194 SENSORIAL FT'NCTION'-. 



602. 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 destroy- 

 ed, and still the power of hearing is retained. 



603. The case alluded to is detailed by Sir Astley Coop- 

 er, 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 inil animation and 

 suppuration of the left ear, which continued to discharge 

 matter for several weeks. In about a year afterward, 

 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. 



604. 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 com- 

 munication 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 com- 

 pressing the cheeks, when the air thus compressed 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. 



605. 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 susceptible to 

 musical tones. He played well on the flute, and had fre- 

 quently 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. 



