VOL. XLIX.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 6ll 



all these concurring circumstances strengthened him in his opinion, they likewise 

 incited him to make trial of an operation that was some time before proposed to 

 the Academy of Sciences, by Mons. Guyot; but the author having never prac- 

 tised it, he wanted the recommendation of facts to support and enforce it ; it was 

 therefore rejected by them as impracticable.* 



Mr. W. first introduced his probe, a little bent at the end, through the nose 

 into the tubes of several dead subjects; and, having thereby acquired a facility, 

 he did the same on a person that was very deaf, and on whom all other means 

 had proved ineffectual ; no sooner had he withdrawn the probe, than he said, he 

 could hear much better. This success excited his further endeavours, so that he 

 had pipes of different sizes adapted to a syringe, and he had since injected the 

 meatus intemus in the following manner, with success. The pipe is made of 

 silver, about the size and length of a common probe, and a little bent at the 

 end: this being fixed to an ivory syringe, full of liquor (viz. a little mel rosarum 

 in warm water), is introduced between the ala and septum of the nose, with its 

 convexity towards the upper part of the aperture of the nares, and thus conti- 

 nued backwards, and a little downwards, till it comes near the elliptic orifice; 

 then its convexity is turned toward the septum, by which the inflected extremity 

 enters the tuba eustachiana with ease; the liquor is then impelled through it into 

 the tube, by which the sordes, if any, being diluted, is washed out, and regur- 

 gitates through the nose, or mouth, or both, with the injection ; and, if the 

 quantity be large, may be seen. 



[Then follows an account of 6 different cases, in which the operation was 

 successfully performed.] 



After the detail of these cases Mr. W. remarks, that he had endeavoured to 

 ascertain the symptoms that indicate an obstructed tube, but had not been able to 

 do it with any degree of certainty; nor could he see the great utility of it, could^ 

 it be done; for the only disorders of the ear, that at present admit of surgical 

 helps, are those of the external meatus, ulcerated and swelled tonsils, &c. all of 

 which are generally visible ; and when they are not the cause of deafness, little 

 or nothing is ever attempted, the patient being left to shift for himself. But 

 now another probable chance at least is given to the unhappy sufferer, and being 

 the only one (e. g. the others either improper, or tried before without success), 



• Hist, de I'Acad. 1724, p. 53. Besides, Mons. Guyot proposed doing it by the mouth, which ii 

 quite impossible, as evidently appears to any one that will give himself the trouble to examine into it. 

 Convinced of this, Mons. Petit (who has lately published a new edition of Palfin's anatomy) pro- 

 posed, and that learned and skilful anatomist Mr. John Douglas first demonstrated the possibility of, 

 passing the probe, &c. through the nose into the eustachian tubej and this he has constantly shown 

 to those who have attended his public lectures; and to him Mr. W. freely acknowledged himself in-i 

 debted for tlio hint, by which he was incited to make trial on the living, of an operation of so much 

 importance to mankind. — Orig. 



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