OTITIS MEDIA (Neo-l.at., inflammation of the middle earl. An intlammat ion of the struc tures of the tympanic cavity of the ear. It may he acute or chronic. There is an effusion of fluid into the middle ear, which may be serous the catarrhal form) or this may become in fected with pus-producing organisms (the puru lent form). It arises from exposure to cold or wet, the introduction of fluids into the middle ear through the Eustachian tube while bathing, or through douching the nose, or by extension of in llannioitory processes from the nose and throat. It often begins in this way during the course of the infectious fevers, particularly in scarlatina, when it is of the purulent type. The symptoms of the acute form are sudden and intense pain in the car. increased by coughing, sneezing. or swal lowing, linnilus curium, or singing or buzzing noises heard by the patient, and more or less deaf ness. If the disease goes on unchecked, suppura tion takes place, and the membranes of the tym panum ulcerates, and allows of the discharge of pus. Inflammation of the (lulu mater and abscesses in the brain may result. The chronic form of the disease may he catarrhal (without suppuration) or purulent in the latter there is a persistent discharge (see OTORRIREA ) of pus from the external ear. The catarrhal form often
comes on insidiously and results in complete or partial deafness in time ear affected, unless ar rested by treatment. The management of so serious an affection must he left solely in the hands of the medical practitioner. See EAR, section on MAIM:CR.
OTO, Cit.. A small tribe of Siouan stock formerly holding the territory west of the Mis souri and south of the Platte. in southeastern Nebraska, and now residing, together with the Missouri, upon a reservation in eastern Okla homa. The two tribes speak the same language and have keen confederated since the early part of the nineteenth century. They formerly lived in circular earth-covered log houses, and about a century ago, before they were joined by the Mis souri. had several villages, with an estimated population of 800. Both tribes have dwindled rapidly. the two together numbering only 460 in 1873 and 370 in 1900.