xlviii 



Eustachian Tube iu the Human Ear, with an Account of the Muscles of 

 the Eustachian Tube, and their Action in different Classes of Animals " 

 (1852). 3. " On the Muscles which open the Eustachian Tube " (1853) . 

 4. " On the Mode in which Sonorous Vibrations are conducted from the 

 Membrana Tympani to the Labyrinth in the Human Ear" (1859). The 

 first of the above-named memoirs was published in the Philosophical 

 Transactions for 1851 ; whilst, of the other three, records will be found in 

 the Society's * Proceedings.' 



In investigating the pathology of the ear, Mr. Toynbee proceeded by 

 collecting a very large number of specimens of the human temporal 

 bones and their contained parts, both healthy and diseased. The morbid 

 specimens, said to number nearly 1/00, were described by him in nume- 

 rous contributions to the Royal Medical and Chirurgical Society, to the 

 Pathological Society, and to various journals. Besides this, he published 

 an interesting ' Descriptive Catalogue of Preparations illustrative of Dis- 

 seases of the Ear in his Museum,' and also a systematic work on * The 

 Diseases of the Ear ; their Nature, Diagnosis and Treatment,' besides oc- 

 casional " Lectures " on the same subject. 



He was for some time Surgeon to the St. George's and St. Jam^es's 

 Dispensary, and was engaged in the general practice of Surgery; but, 

 whilst retaining the title of Consulting Surgeon to the above-named Insti- 

 tution, he soon devoted his time and energy to Aural Surgery alone, in 

 which department of his profession he gradually acquired a wide-spread 

 reputation, his practice as an Aurist ultimately becoming very large. He 

 was Consulting Aural Surgeon to St. Mary's Hospital, and to the Asylum 

 for the Deaf and Dumb. 



Mr. Toynbee' s premature and sudden death was caused by the inhala- 

 tion of chloroform, on the possibility of introducing which powerful 

 agent into the tympanic cavities through the Eustachian tubes he had 

 long been experimenting. He was found dead on his sofa, in his consult- 

 ing-room in Savile Row, with cotton-wool over his face, and a chloroform 

 bottle, his open watch, and various memoranda of experiments lying near 

 him. It is but just, and it may be useful, to remark, that, while he doubt- 

 less fell a sacrifice to his experimental zeal, the deplorable event is in all 

 probability to be ascribed to the extreme imprudence of inhaling chlo- 

 roform when alone and unattended. 



The subject of this brief notice was a man of enlightened intellect, 

 quick temperament, and energetic habits, of enlarged views, cultivated 

 taste, and benevolent disposition. In connexion with the St. George's 

 and St. James's Dispensary, he founded a Samaritan Fund to provide 

 the sick poor with bread, soup, wine, flannels, and coals, and also the 

 means of ventilating their apartments. He was not only an active 

 Treasurer to the Medical Benevolent Fund, but was an anonymous 

 donor to it of the munificent gift of £500. He advocated the establish- 

 ment of local museums, libraries, and institutes, the better education of 



