An Acovistic Mixture.
Take Tincture of Castor 2 drams; Oil of Sage, Rosemary, Cloves, Marjoram, each 2 drops, mix.
It Roborates the interior parts of the Ear, new braceth the relaxed Tympanum, cleareth the obstructed Auditory Nerve, opens a free passage for the Spirits through it, and availeth much against noise in the Head and Ears, and thickness of Hearing.
But if the Ear be stuff 'd up with Wax, or other Foulness, it must be syrenged and cleansed with a proper Injection, before this can do any good.
Let 3 drops be put into the Ear with Cotton or Wooll, every Night as Bed time:
The following general Rules, to be observ'd in all Maladies of the Ears, are taken out of Sennertus.
1. Let Medicines to be put into the Ears be lukewarm, not intensly hot nor cold.
2. Put no new Medicine into the Ear, 'till it be well clear'd from the foul Relicts of the former.
3. Three of four drops are enough at a time.
4. When a Medicine is put into the Ear, let the Patient lie down upon the well Ear.
5. Let the Medicines to be put in, be neither too Unctuous nor Viscous.
6. In all sorts of Deafness, let the Head be carefully Roborated, by both internal and external Medicines.
The two following are out of Wedelius.
7. Fumes are best for Exsiccation, humid Vapours for Mollifying and Easing, oleose and spirituous Things for Discussing and Roborating. But in all ever bear it in Mind, that too much of any thing is good for nothing.
8. When Topics are put into the Ear, its convenient to Masticate, that the Medicine may penetrate the deeper.
Thomas Fuller
Pharmacopeia Extemporanea 1710