Very frequently a cold occasions this troublesome pain; in which case the head should be well muffled up, in order to bring on a perspiration, and a blister behind the ear also of singular service—rubbing the face also with some _spirits of wine and camphor_ is of great benefit, and attention should be had, if there be any fever in the system.
Bad weather sometimes will effect the eyes, whence they will become raw and blood shot; which ought to be remedied in time, in order to prevent further inflammation. In this case make the following eye water.
_Take Alum, One Scruple._ _Fine Sugar, Two Scruples._ _Spirit of Wine, and Camphor_ (A) _Ten Drops._ _Fresh Water, Three Ounces._
_Mix them in a vial, and hang it up so that it may settle; then pour off the clear into another vial, which keep for use._
Of this excellent eye-water, drop a few drops into the blood-shot eye, which in a little time, will bring it to health again.——If the eye lids are raw and inflamed, _Turner’s Cerate_, or what is yet better, No. XI. which prove very beneficial.—Should the inflammation be very heavy, apply the following poultice, from which you may expect great benefit.
_Take Oatmeal, and Sugar powdered an equal quantity, and make it into a poultice with the yolk of eggs; upon which pour a few drops of the spirit of Camphor._
This kind of poultice you will find very cooling and agreeable to the eye, in order to assuage the pain; or take the following.
_Take the white of an egg upon a stone, or pewter plate, which rub with a piece of alum, till you get a fine white cream-like substance._
This is a fine cooling application. The Camphor agrees very well with some people, but with others it will not, in which case the last is preferable; or the _spirits of camphor_ may be rejected from the other receipts.
The causes of that complaint are many. I shall only here observe two kinds; namely that proceeding from cold, and that which is occasioned from hardened ear wax.
In the first case, be very cautious how you tamper with your ears—a few drops of the spirit of Camphor upon a bit of lint, and that gently put into the ear, will sometimes perform great benefit; but never drop any thing considerable into the ear itself; it is frequently dangerous; from more reasons than what I here have room to enter into.