The effect of artillery practice on the ears. Of the 96 ears examined, only 34 could be considered as normal before the firing; the remainder showed alterations in the position and coloring of the tym panic membrane, such as retraction, dull ness, opacities, chalky deposits, and a slight vascular injection; in no ease was there any perforation. After the firing, the appearances were the same as before in 52 ears; the remaining 44 showed dis tinct vascular congestion in spite of the cotton-wool, which German artillery sol diers are required to use in their cars. The intensity of the congestion varied, being extreme in one-third of the cases, but in no instance was the whole mem brane red, there being even in the most marked cases still some normal color visible. Extravasations of blood were seen in 7 men, and always in the ears which showed the greatest hyperaemia; these extravasations were multiple and very small in size. In no case was the tympanic membrane ruptured. Further interest in these observations lies in this fact that the ears found normal before the firing were always normal afterward; indeed, there were only three exceptions to this rule, a slight injection being noted in these cases. The alterations pro duced by the firing occurred therefore in the ears that were already abnormal, 41 out of 62 being found to have in creased abnormalities as the result of the concussions. Milner (Arch. of Otol., Aug., '99).
Tiunitus.
Tinnitus is a symptom rather than an affection, as to which much remains to be learned. Where it is high pitched and of long standing little expectation of its disappearance should be raised; but it ought to be generally possible to duce it to a mild annoyance. It is at
times strictly cerebral; may be due to turbinal pressure in the nose; but is erally of tympanic origin and can be benefited by treatment of the coincident deafness. Yet it may have no relation to the defect of hearing, occurring when it is unthreatened or persisting after it has been restored. General vascular con ditions must be looked to in the blowing type of noises, and dietetic rather than medicinal measures resorted to. Pneu matic massage, most easily employed with the finger-tip, will often do much for its relief.
Use of Deletanche's rarefacteur ad vised in labyrinthine disturbance due to sudden loud noises or explosions for the purpose of restoring to a normal position the indriven tympanic structures and stapes. Pilocarpine is not contra-indi cated in inflammation of the auditory nerve due to meningitis, but, on the con trary, is to be recommended in recent eases in view of the fact that the laby rinth is usually implicated. In the use of the galvanic current in cases of nerv ous tinnitus the positive pole should be applied to the tragus. When one ear only is being galvanized the current should not exceed from 2 to 4 milliam peres, and it is only when the current is divided between the two ears, both being treated at the same time, that it is at all advisable to double the strength of the current. Dundas Grant (Lancet, Aug. 24, Sept. 14, '95).