A tympanic tickle was an advanced oo-mox technique, requiring some skill. When performed by amateurs, it could result in a feather getting stuck in one's ear, causing pain and requiring medical attention to get it removed. Antibiotics were also recommended in such cases. (DS9: "Afterimage")
Oo-mox for Fun and Profit mentioned the tympanic tickle among other techniques. (DS9: "Profit and Lace")
Quark once received a tympanic tickle from someone who lacked the necessary experience, and Dr. Bashir had to cure the resultant infection. When the doctor, who was unfamiliar with this term, asked what it was, he quickly answered his own question: "Never mind. I don't want to know." (DS9: "Afterimage")
External link[]
- Tympanic tickle at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works