Indian Medicine (Medicin), translated by C. G. Kashikar c14.17

c14.17

Filling the ear with oil and various medicinal stuffs appears to be the most usual procedure for these diseases; thus the Bower MS 2.532 ff. has six recipes for preparing the oil or ghee with long pepper and other substances in order to fill the ear therewith in *karṇaśūla*, *karṇanāda*, *karṇakṣveḍa* and *karṇaruja*. Later authors give similar recipes, e. g. the recipes denoted as *kṣārataila* which is good for otalgia, deafness, stinking discharge, ringing in the ears, suppuration and maggots (Vr 59.16-20=AHr 6.18.26-30). As the stuffs to be used, the following are also mentioned: ginger-juice, honey, salt, garlic, devdar, lemon-juice, urine of different animals, etc. Nasal remedy, fumigation, washing, local warmth, emetic and purgative, conveying steam through a reed (*nāḍīsveda*), gargling and other cures are also recommended. Exercise, diving with the head, sexual intercourse should be avoided. Earwax should be removed with a pointed instrument (*śalākā*); insect or impurities in the same way, or by sucking with a horn. For ear-abscess the procedure should be the same as for other abscesses. For maggots in the ear, maggot-remedies are to be resorted to (Car 6.26.212 f.; Su 6.21; AS 6.22; AHr 6.18; Vang 762-71; Bhāv 2.4; Vr 59). For diseases of lobe of the ear, plasters are to be particularly applied (Su 1.16.26 f.).