108 SENSORIAL FUNCTIONS. 



The charms of Music do not depend on the Tympa- 

 num . That the charms of music do not always depend 

 on the vibrations of the tympanum, is proved by the 

 fact already noticed, that this part is sometimes entirely 

 destroyed and still the power of hearing is retained. 



The case alluded to, is detailed by Sir Astley Cooper 

 in the Transactions of the Royal Society for 1801, of 

 which we will here give a summary. The subject was 

 a gentleman who stated to Sir Astley, that at the age of 

 ten years, he was attacked with an inflammation and 

 suppuration of the left ear, which continued to discharge 

 matter for several weeks. In about a year afterwards 

 the right ear was attacked with similar symptoms, and 

 in consequence he became totally deaf, and remained so 

 for three months. His hearing then began gradually to 

 return, and in about ten months he was restored to the 

 state in which Sir Astley found him. 



The ear-drums were found to be totally destroyed, 

 together with the little bones, which had escaped, with 

 the matter during the suppuration. Hence there was a 

 communication from the mouth, through the Eustachian 

 tubes to the external orifice of the ear. This was 

 shown by filling his mouth with air, closing the nostrils, 

 and compressing the cheeks, when the air thus compres- 

 sed was heard to rush out of the external orifice with a 

 whirling sound, the hair on each side of the cheeks 

 becoming agitated by the current. When a candle was 

 applied, the flame was also agitated by the stream of air. 

 Sir Astley ascertained by minute examination, that 

 not a vestige of the tympanum remained in the left ear, 

 and that in the right, though there was a remnant of it, 

 around the circumference, the centre was gone, leaving 

 an aperture of a quarter of an inch in diameter. Yet 

 this gentleman was not only capable of hearing every 

 thing that was said in company, but was nicely suscep- 

 tible to musical tones. He played well on the flute, and 

 had frequently taken a part in concerts ; he also sung 

 with taste, and perfectly in tune. 



How is it shown that the charms of music, or even common sounds do 

 not depend on the vibrations of the tympanum ? 



