52 Obituary. 
in the special department to which he devoted himself— 
that of aural surgery. Indeed, it is but bare justice to say 
that Joseph Toynbee rescued this branch of the healing 
art from the domain of quackery, and out of the chaos in 
which its facts were involved laid a broad foundation of 
scientific knowledge. 
Very shortly after he began his labours he was enrolled 
an F.R.S., a distinction to which few have attained at so 
early an age. But apart from the one branch of know- 
ledge to which he devoted his life, he was a diligent student 
in many others, and he has erected a lasting claim on our 
gratitude by an exhibition of a life which endeared him 
to those with whom he came in contact in his scientific 
pursuits. Quite recently he started the idea of local 
museums, and succeeded completely in establishing one at 
Wimbledon. To aid in extending them in every parish, 
he issued a small periodical—“ Local Museum Notes ”— 
and it is to be hoped, that in a short time, few places will 
be without these desirable institutions. Wherever they 
are started the sad story of Toynbee’s death wiil be re- 
peated. It is well known that he had been for some time 
engaged in experiments to determine the effects that would 
be produced by the introduction of powerful vapours into 
the internal ear, no doubt in the hope of combating disease. 
Some papers found on his table contained the results of 
his trials with chloroform and other agents, and one paper 
with a blank left to be filled up with the result. He was 
found, lying on his sofa, by his own servant not many 
minutes after he had seen a patient. At first, the servant 
thought his master asleep, but on looking more closely he 
was alarmed and sought assistance. Alas! Toynbee was 
quite dead, his last experiment had been fatal to this 
diligent explorer. It is probable the vapour had found 
access to the lungs and so proved fatal. We join our 
tribute of regret to that of the general public, and venture 
to ask whether so untoward an accident should not be 
regarded asa warning by others engaged in similar pursuits. 
If such risks are willingly run, at least each might adopt the 
precaution of having some skilled friend present while the 
experiment is being made. 
