There are three acute affections of the ear which may usually be diagnosed from their points of tenderness or pain. Pain upon moving the lobe or pinna indicates furunculosis. Pain on pressure posterior to the angle of the jaw or externally in front of the ear indicates middle ear infection and pain on pressure over the mastoid region suggests mastoiditis. Probably the most common of the painful diseases of the external meatus is furunculosis, which is a subcutaneous infection of the lining membrane of the meatus. The point of swelling may usually be seen but in some cases the entire canal is closed. =Treatment.=—In all cases of occluded pus, drainage must be obtained, but in the early stages of furunculosis, it is not always possible to determine the place of “pointing” or the most desirable point to lance. As soon as the place of “pointing” can be located it is advisable to lance deeply by means of a curved paracentesis knife. The parts are thoroughly cleansed and anesthetized by applying phenol and neutralizing with alcohol. The external parts are first painted with alcohol to prevent “burning” from any phenol which may be dropped upon them. A small cotton applicator is used, applying the concentrated solution of phenol or the crystals (using only a small amount of phenol) to the affected parts and immediately neutralizing with alcohol. Care must be observed not to apply any phenol to the drum membrane and the operator must be sure that the action of the carbolic acid is completely neutralized by a liberal application of alcohol. The knife blade is placed beyond the furuncle, its curved point turned outward and quickly drawn forward through the furuncle, cutting deeply. The canal is then packed with a pledget of cotton dipped into phenol-glycerine. If the place of pointing cannot be seen, palliative treatment may be applied by thoroughly cleaning the meatus, drying and applying a phenol-glycerine pack. Heat may be applied by means of a therapeutic lamp. Any electric light bulb or the dry electric pack will do. The external parts are well lubricated with paraffin oil and the heat applied continuously or intermittently until the pain is relieved. Infection of the Meatus Infections of the meatus are frequently secondary to, or accompanied by furunculosis. The treatment, therefore, is similar to that of furunculosis. Always try to locate the point of infection, lance or curet, apply phenol or other chemical germicide, neutralize, dry and pack with phenol-glycerine. After the point of infection has been thoroughly drained, cleanliness and protection from dust or further infection is all that is necessary. In all cases of infection of the external meatus, suspect middle ear abscess as a cause. There may be a pin-point opening through the drum, from which the infection has originated and is being maintained.