A running ear ought to be treated with medicines that will kill the germs in it, and this ought to be done by a physician. A child with a running ear ought also to be examined and treated for the nose or throat trouble that in most cases has caused the ear to become infected. Plugs of cotton should not be worn in the ear, for they do damage; the

FIG. 85. Testing a boy's hearing by trying how far he can hear the ticking of a watch.

ears ought to be cured so that the cotton will not be needed. An earache may sometimes be kept from coming on at night by wearing a cap over the ear or by sleeping on a hot-water bottle, and a doctor can usually give something that will stop the pain for the time.

Do you suffer from earache? Have you a running ear? Are you hard of hearing and falling behind your school work because you cannot hear what is said in the school room? If so, try to have your ears examined and treated. Do not let any one tell

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you that you will probably outgrow your trouble, for most of the people who are hard of hearing to-day are in that condition because they were neglected in childhood, and without treatment you are likely to grow into a life of deafness. The ears were made to hear with and not to rumble and roar and wreck the nervous system with pain, and you should try to get yours to serve the purpose for which they were intended. A physician who understands the treatment of ear troubles will not tell you to wait and let them get well of themselves.

Foreign bodies in the ear. If a live insect gets into the ear, it can be drowned and the buzzing stopped by pouring water or oil into the ear. Only a physician should try to take anything out of the ear, for there is always danger that an unskilled person will drive the object through the tympanic membrane. Sometimes the bitter wax which is formed in the canal of the ear blocks it up and interferes with the hearing. It should be removed by a physician.

Questions: 1. How is sound caused? 2. Why are some sounds loud and others faint? 3. What is the function of the ear? 4. Name the divisions of the ear. 5. What is in the middle ear? 6. How is it connected with the throat? 7. What is found in the inner ear? 8. Explain what happens in the ear when we hear a sound. 9. How do germs get into the ear? 10. Why are persons who have catarrh or adenoids especially liable to diseases of the ear?

II. What is the cause of running ears? 12. Why should running ears never be neglected? 13. What should be done when an insect gets into the ear? 14. Why is it dangerous for any one but a physician to try to remove bodies from the ear?

Suggestions and topics for development: The function of the Eustachian tube. Why a cold sometimes causes deafness. The teacher should test the hearing of the children in the room. Some who are hard of hearing will always be found, and these ought to be seated on the front benches. A fairly accurate test of hearing can be made with a watch. Watches differ in the loudness of the tick, and a considerable number of ears should be tested with the same watch to find how far it ought to be heard. In making the test a quiet room is necessary and the watch should always be held in the same way. To make a test of hearing have the child sit down, close his eyes, and cover one ear with his hand. Then at different distances try if he can hear the ticking of the watch. Sometimes hold the watch behind your back or muffle it with the hand or with a handkerchief when the child thinks that it is being held up for him to hear. This is necessary because some people can hardly tell the difference between what they hear and what they imagine they hear. Both ears should be tested, and any child who seems hard of hearing should be examined by a physician who understands ear troubles. It is stated that two thirds of all deafness is caused by adenoids. If wax accumulates in the ears they should be washed out occasionally with warm water. Use a small soft rubber syringe which may be bought of any druggist at small cost.

ACCIDENTS

In case of accident in the country, and sometimes even in the city, it is not always possible to secure a physician until considerable time has passed. Every one therefore should understand what is best to be done in some of the more common accidents. When one is called on to use this knowledge, he should above all else try to keep a cool head and to act promptly, for often a great deal depends on doing something for the patient at once.

Broken bones. If a broken arm or leg is allowed to be bent or doubled, there is danger that the ragged ends of the bones will cut and wound the muscles, blood vessels, and nerves. Keep the limb straightened out until a physician arrives.

Burning clothing. If your own clothing takes fire, do not start to run. Lie down and wrap yourself in a rug, blanket, or coat, or roll over and over to put out the flame. Do not stand up so that the flame will come up about your face, for the great danger comes from breathing in the flame. If another person's clothing takes fire, wrap a rug or blanket about him, and throw him down. Protect your face as much as possible while doing this, and if you must pass through a burning building close to a flame, hold something before your face. Until a physician arrives, burns may be protected from the air with cloths spread with vaseline or dipped in water that contains baking soda.

Fainting. Lay the patient flat on his back so that the blood will flow easily to the head. Cold water sprinkled on the face or ammonia held under the nose will help to restore consciousness. Fifteen drops of ammonia given in a third of a glass of

FIGS. 86 and 87. In cases of apparent drowning, drain the water from the lungs, as shown in the left-hand figure. Then as quickly as possible get the air to passing into and out of the lungs, using the method shown in the right-hand figure.

water or a cup of strong coffee will help revive the patient.

Apparent drowning. Drain the water from the patient's lungs by holding him for a few seconds as shown in Figure 86. Then quickly lay him in the position shown in Figure 87 with a folded blanket or coat under his chest. Place the hands on either side of the back over the lower ribs. Throw the weight of the body steadily downward on the hands and drive the air out of the lungs. Take the pressure off the body without lifting the hands and allow the air to come into the lungs. Repeat about fifteen times a minute. Keep the patient as warm