The _watery_, or _weeping eye_, is generally occasioned by a relaxation or weakness of the glandular parts of that organ. These may be braced and strengthened by bathing the eye with brandy and water, Hungary-water, rose-water with white vitriol dissolved in it, &c. Medicines which make a revulsion are likewise proper; as mild purgatives, perpetual blisters on the neck, bathing the feet frequently in lukewarm water, &c. When this disease proceeds from an obstruction of the lachrymal duct, or natural passage of the tears, it is called a _fistula lachrymalis_, and can only be cured by a surgical operation. OF THE EAR. The functions of the ear may be injured by wounds, ulcers, or any thing that hurts its fabric. The hearing may likewise be hurt by excessive noise; violent colds in the head; fevers; hard wax, or other substances sticking in the cavity of the ear; too great a degree of moisture or dryness of the ear. Deafness is very often the effect of old age, and is incident to most people in the decline of life. Sometimes it is owing to an original fault in the structure or formation of the ear itself. When this is the case, it admits of no cure; and the unhappy person not only continues deaf, but generally likewise dumb, for life[156]. When deafness is the effect of wounds or ulcers of the ears, or of old age, it is not easily removed. When it proceeds from cold of the head, the patient must be careful to keep his head warm, especially in the night; he should likewise take some gentle purges, and keep his feet warm, and bathe them frequently in lukewarm water at bed-time. When deafness is the effect of a fever, it generally goes off after the patient recovers. If it proceeds from dry wax sticking in the ears, it may be softened by dropping oil into them; afterwards they must be syringed with warm milk and water. If deafness proceeds from dryness of the ears, which may be known by looking into them, half an ounce of the oil of sweet almonds, and the same quantity of liquid apodeldoch, or tincture of asafœtida, may be mixed together, and a few drops of it put into the ear every night at bed-time, stopping them afterwards with a little wool or cotton. Some, instead of oil, put a small slice of the fat of bacon into each ear, which is said to answer the purpose very well. When the ears abound with moisture, it may be drained off by an issue or seton, which should be made as near the affected parts as possible. Some, for the cure of deafness, recommend the gall of an eel mixed with spirit of wine, to be dropped into the ear; others, equal parts of Hungary-water and spirit of lavender. Etmuller extols amber and musk; and Brookes says, he has often known hardness of hearing cured by putting a grain or two of musk into the ear with cottonwool. But these and other applications must be varied according to the cause of the disorder[157].