Although affections of the external ear constitute one-fourth of aural practice, they may well be said to be its simplest part and, in view of their rare seriousness, to be little worthy of much consideration. Perhaps it is this very simplicity and openness to rational measures of general surgery that accounts for much of the neglect they have received, but more potent are the unfortunate traditions of centuries of unintelligent empiric measures to which they have been subjected. When ear-drops were the only known way of treating ear disease, such were indefinitely multiplied, and as ultimate relief followed the use of many medicaments, their supposed potency is a hardly challengeable portion of medical belief. As well save your breath as to argue that laudanum and sweet-oil is not the best possible relief for earache, or that oil or glycerin need not be dropped into the ear for the relief of