FUNCTIONS OF THE CHORDA TYMPANI. 157 



tion, it is sufficient to state, that in cases of disease or injury, 

 in which the root of the facial is involved so that the chorda 

 tympani is paralyzed, in addition to the ordinary phenom- 

 ena of paralysis of the superficial muscles of the face, there 

 is loss of taste in the anterior portion of the tongue on the 

 side corresponding to the lesion. Numerous cases of this 

 kind are quoted in works on physiology, which will be re- 

 ferred to more fully in connection with the subject of gus- 

 tation. 



In 1863, we had under observation, for several months, 

 a soldier who received a gunshot-wound, the ball passing 

 through the head, entering just above the ala of the nose 

 on the left side and emerging behind the mastoid process 

 of the right temporal bone. The wound was nearly healed 

 while he was under observation, and the usual symptoms of 

 complete facial paralysis were manifested on the right side. 

 The buccinator and the orbicularis oculi were completely 

 paralyzed. Vision in the right eye was slightly impaired, 

 but was improving. The hearing was perfect, and there 

 were no abnormal phenomena except those apparently due 

 to injury of the facial. The sense of taste was entirely abol- 

 ished in the anterior portion of the tongue on the right side. 

 Experiments on this point were repeatedly made with salt, 

 pepper, and other sapid substances. This patient was ex- 

 amined on one occasion by Prof. Dalton, and was exhibited 

 in two successive years to the class at the Bellevue Hospi- 

 tal Medical College, when the above-mentioned facts were 

 verified. 



Physiologists have observed loss of taste in the anterior 

 portion of the tongue, in dogs, cats, and other animals, fol- 

 lowing section of the root of the facial or of the chorda tym- 

 pani. Some observers, it is true, have failed to note the 

 phenomena satisfactorily, and there is some difference of 

 opinion with regard to the real origin of the gustatory fila- 

 ments ; but the fact that the chorda tympani influences the 

 taste can hardly be doubted. Adopting this view, w^e shall 



