1866. ] (ep oiy 22) 
V. ON THE LARYNGOSCOPE, AND SOME OF ITS 
PHYSIOLOGICAL REVELATIONS. 
By Coryevius B. Fox, M.D. Edin., M.R.C.P. Lond. 
(Illustrated. ) 
Tue Laryngoscope is, as its name implies, an instrument for the 
examination of the larynx or vocal apparatus, whereby we can not 
only study with facility the normal action of its various parts in the 
production of sound, but by which the abnormal and diseased con- 
ditions of this organ may be, in general, diagnosed with certainty. 
The Rhinoscope, for the inspection of the posterior part of the nasal 
cavities, and the Autolaryngoscope, for the examination of one’s own 
larynx, are merely modifications of the Laryngoscope: a description 
of these instruments, however, does not fall within the compass of 
this paper. 
1. The History of the Laryngoscope.—In 1743, a distinguished 
Frenchman, named Levret, employed himself in ascertaining the 
manner in which polypi of the nostrils, throat, ears, and other parts 
could be removed by ligatures. An illumination of these regions 
was produced by the aid of a polished plate of metal, on which 
hight was projected and in which the illuminated parts were 
seen. 
Tn 1807, a pamphlet was published at Weimar, by Dr. Bozzini, 
of Frankfort-on-the-Maine, on ‘The Light Conductor, or a Descrip- 
tion of a simple Apparatus for the illumination of the Internal 
Cavities and Spaces in the Living Animal Body.’ This instru- 
ment essentially consisted of a number of hollow metal tubes, of 
yarious diameters, adapted to the different canals of the body, and 
of a lantern, to which they all could be fitted. Finding it neces- 
sary to employ reflected light in the examination of the larynx and 
posterior part of the nasal cavities, he had a speculum—at one end 
of which was a mirror—divided by a partition into two parts: one 
eanal and half of the mirror serving to transmit the light and the other 
the image. Although he was evidently well aware of the means 
required for the examination of the larynx, yet his observations in 
this region seem to have been confined to the posterior part of the 
nasal cavities. In 1827, Dr. Senn, of Geneva, attempted to obtain 
a sight of the larynx of a child who was labouring under great 
difficulty of breathing by means of a small mirror, but was unsuc- 
cessful in his endeavours, because he did not illuminate the parts.* 
In March, 1829, Dr. B. G. Babington exhibited to the Hun- 
terian Society an oblong piece of looking-glass attached toa portion 
of silver wire, which he called a Glottiscope. By placing this instru- 
* Vide ‘ Journal de Progrés,’ 1829. 
Q2 
