Circumference, AndXconcelv^j t^eaclion of this ,Mufcle : dqes or-r 
dinarily and conftantly draw the Tympanum to a moddace ' Xe.nfi^ 
on i but when we haveoccafion to liften, and give a more parti- 
cular attention to feme found, the a&ion.of that Mufcle is then 
more intenfe,and the Tmypanum is drawn to a more then ordina- 
ry tenfion, fo to facilitate the. paflsge'of theSoua4' . $ ! \ •'; 
' Now as to- the cafe of the ybung Gcntlejnag hfifo^n^ntio- 
ned, Ifuppoftd either the Mofcieby thatconvulfireflarting Mp- 
tion in the Womb to be overftrained,.':and to have lp.ft its Act- 
on or the -Membrane by that greater aperture of the Organ to be 
over-ftretched, 2nd afterwards to remain io-flaccid, ■ that u was 
beyond the activity of the Mufcie andCui vit.ure of the ofeides to 
give it adue Tenfion • or peradventure there was a concurrence 
of both Caufes. Which due tenfion, if by any remedy it might 
be reftored, I affiitrTd, that he might recover his hearing in that 
Ear: To which end, I advifed the Excellent Lady his Mother, to 
confult with Learned Phyfitians, if by fome adftringent Fumes,; 
•or otherwife, he might find help. 
And for Experiment, I thought of a T emprary way, by the 
impulfe of any Vehement found $ as of a Drum beaten near him: 
which found, du ing its continuance, muft needs give the Tympa- 
num a Tenfion, by driving and fwelling it inwards, as a frefh gale 
of wind fills the fayles of a fhip 5 and the Experiment fucceeded 
according to my exfpe&ation : For fo long as 1 beat a Drum faft 
and loud by him, he could hear thofewho flood behind him, cal- 
ling him gently by his Name (which he underftood,having learn- 
ed to fpeak and pronounce it among other words 5 ) and when 
the Drum ceafed, he did not hear the fame Perfons, when they 
again very loud ailed him by his Name. And by this we tryed 
feveral times, by beating the Drum again., and ceafing it > and he 
ftill heard them, when she Drum beat,and heard them not ? when 
it ftopt. 
Since that time, a Gentleman about Oxford- jhire^ fometimes 
Student of Chrijl-church, being in a great degree of Deafnefs, af- 
ter I had told him of this Experiment, calFd to mind, that he 
never heard fo well and eafily^ as when he was difcourfiug with 
Company in a Coach, whilft it went faft, and made a great rum- 
bling noife in Iwdon-ftizzisi by which he was induced to be* 
Ccccs lieve, 
