To the Editor:\p=m-\MaryB., aged 5 years, of German parentage, was brought to my office by her father recently. He gave a history that the child had complained for several months of ear trouble, and especially of the left ear, and at times suffered with ear ache. An examination with speculum and reflected artificial light, revealed what was first supposed to be hardened cerumen. Copious syringing and douching failed to dislodge it and a closer examination and contact of the substance with the

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... r spoon disclosed a hard, smooth surface, and the conclusion was reached that a foreign body had become impacted. The surfaces were so smooth the forceps could not maintain their purchase, the parts so tender that a tenaculum was with difficulty passed behind and the body removed. It turned out to be a round, dark, smooth marble of the full diameter of the canal. Next to the tympanum was a small wad of newspaper. The right ear was next examined. This was found to be filled also ; the forceps removed two paper wads, a small piece of chewing gum and a small sized pebble. The canals were considerably ulcerated and the tympana inflamed, but no evidence of perforation. It was a new expe¬ rience to find the auditory canal a toy and plaything repository.