De morbis puerorum, or, a treatise of the diseases of children;: with their causes, signs, prognosticks, and cures, for the benefit of such as do not understand the Latine tongue, and very useful for all such as are house-keepers, and have children. With the contents of the several chapters, as also an alphabetical table of all the diseases mentioned herein. By Robert Pemell practitioner in physick, at Cranebrooke in Kent. May the 29. 1653.

CHAP. 5. Of the pain in the ears, with inflammation, moi∣stures, ulcers, and worms thereof.

AMong the diseases of children a 1.1Hippocrates in his Aphorismes doth nominate the moisture or running of the ears; For when the brain of infants is very moist, great part of that superfluous moisture is evacuated, or purged by the ears, yet this doth not of∣ten happen without inflammation. Therefore when abundance of moist humours do flow plentifully to the ears, they cause inflam∣mation, also grievous pain is joyned therewith, which in moist bo∣dies of children cannot be dispersed or dissolved, but is turned into matter, so that blood and matter doth flow out of the ears.

The cause.

The cause is abundance of moist humours and excrements of the brain, which nature cannot expel by the nose and Palat.

The signs.

The moisture of the ears is easily known by it's running, but pain and inflammation thereof is not so easily discerned, because infants cannot declare the same; but it may be known by their crying out and unquietnesse, especially being touched neer their ears, also rednesse and heat is perceived about the ear or ears.

The Prognosticks.

These diseases are not to be sleighted for such pains (in grown persons) have proved dangerous, much more therefore in children if it continue long.

Inflammation of the ears is many times dangerous, and brings a delirium or dotage and indangers life.

In ulcers of the ears if the matter be white, not too thick nor too thin, neither bloody nor much stinking, it is the better.

Inveterate and long continued Ulcers of the ears are danger∣ous, because they soon turn to a Fistula.

The cure.

For pain of the ears, use oyl of Roses, or oyl of Violets warm, or milk warm dropped into the ears, and afterwards stopped with wool▪ or drop therein the juice of Origanum and milk mixed to∣gether: Or drop in a little Linseed oyl warm, or use a decoction of the heads of white Poppy, or the white of an Egg beaten and mixed with a little milk: or put a little Saffron into the ears.

Against moistnesse of the ears and ulcers thereof, use hony of Roses, and water of hony; dip a clout or tent therein and put it warm into the ears; or put in oyl of bitter Almonds warm.

For worms in the ears, use oyl of bitter Almonds and Myrrhe in powder, as in two drachmes of oyl put of Myrrhe in powder a scruple or thirty grains: or put the juyce of Wormwood warm into the ears.

Or take of Aloes, Myrrhe, and the seeds of Coloquintida, of each a drachme; boyl them in two ounces of oyl of Roses, strain ••t and drop of the strained liquor into the ears.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Hippocrat. Appli. sect. 3. 24.