VARIATIONS OF SENSIBILITY. 527 



bility of the auditory nerves, which had not 

 been accessible to impressions of sound, is 

 found to be increased to a morbid degree. This 

 was remarkably exemplified in the case of a 

 gentleman who for several years had been very 

 deaf, in consequence of the obliteration of the 

 eustachian tube, so that he could scarcely hear 

 a person speaking in a loud voice close to his 

 ear. As soon as the instrument which had 

 made the perforation was withdrawn, the by- 

 standers began to address him in a very low 

 tone of voice, and were surprised at receiving no 

 answer, and at his remaining immoveable in his 

 chair, as if stunned by a violent blow. At 

 length he burst out into the exclamation, " For 

 God's sake, gentlemen, refrain from crying out so 

 terribly loud ! you are giving me excessive pain by 

 speaking to me." The surgeon,* upon this, re- 

 tired across the room ; unfortunately, however, 

 the creaking of his boots caused the gentleman to 

 start up in an agony from his chair, at the same 

 time applying his hand instinctively to cover his 

 ear ; but in doing this, the sound of his fingers 

 coming in contact with his head was a fresh 

 source of pain, producing an effect similar to 

 that of a pistol suddenly fired close to him. For 

 a long time after, when spoken to, even in the 

 lowest whisper, he complained of the distressing 



* M. Maunoir, of Geneva, on whose authority I have given 

 this account. 



