Nov.28, 1900. 
My dear Hyatt, 
My ear drum (of the left ear) was hurst (not perforated) in 
1870 by blowing forcibly through a tube. The fracture closed up com¬ 
pletely afterwards but a fragment of the membrane of the drum became at¬ 
tached to one of the sensitive little bones(?) that lie within and very 
near the drum. After this happened sounds were communicated directly 
to this receiving bone(?) instead of across an intermediate air space. 
The ear was very sensitive for a while and for many years would record 
sounds of a slight nature or of a high number of vibrations which an or- 
din^y ear would take no note of. Dr.Clarence Blake is my authority for 
the above b\it his examination was made many years ago and I may not 
have the thing perfectly straight in my memory now, although I believe 
that it is substantially so. Within the past ten years this favorite 
left ear has partially given out and.I cannot now hear so well with it 
as with the right ear. When it was at its best no one of my bird men 
friends could begin to equal me in hearing and discriminating the 
-• ' 
slighter bird notes. 
Trusting that this will answer your questions sufficiently 
fully, I remain, 
Sincerely, 
(signed) William Brewster. 
