The store-house of physical practice being a general treatise of the causes and signs of all diseases afflicting human bodies : together with the shortest, plainest and safest way of curing them, by method, medicine and diet : to which is added, for the benefit of young practicers, several choice forms of medicines used by the London physicians / by John Pechey ...

CHAP. XXXV. Of things that come out Preternaturally from the Cavities of the Ears.

MAny Things come out preternaturally from the Ears, which must be particularly mentioned, and peculiar Remedies must be prescribed for them. First therefore, an Abscess being broken arising from an Inflammation, or from an Ulcer, proceeding from the Acrimony of Hu∣mours, Matter or Sanies, is wont to flow; the Cure of which depends on the Cure of the forementioned Diseases, which are proposed in the foregoing Chapter.

Blood also sometimes flows from the Ears, as in Wounds and Concussions of the Head, whereby the Veins of the Ears may be broken or torn: But if this Flux be moderate, it must be left to it self, for if it should be re∣tained within it might cause an Inflammation; but if it be immoderate, or continue a long while, it must be re∣strained by bleeding in the Arm, and by applying Cup∣ping-glasses with Scarification to the Shoulders; after∣wards cooling and astringent things must be dropt into the Ears, as the Juice of Plantane, Knot-grass, or the De∣coction of Bramble-tops, red Roses, Mastich, Acacia, Hyposistis, Balaustins, Sumach, and the like, in Wine and Vinegar, or Smiths Water.

A watry Humour sometimes flows from the Brain to the Ears, this most commonly happens to Children, and ought not to be stop'd, for being suddenly stop'd, it occa∣sions the Falling-sickness, or some other great Disease of the Head.

For Nature puts off Excrements, and the too great Moisture that abounds in Childrens Heads, not only by the ordinary ways appointed for this use, viz. The No∣strils and Pallate, but also through the Eyes, the Ears, and the Superficies of the Head, where Ulcers and Scabs often happen: But when such an Evacuation is Symptomatick, and when the Humour flowing to the Ears causes Ulcers in them, and hinders the Hearing, you must endeavour

to cure it by a convenient Method. And First, the Su∣perfluous Humours in the Brain must be evacuated by gentle Purges often repeated, and also by Derivation, by Blisters in the Neck, and an Issue there; afterwards the Ears must be cleansed and dried by the following Medicine.

Take of the Juice of Agrimony, and Worm-wood, each four Ounces, of Whitewine, and Honey of Roses, each one Ounce, boil them a little, and drop them into the Ear the Filth being cleansed away, afterwards the Ears must be stopped with Cotton dipt in the same Liquor.

But if a watry Humour flows from the Ears of grown People and continues so a long while; the whole Body and the Brain must be evacuated, afterwards, the super∣fluous Moisture must be dried up by Sudorifick Diet-drinks, and the Course of it must be endeavoured to be turned by Blisters, Issues, and Cupping-glasses.

Lastly, Worms are sometimes generated in the Ears, from putrid Ulcers, which being cured they cease to come out. But Because the healing of the Ulcer requires Time you may endeavour to kill the Worms in the mean while by convenient Remedies. For Instance,

Take of the Oyl of bitter Almonds, of the Juice of Smallage, and the lesser Centaury, each two Ounces, of Vinegar two Drams; boil them a little, then add of Mirrh, and Aloes, each one Scruple; mingle them, and drop it into the Ear. If you would have it stronger add ten Grains of Coloquintida.