We examine the nebular extinction in the Orion Nebula using a combinat
ion of new near-infrared (1.2-2.4 mu m) and previously published optic
al (0.34-1.0 mu m) spectrophotometry. Using the emission lines of the
H I Balmer, Paschen, and Brackett recombination series, and assuming c
ase B recombination and the stellar extinction law, we obtain discrepa
nt estimates of the total extinction, A(V), in which the derived A(V)
increases with the wavelength of the series being considered. This dis
crepancy is inconsistent with expected small deviations from case B re
combination theory. We suggest instead that it is mostly a consequence
of optical effects due to the complex distribution of gas and dust in
the nebula. We derive a empirical effective nebular extinction law fo
r the ionized hydrogen zone of the nebula and use this extinction law
to deredden the observed emission-line ratios to assess the impact of
our nebular extinction treatment on dust-sensitive emission-line diagn
ostics of temperature and ionic abundances.