Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83 based; site houxz.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxl!houxm!houxz!disc From: disc@houxz.UUCP (S.BERRY) Newsgroups: net.startrek Subject: Super-slug Message-ID: <685@houxz.UUCP> Date: Thu, 1-Mar-84 08:33:29 EST Article-I.D.: houxz.685 Posted: Thu Mar 1 08:33:29 1984 Date-Received: Fri, 2-Mar-84 14:03:59 EST Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Holmdel NJ Lines: 18 > In ordinary medical ways, once the eardrum is punctured hearing is > lost unless the membrane is restored. Of course a small thing like > this is no problem for thr great Dr. McCoy. If you'll notice, the "slug" never went through the eardrum (at least that we could see)--it burrowed into the brain right through the ear CANAL. It also appeared (at least to this reporter) to exit in a similar manner. Incidently, when an eardrum is merely punctured, hearing is not lost; impaired somewhat yes. I know firsthand since I once had a perforated eardrum, and could hear fairly well through that ear (It's now healed--95% hearing remains). Now if the eardrum was ripped apart... SJBerry