping Stone to Homeopathy and Health,"
"Manual of Homoeopathic Treatment". Editor of "The Homoeopathic World."