Chapter 28

CHAP. III.Of the Sense of Hearing.

Of the Sense of Hearing.

Concerning the Sense ofHearing, I shall take notice of two Things, the Organ, theEar; and its Object,Sound.

I. For the Organ, theEar; I shall pass by its convenient Number of being double, which (as in the last Sense) serves for the commodious Hearing every way round us; as also a wise Provision for the utter Loss or Injury[a]of one of the Ears. But I shall a little insist upon its Situation, and its admirable Fabrick and Parts.

1. It is situated in the most convenient Part of the Body, (like as I said the Eye is) in a Part near the common Sensory in the Brain, to give the more speedy Information; in a Part where it can be best guarded, and where it is most free from Annoyances and Harms it self, and where it gives the least Annoyance and Hindrance to the Exercises of any other Part; in a Part appropriated to the peculiar Use of the principal Senses, in the most lofty, eminent Part of the Body, where it can perceive the most Objects, and receive the greatest Information: And lastly, in a Part in the Neighbourhood of its Sister Sense the Eye, with whom it hath peculiar and admirable Communication by its Nerves, as I intend to shew in its proper Place. In respect then of its Situation and Place in the Body, this Sense is well designed and contrived, and may so far be accounted the Work of some admirable Artist. But,

2. If we survey its Fabrick and Parts, it will appear to be an admirable Piece of the Divine Wisdom, Art, and Power. For the Manifestation of which, let us distinctly survey the outward and the inward Part of its curious Organ.

1. For theoutward Ear: If we observe its Structure in all Kinds of Animals, it must needs be acknowledged to be admirably Artificial, it being sonicely prepared, and adjusted to the peculiar Occasions of each respective Animal. In Man[b], it is of a Form proper for the erect Posture of his Body. In Birds, of a Form proper for Flight; not protuberant, because that would obstruct their Progress, but close and covered, to afford the easier Passage through the Air. In Quadrupeds, its Form is agreeable to the Posture, and slower Motion of their Bodies; and in these too, various, according to their various Occasions. In some large, erect, and open, to hear the least Approaches of Dangers[c], in others covered, to keep out noxious Bodies. In the SubterraneousQuadrupeds, who are forced to mine, and dig for their Food and Habitation, as a protuberant Ear, like that of other Quadrupeds, would obstruct their Labours, and be apt to be torn and injured; so they have the contrary[d], their Ears short, lodged deep and backward in their Head, and passingto the under Part thereof, and all sufficiently fenced and guarded. And as for Insects, Reptiles, and the Inhabitants of the Waters, if they enjoy this Sense, (as there is great Reason to think they do,) it may probably be lodged commodiously under the same Security and Guard, as the Smelling, or some other Sense is.

And moreover, as the Form of this Organ is various in various Animals, so in each of them its Structure is very curious and observable, being in all admirably contrived to collect the wandering, circumambient Impressions, and Undulations of Sound, and to convey them to the Sensory within. If I should run over the severalGeneraof Animals, we might find a notable Prospect of the handy-work of God[e], even in this so inconsiderable Part of Animals. But I shall only carry my Survey tothat of Man. And here the first Thing that offereth it self to our View, is theHelix, with its tortuous Cavities, made to stop, and collect the sonorous Undulations, to give them a gentle Circulation and Refraction, and so convey them to theConcha, or larger and more capacious round Cell at the Entrance of the Ear. And to bridle the Evagation of the Sound, when arrived so far, but withal not to make a Confusion thereof, by any disagreeable Repercussions, we may take notice of a very curious Provision in those little Protuberances, called theTragus, andAntitragusof the outward Ear, of a commodious Form and Texture[f], and conveniently lodged for this Use. The great Convenience and Benefit of this Form and Contrivance of the outward Ear, is sufficiently manifest by the want thereof, which causeth aConfusion in the Hearing, with a certain Murmur, or Swooing like the Fall of Waters[g].

Another wise Provision of the Creator, is in the Substance of the outward Ear, which is cartilaginous, the fittest for this Place. For (as an ingenious Anatomist[h]observes) “If it had been Bone, it would have been troublesome, and might by many Accidents have been broken off: If Flesh, it would have been subject to Contusion”. But indeed a worse Consequence than this would have ensu’d such a Softness as that of Flesh, and that is, it would neither have remain’d expanded, neither would it so kindly receive and circulate the Sounds, but absorb, retard, or blunt their Progress into the inward Organ. But being hard, and curiously smooth and tortuous, Sounds find an easie Passage, with a regular Volutation and Refraction: As in a well-built Arch, Grotto, or musical Instrument, which magnify and meliorate Sounds; and some of which convey even a Whisper to a large Distance[i]: But from the outward, let us carry our Survey,

2. To the inward Part of this admirable Organ. And here we find the most curious and artful Provision for every Emergency and Occasion. Theauditory Passage, in the first Place, curiously tunnelled, and artfully turned, to give Sounds an easie Passage, as well as a gentle Circulation and Refraction; but withal, so as to prevent their too furious rushing in, and assaulting the more tender Parts within.

And forasmuch as it is necessary that this Passage should be always open, to be upon the Watch[k]; therefore to prevent the Invasion of noxious Insects, or other Animals, (who are apt to make their retreat in every little Hole), Nature hath secured this Passage[l], with a bitter nauseousExcrement[m], afforded from the Glands[n]appointed for that Purpose.

From hence let us approach the most inward Parts, in which we shall see Strokes of the most exquisite Art. To pass over theinnate Air, that most Authors talk of[o], (because there is no such)the passage to the Palate[p], and their Uses, with divers other curious Things that might be named; let us stop a little at the Part containing the rest, namely, the Bone[q]. The particular Texture and Hardness of which, above other Bones of the Body, is very remarkable; whereby it serves not only as a substantial Guard to the Sensory, but also to oppose the Impulses of the ætherial Matter, that there may be no loss, nor Confusion in the Sound; but that it may be conveyed regularly, and intirely to the auditory Nerves.

The next Part I shall take Notice of, may be that fine Membrane, called theTympanum, orMembranaTympani[r], with its inner Membrane[s]; together with the four little appendent Bones[t], and the three inner Muscles to move them, and adjust the wholeCompagesto the several Purposesof Hearing, to hear all Manner of Sounds, loud or languid, harsh or grateful[u].

From this Region of theTympanum, I mightpass to that of theLabyrinth[w], and therein survey the curious and admirable Structure of theVestibulum, theSemicircular Canals[x], andCochlea; particularly the artificial Gyrations, and other singular Curiosities observable in the two latter.

But I shall not expatiate on these recluse Parts; only there is one special Contrivance of the Nerves, ministring to this Sense of Hearing, which mustnot be passed by; and that is, the Branches of one of theauditory Nerves[y], spread partly to the Muscles of the Ear, partly to the Eye, partly to the Tongue and Instruments of Speech, and inosculated with the Nerves to go to the Heart and Breast. By which Means there is an admirable, and useful Content between these Parts of the Body; it being natural for most Animals, upon the Hearing any uncouth Sound, to erect their Ears, and prepare them to catch every Sound; to open their Eyes (those constant faithful Sentinels) to stand upon their Watch; and to be ready with the Mouth to call out, or utter what the present Occasion shall dictate. And accordingly it is very usual for most Animals, when surpriz’d, and terrify’d with any Noise, presently to shriek and cry out.

But there is besides this, in Man, another great Use of this nervous Commerce between the Ear and Mouth: And that is, (as one of the best Authors on this Subject expresseth it)[z], “That the Voice may correspond with the Hearing, and be a kind of Echo thereof, that what isheardwithoneof the two Nerves, may be readily expressed with the Voice, by the help of theother.”

Thus much shall suffice to have spoken concerning the Organ. Let us,

II. Take Notice of theObjectof this admirable Sense, namely,Sound; and so conclude this Chapter. I shall not here enquire into the Nature and Properties ofSound, which is in a great Measure intricate, and hath puzzelled the best Naturalists: Neither shall I shew how this admirable Effect of the divine Contrivance, may be improv’d to divers Uses[aa]and Purposes in humane Life; but my Business will be to shew that this Thing, of so admirable Use in the animal World, is the Work ofGod. And this will appear, let the subject Matter of Sounds be what it will; either the Atmosphere[bb]in Gross, or the ætherial Part thereof, or soniferous Particles of Bodies, as some fancy, orwhatever else the Philosopher may think it. For who but an intelligent Being, what less than anomnipotent and infinitely wise God could contrive, and make such a fine Body, such a Medium, so susceptible of every Impression, that the Sense of Hearing hath occasion for, to empower all Animals to express their Sense and Meaning to others; to make known their Fears, their Wants, their Painsand Sorrows in melancholick Tones; their Joys and Pleasures in more harmonious Notes; to send their Minds at great Distances[cc], in a short Time[dd], in loud Boations; or to express their Thoughts near at hand with a gentle Voice, or in secret Whispers! And to say no more, who less than the same most wise and indulgent Creator,could form such an Oeconomy, as that of Melody and Musick is! That theMediumshould (as I said) so readily receive every Impression of Sound, and convey the melodious Vibration of every musical String, the harmonious Pulses of every animal Voice, and of every musical Pipe; and the Ear be as well adapted, and ready to receive all these Impressions, as theMediumto convey them: And lastly, that by Means of the curious Lodgment, and Inosculations of theauditory Nervesbefore-mentioned, the Orgasms of the Spirits should be allay’d, and Perturbations of the Mind, in a great Measure quieted and stilled[ee]: Or to express it in theWords of the last-cited famous Author[ff], “That Musick should not only affect the Fancy with Delight; but also give Relief to the Grief and Sadness of the Heart; yea, appease all those turbulent Passions, which are excited in the Breast by an immoderate Ferment, and Fluctuation of the Blood”.

And now, who can reflect upon all this curious Apparatus of theSense of Hearing, and not give the great Creator his due Praise! Who can survey all this admirable Work, and not as readily own it to be the Work of an omnipotent, and infinitely wise and goodGOD[gg], as the most artful Melodies we hear, are the Voice or Performances of a living Creature!

FOOTNOTES:[a]I presume it will not be ungrateful to take notice here of the admirable, as well as useful Sagacity of some deaf Persons, that have learnt to supply their want ofHearingby understanding what is said by the Motion of the Lips. My very ingenious Friend Mr.Waller,R. S. Secr.gives this Account,There live now and have from their Birth, in our Town, a Man and his Sister, each about fifty Years old, neither of which have the least Sense of Hearing,——yet both of these know, by the Motion of the Lips only, whatever is said to them, and will answer pertinently to the Question proposed to them——The Mother told me they could hear very well, and speak when they were Children, but both lost that Sense afterwards, which makes them retain their Speech; though that, to Persons not used to them, is a little uncouth and odd, but intelligible enough.Phil. Trans. No. 312.Such another Instance is that of Mr.Goddy, Minister of St.GervaisinGeneva, his Daughter.She is now about sixteen Years old. Her Nurse had an extraordinary Thickness of Hearing; at a Year old, the Child spake all those little Words that Children begin to speak at that Age.——At two Years old, they perceived she had lost her Hearing, and was so Deaf, that ever since, though she hears great Noises, yet she hears nothing that one can speak to her.——But by observing the Motions of the Mouth and Lips of others, she hath acquired so many Words, that out of these she hath formed a sort of Jargon, in which she can hold Conversation whole Days with those that can speak her own Language. I could understand some of her Words, but could not comprehend a Period, for it seemed to be but a confused Noise. She knows nothing that is said to her, unless she seeth the Motion of their Mouths that speak to her; so that in the Night, when it is necessary to speak to her, they must light a Candle. Only one thing appeared the strangest part of the whole Narration: She hath a Sister, with whom she hath practised her Language more than with any other: And in the Night, by laying her Hand on her Sister’s Mouth, she can perceive by that what she saith, and so can discourse with her in the Night.BishopBurnet’s Let. 4. p. 248.[b]I cannot but admire that our most eminent modern Anatomists should not agree, whether there be any Muscles in the outward Ear of Man or not. Dr.Keilsaith there are two; Dr.Drakethe same Number; and Dr.Gibsonmakes them to be four. So also dothMonsieur Dionis, and so did the ancient Anatomists: But Dr.Schelhammerexpressly denies there are any, and saith,Seduxit autem reliquos Brutorum Anatome, in quorum plerisque tales Musculi plures inveniuntur; putârunt autem fortassis ignominiosum Homini, si non & his instructus esset, & minùs inde perfectum animal fore.Schel. de Auditu p. 1. c. 1. §. 7. ButValsalva, who wrote very lately, and is very accurate in his Survey of the Ear, saith,Musculi auriculæ posteriores quandoque quatuor, quandoque duo; sed ut plurimùm tres adnotantur; & quando solùm duo se manifestant, tunc unus ex illis duplicato tendine versùs Concham deferri solet. Horum musculorum in numero varietatem non solùm in diversis; verùm etiam in eodem subjecto quandoque vidi——Ex quibus differentiis subortæ sunt Auctorum discrepantiæ in horum Musculorum numero, & positu:——quod non evenisset, si pluries in diversis Corporibus iidem Musculi quæsiti essent.Ant. Mar.Valsalva de Aur. Human.c. 1. §. 6. But Dr.Drakethinks some ofValsalva’s Muscles the Product of Fancy. Mr.Cowpermakes them to be three, oneAttollent, and twoRetrabent Muscles. SeeAnat.Tab. 12.[c]Inter cætera[animalia aurita]maximè admirabilis est auris leporinæ fabrica, quod cùm timidissimum animal sit, & prorsus inerme, natura id tum auditu acurissimo, tanquam hostium exploratore ad perfentienda pericula, tum pedibus ceu armis ad currendum aptis munisse videtur.A. Kircher’sPhonurg.l. 1. §. 7. Technas. 2.[d]Moleshave no protuberant Ear, but only a round Hole between the Neck and Shoulder; which Situation of it, together with the thick, short Fur that covers it, is a sufficient Defensative against external Annoyances. TheMeatus Auditoriusis long, round and cartilaginous, reaching to the under part of the Skull. Round the inside runs a little Ridge, resembling two Threads of a Skrew; at the Bottom whereof is a pretty Inlet, leading to the Drum, made, on one side with the aforesaid cochleous Ridge, and on the other, with a small Cartilage. I observed there wasCerumenin theMeatus.As to theinner Ear, it is somewhat singular, and different from that of the other Quadrupeds, and much more from Birds, although I have met with some Authors that make it agreeing with that of Birds. There are three small Bones only (all hollow) by which theDrum(to use the old Appellation) or theMembrana Tympani(as others call it) acteth upon theAuditory Nerve. The first is theMalleus, which hath two Processes nearly of equal Length; the longer of which is braced to theMembrana Tympani, the shorter to the side of theDrumorOs Petrosum; the back part of it resembles the Head and Stalk of a smallMushroom, such as are pickled. On the back of theMalleuslies the next small Bone, which may be called theIncus, long, and without any Process, having somewhat the Form of the short Scoop wherewith Water-men throw the Water out of their Wherries. To the end of this the third and last small Bone is tacked by a very tender Brace. This little Bone bears the Office of theStapes, but is only forked without any Base. One of these Forks is at oneFenestra, orForamen, the other at another; in whichFenestraI apprehend the Forks are tacked to the Auditory Nerve. TheseFenestra(equivalent to theFenestra Ovalis, andRotundain others) are the Inlets into theCochleaandCanales Semicirculares, in which theAuditory Nervelieth. TheSemicircular Canaleslie at a distance from theDrum, and are not lodged (as in other Animals) in a strong, thick Body of Bone, but are thrust out, within the Skull, making anAntrum, with an handsomeArchleading into it, into which a part of the Brain enters.One Leg of theMalleusbeing fastned to theMembrana Tympani, and theIncusto the back of theMalleus, and the top of that to the top of theStapes, and the Forks or Branches of theStapesto theAuditory Nerve, I observed that whenever I moved the Membrane, all the little Bones were at the same time moved, and consequently theAuditory Nervethereby affected also.I hope the Reader will excuse me for being so particular in this Organ only of theMole, a despised Creature, but as notable an Example ofGod’s Work, as its Life is different from that of other Quadrupeds; for which Reason it partly is that I have enlarged on this part differing from that of others, and which no Body that I know of, hath taken much notice of, and which is not discoverable without great Patience and Application; and partly because by comparing these Observations withBook VII. Chap. 2. Note (d), we may judge how the Sense of Hearing is performed.[e]Among many Varieties, both in the inner and outer Ear, those which appear in the Passage into the Rock-Bone, are remarkable. For in anOwl, that perches on a Tree or Beam, and hearkens after the Prey beneath her, it is produced farther out above than it is below, for the better Reception of the least Sound. But in a Fox, that scouteth underneath the Prey at Roost; it is for the same Reason, produced farther out below. In aPole-Cat, which hearkens strait forward, it is produced behind, for the taking of a forward Sound. Whereas in aHare, which is very quick of Hearing, and thinks of nothing but being pursued, it is supplied with a bony Tube, which as a natural Otocoustick, is so directed backward, as to receive the smallest and most distant Sound that comes behind her.Grew’s Cosmolog. Sacr.lib. 1. c. 5. §. 6.[f]The Texture of theTragusandAntitragus, is softer than that of theHelix, which serveth gently to blunt, not forcibly to repel the Sound in theConcha.[g]Dr.Gibson’s Anatomy,Chap. 22. Book III.Those whose Ears are cut off, have but a confused way of Hearing, and are obliged either to form a Cavity round the Ear with their own Hands, or else to make use of a Horn, and apply the end of it to the inner Cavity of the Ear, on order to receive the agitated Air. ’Tis likewise observed, that those whose Ears jut out, hear better than flat-eared Persons. Monsieur Dionis’sAnat. Demonstr. 8.[h]Gibs.Ibid.[i]It would nauseate the Reader to reckon up the Places famed for the Conveyance of Whispers, such as the Prison ofDionysiusatSyracuse, which is said to encrease a Whisper to a Noise; the clapping ones Hands to the Sound of a Cannon, &c. Nor theAquaductsofClaudius, which carry a Voice sixteen Miles, and many others both Ancient and Modern. If the Reader hath a mind to be entertained in this way, he may find enough inKircher’sPhonurgia. But it may not be irksome to mention one or two of our own inEngland. Among which, one of the most famed is theWhispering-PlaceinGloucester Cathedral, which is no other than a Gallery above the East-end of the Choir, leading from one side thereof to the other. It consisteth, (if I mistake not) of five Angles, and six Sides, the middle-most of which is a naked, uncovered Window, looking into a Chapel behind it. I guess the two Whisperers stand at about twenty five Yards Distance from one another. But theDomeof St.Paul’s,London, is a more considerableWhispering-Place, where the ticking of a Watch (when no Noise is in the Streets) may be heard from Side to Side; yea, a Whisper may be sent all round theDome. And not only in the Gallery below, but above, upon the Scaffold, I tried, and found that a Whisper would be carried over one’s Head round the top of the Arch, notwithstanding there is a large Opening in the middle of it into the upper part of theDome.[k]Auditus autem semper patet: ejus enim sensu etiam dormientes egemus: A quo cùm sonus est acceptus, etiam è somno excitamur. Flexuosum iter habet, nè quid intrare possit, si simplex, & directum pateret; provisum etiam, ut siqua minima bestiola conaretur irrumpere, in sordibus aurium, tanquàm in visco, inhæresceret.Cicer. de Nat. Deor. l. 2. c. 57.It deserves a particular Remark here, that in Infants in the Womb, and newly born, theMeatus Auditoriusis shut up very closely, partly by the Constriction of the Passage, and partly by a glutinous Substance, whereby theTympanumis guarded against the Water in theSecundine, and against the Injuries of the Air as soon as the Infant is born.[l]It is remarkable, that in most, if not all Animals, whose Ears are tunnelled, or where theMeatus Auditoriusis long enough to afford Harbour toEar-wigs, or other Insects; that, I say, in the Ears of such,Ear-waxis constantly to be found. But in Birds, whose Ears are covered with Feathers, and where theTympanumlies but a little way within the Skull, noEar-waxis found, because none is necessary to the Ears so well guarded, and so little tunnelled.[m]TheEar-waxwas thought by the old Anatomists to be an Excrement of the Brain:Humor biliosus à cerebro expugnatus, theBartholinessay of it, l. 3.c. 9.But asSchelhammerwell observes,Nil absurdius, quàm cerebri excrementum hoc statuere. Nam & ratio nulla suadet, ut in cerebro fieri excrementum tale credamus:——neque viæ patent per quas ab eo seclusum in meatum auditorium possit inde penetrare.As to its Taste,Casseriusgives Instances of its being sweet in some Creatures. ButSchelhammersays,Ego verò semper, cum amaritie aliquid dulcedinis in illo deprehendi. Vid. Schel. de Audit.p. 1. c. 2. §. 10. But I could never distinguish any Sweetness in it; but think it insipid mixed with a Bitterness.[n]Cerumina amara Arteriolis exudantia.Willis de Anim. Brut.par. 1. c. 14.In the Skin——are little Glands, which furnish a yellow and bitter Humour.Monsieur Dionis’s Dem. 18. An handsome Cut of thoseGlandulæ ceruminosæis in Dr.Drake, fromValsalva.Plinyattributes a great Virtue to theEar-wax;Morsus hominis inter asperrimos numeratur: medentur sordes ex auribus: ac ne quis miretur, etiam Scorpionum ictibus Serpentiumque statim impositæ.Plin. Nat. Hist.l. 28. c. 4. And that it hath an healing Quality, and may be accounted a good Balsam, I my self have experienced.[o]That there is such a Thing as theinnate Air, (talked of much by most Authors on this Subject)Schelhammervery justly, I think, denies, by Reason there is a Passage into the inner Ear from the Throat, through which theinnate Airmay pass out, and the outward Air enter in.V.Par. Alt.p. 2. c. 1. §. 10. When by stopping our Breath, and Straining, we force the external Air into the Ear, it may be heard rushing in; and if much be forced in, it may be felt also to beat against theTympanum. When the Passage to the Throat is by any Means stopp’d, as by a Cold in the Head, &c. the Hearing thereby becomes dull and blunt; by Reason the Communication between the outward and inward Air are obstructed: But when by strong Swallowing, or such-like Motion of the Throat, the Passage is opened, we perceive it by a sudden Smack or Crack, and we immediately hear very clearly; the load of feculent Air being at that Time discharged from the inner Ear.It is a wise Provision, that the Passage for the Air into the Ear, is from the Throat;Ut non statim quivis aer externus irrumpere queat(asSchelhammersaith,Par. Ult. c. 4. §. 8.)sed nonnihil immutatus, ac temperatus, calore ex medio ventre exspirante; imò fortassis non facilè alius, nisi ex pulmonibus.[p]Valsalvahath given us a more accurate Description of theTuba Eustachiana, orPassage to the Palate, than any other Author, to whom I therefore refer,De Aur. Human.c. 2. §. 16,&c.The chief Use hereof, he thinks, is to give way to the inner Air, upon every Motion of theMembrana Tympani, theMalleus,IncusandStapes. This Passage, if it be shut up, Deafness ensues: Of which he gives two Instances: One a Gentleman, who lost his Hearing by a Polypus in the Nose reaching to theUvula; the other a Yeoman, labouring with an Ulcer above the left Side of theUvula; which when he stopt with a Tent dipped in Medicine, he lost his Hearing in the left Ear, and recovered it, as soon as the Tent was out.Ibid. c. 5. §. 10.[q]Os [petrosum]ex quo interiores[Labyrinthi]cavitatum parietes conflati sunt, album, durissimum, necnon maximè compactum. Id autem à Naturâ ita comparatum esse videtur, ut materia ætherea Sonorum objectorum impressionibus onusta, dum prædictis impingitur Parietibus, nihil aut saltem ferè nihil motûs sui amittat, atque adeò illum qualem ab Objectis sonoris accepit, talem communicet spiritui animali contento intra expansiones rami mollioris Nervorum auris.Dr.Raym. VieussensofMontpellier, in Phil. Trans. Nᵒ. 258.[r]TheTympanumof the Ear, or asValsalvaand the Moderns, theMembrana Tympaniwas taken notice of as early asHippocrates’s Time. In Birds, it is strained towards the outward Parts; in other Animals towards the Brain, or inner Parts. MonsieurDionissaith,It is not equally fastened to the whole Circumference of the bony Circle, in which it is inchased; for on the upper Side it hath a free disengaged Part, by which some can give vent to the Smoak in their Mouth.Demonstr. 8. That there is some Passage I doubt not, but I question whether MonsieurDionisever saw the disengaged Part he mentions. I have my self carefully searched divers Subjects, and do not remember to have seen any such Passage; and I perceive it escaped the diligentSchelhammer’s Eye.Valsalvaalso by injecting in through theTuba Eustachiana, could not force any Liquor into theMeatus Auditorius; but yet he imagines he found the Passage out in another Place of the Drum, in some morbid, and one sound Head.Valsalv. de Aur. Hum.c. 2. §. 8. Mr.Cowperalso affirms there is a Passage by the upper Part of the Membrane.Anat. Ap.Fig. 8.[s]Dr.Vieussens, before-named, discovered a Membrane,tenuissimæ raræque admodùm texturæ intra cavitatem Tympani; as he describes it. Whose use he saith is,1. Occludens Labyrinthi januam impedit nè naturalis purissimus ac subtilissimus Aer intra cavitates——communicationem——habeat cum aere crasso. 2. Labyrinthi basin calefacit,&c.ubi supra.Probably this double Membrane may be such, or after the same Manner as it is in theTympanumof Birds: Of which see my Observations inBook VII. Chap. 2. Note (d).[t]The four little Bones being treated of by all that have concerned themselves about this Sense of Hearing, since their Discovery, I shall take Notice of only two Things concerning them. 1. The Discovery of them is owing wholly to the Diligence and Sagacity of the latter Ages; of whichSchelhammergives this Account fromFallopius,Hæc Officula antiquis Anatomicis——ignota fuere; primusque qui in lucem produxit[Malleum & Incum]fuit Jac. Carpensis; primus quoque procul omni dubio Anatomicæ artis, quam Vesalius posteà perfecit, restaurator. Tertium[Stapedem]invenit ac promulgavit primus Joh. Phil. ab Ingrassia, Siculus, Philosophus ac Medicus doctissimus. Quartum, Thomâ Bartholin. teste, viro longè celeberrimo, Fran. Sylvio debeturSchel.ubi supr.c. 3. §. 9. 2. Their Difference in Animals: InMan, andQuadrupeds, they are four, curiously inarticulated with one another; with an external and internal Muscle to draw, or work them, in extending, or relaxing theDrum; but inFowlsthe Case is very different:His unum Ossiculum solùm largita est Natura, quod Collumellam fortè appellaveris: teres enim est & subtilissimum, basi innitens latiori, rotundæ. Huic adnexa est cartilago valde mobilis, quæ in Tympanum videtur terminari.Id. Ib. §. 8.In the Ears of all the Fowl that I could examine, I never found any more than one Bone, and a Cartilage, making a Joynt with it, that was easily moveable. The Cartilage had generally an Epiphyse, or two, one on each Side.——The Bone was very hard and small, having at the end of it a broad Plate, of the same Substance, very thin, upon which it rested, as on its Basis.Dr.Al. Moulenin Phil. Trans. Nᵒ. 100.These are the most material Things I find observed by others, concerning the Ears of Fowls, and some of them hardly, I believe, observed before. To which I shall subjoyn some other Things I have my self discovered, that I presume escaped the Eyes of those most curious and inquisitive Anatomists. Of which the last citedBook VII. Chap. 2. Note (d).[u]Videtur quòd Tympanum Auditionis instrumentum præliminare, & quasi præparatorium fuerit, quad Soni impressionem, sive species sensibiles primo suscipiens, eas in debitâ proportione, & aptâ conformitate, versùs Sensorium, quod adhuc interiùs situm est, dirigat: simili officio fungitur respectu Auditûs, ac tunicæ Oculi Pupillam constituentes, respectu Visûs; utræque Membranæ Species sensibiles refringunt & quasi emolliunt, easque Sensorio non nisi proportionatas tradunt, cui nudo si adveniant, teneriorem ejus crasin facilè lædant, aut obruant. Reverà Tympanum non audit, sed meliori tutiorique Auditioni confert. Si hæc pars destruatur, Sensio adhuc aliquamdiu, rudi licèt modo, peragi possit; quippe experimento olim in Cane facto,&c.——Janitoris officio ut Tympanum rectè defungi possit, expansum ejus pro datâ occasione stringi, aut relaxari debet, veluti nimirùm Oculi Pupilla——Quapropter huic Auris Tympano, non secus ac bellico, machinæ sive tæniæ quædam apponuntur, quæ superficiem ejus modò tensiorem, modò laxiorem reddant: hoc enim efficiunt tria Ossicula, cum Musculo,&c.Willis’s de Anim. Brut. c. 14.For this Opinion of Dr.Willis, Dr.Schelhammeris very severe upon him, deriding the Refractions he speaks of; and therefore seriously proves that they are the Humours, not Tunicks of the Eye, that refract the Rays of Light; and then jeeringly demandeth, Whether the sonorous Rays are refracted by passing through a different Medium? Whether the Convexity or Concavity of the Drum collects those Rays into a focal Point, or scatters them?&c.And then saith,Ob has rationes à clariss. Viri, ac de re Medicâ præclarè meriti, sententiâ non possumus non esse alieniores; in quo uti ingenium admiror, quoties medicamentorum vires, aut morborum causas explicat, sic ubi forum suum egressus, Philosophum agit, ac vel Partium usum, vel Chymicarum rerum naturam scrutetur, ejus haud semel non modò judicium desidero, verùm aliquando etiam fidem.This is so severe and unjust a Censure of our truly famous Countryman, (a Man of known Probity) that might deserve a better Answer; but I have only Time to say, that although Dr.Schelhammerhath out-done all that wrote before him, in his Bookde Auditu, and shewed himself a Man of Learning and Industry; yet as our Countryman wrote more than he, (though perhaps not free from Errors too) so he hath manifested himself to have been as curious and sagacious an Anatomist, as great a Philosopher, and as learned and skilful a Physician, as any of his Censurers, and his Reputation for Veracity and Integrity, was no less than any of theirs too. But after all this terrible Clamour, Dr.Schelhammerprejudicately mistaketh Dr.Willis’s Meaning, to say no worse. For byutræque Membranæ refringunt, Dr.Willisplainly enough, I think, means no more than a Restriction of the Ingress of too many Rays; as his following explicatory Words manifest,viz. refringunt, & quasi emolliunt, easque Sensorio non nisi proportionatas tradunt. But indeed Dr.Schelhammerhath shewn himself a too rigid Censor, by making Dr.Willissay, theEar-Drumhath such like Braces as theWar-Drum, viz.Quod porrò de machinis seu tæniis Tympani bellici adducit, dicitque idem in Tympano auditorio conspici, id prorsus falsissimum est.I wonder Dr.Schelhammerdid not also charge Dr.Williswith making it a Porter, since he saith in the same Paragraph,Janitoris officio,&c.But Dr.Willis’s Meaning is plain enough, that the little Bones and Muscles of theEar-Drumdo the same Office in straining and relaxing it, as the Braces of theWar-Drumdo in that. And considering how curious and solemn an Apparatus there is of Bones, Muscles, and Joynts, all adapted to a ready Motion; I am clearly of Dr.Willis’s Opinion, that one great Use of theEar-Drumis for the proportioning Sounds, and that by its Extension and Retraction, it corresponds to all Sounds, loud or languid, as the Pupil of the Eye doth to several Degrees of Light: And that they are no other than secondary uses assigned by Dr.Schelhammer, as the principal or sole Uses of keeping out the external colder Air, Dust, and other Annoyances; but especially that,ob solius aerís interni potissimùm irrumpentis vim, hunc motum Tympani ac Mallei esse conditum, ut cedere primùm, deinde sibi restitui queat; as his Words are,P. ult.c. 6. §. 13.It was no improbable thought ofRohault, nos attentos præbere, nil aliud est, nisiTympanum, ubi ita opus est facto, contendere aut laxare, & operam dare ut illud in eâ positione intentum stet, in quâ tremulum aeris externi motum commodissimè excipere possit.Roh. Phys. p. 1. c. 26. §. 48.The Hearing of deaf Persons more easily by Means of loud Noises, is another Argument of the Use of the Straining or Relaxation of theTympanumin Hearing. Thus Dr.Willis(ubi supra)Accepi olim à viro fide digno, se mulierem novisse, quæ licèt surda fuerit, quousque tamen intra conclave Tympanum pulsaretur, verba quævis clarè audiebat: quare Maritus ejus Tympanistam pro servo domestico conducebat, ut illius ope, colloquia interdum cum Uxore suâ haberet. Etiam de alio Surdastro mihi narratum est, qui prope Campanile degens, quoties unà plures Campanæ resonarent, vocem, quamvis facilè audire, & non aliàs, potuit.Abscisso Musculo[Processus majoris Mallei]in recenti aure, relaxatur[Tympani Membrana].Valsalv. de Aur. Hum.c. 2. §. 5.Upon considering the great Difference in Authors Opinions, about the Use of the Parts, and Manner how Hearing is performed, as also what a curious Provision there is made in the Ear, by the four little Bones, the Muscles, Membrane,&c.I was minded (since I penned this Note) to make enquiry my self into this Part, and not to rely upon Authority. And after a diligent search of various Subjects, I find we may give as rational and easie an Account of Hearing, as of Seeing, or any other Sense; as I have shewn in my last citedNote (d) Book VII. Chap. 2.with relation to Birds. And as to Man and Beasts, the Case is the same, but the Apparatus more complex and magnificent. For whereas in Birds, theauditory Nerveis affected by the Impressions made on theMembrane, by only the Intermediacy of theCollumella; in Man, it is done by the Intervention of the four little Bones, with the Muscles acting upon them; his Hearing being to be adjusted to all kinds of Sounds, or Impressions made upon theMembrana Tympani. Which Impressions are imparted to theauditory Nerve, in this Manner,viz.First they act upon theMembraneandMalleus, theMalleusupon theIncus, and theIncusupon theOs OrbiculareandStapes; and theStapesupon theauditory Nerve: For the Base of theStapes(the same as theOperculumin Birds) not only covers theFenestra Ovalis, within which theauditory Nervelieth, but hath a Part of theauditory Nervespread upon it too. It is manifest that this is the true Process of Hearing; because, if theMembranebe mov’d, you may see all the Bones move at the same Time, and work the Base of theStapesup and down in theFenestra Ovalis, as I shewed in this Chapter,Note (d)concerning theMole; and as it may be seen in other Ears carefully opened, if the Parts remainin situ.[w]I do not confine theLabyrinthto theCanales Semicirculares, or any other Part, as the elder Anatomists seem to have done, who by their erroneous and blind Descriptions seem not well to have understood there Parts; but with those much more curious and accurate Anatomists,Monsieur de Vernay, and Dr.Valsalva; under theLabyrinth, I comprehend theCanales Semicirculares, and theCochlea, together with the intermediate Cavity, called by them theVestibulum.[x]In thesemicircular Canals, two Things deserve to be noted. 1. That the three Canals are of three different Sizes,Major,Minor, andMinimus. 2. Although in different Subjects, they are frequently different; yet in the same Subject they are constantly the same. The Reason of all which, together with their Uses,Valsalvaingeniously thinks is, that as a Part of the tenderauditory Nerveis lodged in these Canals, so they are of three Sizes, the better to suit all the Variety of Tones; some of the Canals suiting some, and others, other Tones. And although there be some Difference as to the Length and Size of these Canals, in different Persons; yet, lest there should be any discord in the auditory Organs of one and the same Man, those Canals are always in exact Conformity to one another in one and the same Man.V.Valsal.ubi supr.c. 3. §. 7. and c. 6. §. 4. 9.[y]Hic posterior Nervus extra cranium delatus, in tres ramos dividitur, qui omnes motibus patheticis——inserviunt. Primus——musculis Auris impenditur. Proculdubio hujus actione efficitur, ut animalia quævis, à subito soni impulsu, aurs, quasi sonum nimis citò transeuntem captaturas erigant. Ramus alter——versus utrumque oculi angulum surculos emittit: qui musculis palpebrarum attollentibus inseruntur; quorum certè munus est ad subitum soni appulsum oculos confestim aperire, eosque velut ad Excubias vocare.——Tertius——ramus versus Linguæ radicem descendens, musculis ejus & ossis Hyoeideos distribuitur, adeóque organa quædam vocis edendæ actuat,&c.Willis’s Cereb. Anat. c. 17.[z]Hujusmodi Nervorum conformatio in Homine usum alium insigniorem præstas, nempe ut Vox,&c.Willis Ibid.[aa]Among the Uses to which the Wit of Man hath employ’d Sounds, we may reckon the Instruments useful in convocating Assemblies, managing Armies, and many other Occasions, wherein Bells, Trumpets, Drums, Horns, and other sounding Instruments are used; the Particularities of which it would be tedious to recount: As that the biggestBellinEuropeis reckoned to be atErfurtinGermany, which they say may be heard twenty four Miles; with much more to the same Purpose. I shall therefore only for a Sample take notice of theSpeaking-Trumpet; the Invention of which is commonly ascribed to our eminent SirSamuel Morland; but was more probablyAth. Kircher’s; at least he had contrived such an Instrument, before SirSamuelhit upon his.Kircherin hisPhonurg.saith, theTrombapublished last Year inEngland, he had invented twenty four Years before, and published in hisMisurgia; thatJac. Albanus Ghibbesius, andFr. Eschinardusascribe it to him; and thatG. Schottustestifieth he had such an Instrument in his Chamber in theRoman College, with which he could call to, and receive Answers from the Porter. And considering how famedAlexandertheGreat’s Tube was, which is said might be heard 100Stadia, it is somewhat strange that no Body sooner hit upon the Invention. Of thisStentorophonick HornofAlexander, there is a Figure preserved in theVatican, which for Curiosity sake, I have fromKircherrepresented inFig. 3.He saith its Diameter was five Cubits, and that it was suspended on a Supporter.For the Make of theSpeaking-Trumpet, and the Reason why it magnifies Sounds, I shall refer toKircher; especially to SirSamuel Morland’sTuba Stentorophonica, Published in 1672.[bb]That the Air is the Subject, orMediumof Sound, is manifest from the Experiments in rarefied and condensed Air. In an unexhausted Receiver, a small Bell may be heard at the Distance of some Paces; but when exhausted, it can scarce be heard at the nearest Distance: And if the Air be compressed, the Sound will be louder, proportionably to the Compression or Quantity of Air crouded in, as I have often tried my self, and may be seen in Mr.Hawksbee’s curious Experiments, p. 97. Also his Experiments inPhil. Trans.Nᵒ. 321.Kirchersaith, he took one of these Trumpets of fifteen Palms length, along with him to theMons Eustachianus, where he convocated 2200 Persons to Prayers, by means of the unusual Sound, at two, three, four, and fiveItalianMiles Distance.With theseBellowing Trumpets, I shall join someBellowing-Cavesfor the Reader’s Diversion.Ol. Magnusdescribes a Cave inFinland, nearViburg, calledSmellen, into which, if a Dog, or other Living Creature be cast, it sends forth so dreadful a Sound, that knocks down every one near it. For which Reason they have guarded the Cave with high Walls, to prevent the Mischiefs of its Noise.Vid.Ol. Magn. Histor.l. 11. c. 4. Such anotherPeter Martyrsaith is inHispaniola, which, with a small Weight cast into it, endangers Deafness at five Miles Distance. And inSwitzerland,Kirchersaith, in theCucumer-Mountainis a Pit that sends out both a dreadful Noise and a great Wind therewith; and that there is a Well in his Country 3000 Palms deep, whose Sound is equal to that of a great Gun.Vid.Kirch. Phonurg.Ol. Magnusspeaking of the vast high Mountains of a Northern Province, call’dAngermanniasaith,Ubi bases eorum in profundissimo gurgite stantes, casu aliquo, vel proposito Nautæ accesserint, tantum horrorem ex altâ fluctuum collisione percipiunt, ut nisi præcipiti remigio, aut valido vento evaserint, solo pavore ferè exanimes fiant, multoque dierum curriculo, ob capitis turbationem, pristinæ mentis, & sanitatis compotes vix evadant. Habent bases illorum montium in fluctuum ingressu & regressu tortuosas rimas, sive scissuras, satis stupendo naturæ opificio fabricatas, in quibus longâ varagine formidabilis ille Sonitus quasi subterraneum tonitru generatur.Ol. Magn. l. 2. c. 4. See alsoChap. 12.Neither doth this succeed only in forced Rarefactions and Condensations of the Air, but in such also as are natural; as is evident fromDavid FrœdlichiusinVarenius, upon the highest Eminencies ofCarpathus, nearKesmarcktinHungary. The Story ofFrœdlichiusis this,Ego Mense Junii 1615. tum adolescens, sublimitatem horum montium, cum duobus comitibus Scholaribus, experiri volens, ubi, cùm in primæ rupis vertice, magno labore, me summum terminum assecutum esse putarem, demum sese obtulit alia multo altior cautes, ubi pervasta eaque vacillantia saxa (quorum unum, si loco à viatore dimovetur——aliquot centena——rapit, & quidem tanto cum fragore, ut illi metuendum sit nè totus Mons corruat, eumque obruat) enixus essem, iterum alia sublimior prodiit,&c.donec summo vitæ periculo ad supremum cacumen penetraverim. Ex declivioribus montibus cùm in subjectas valles,——nil nisi obscuram noctem, aut cœruleum quid, instar profundi aeris, quod vulgò sudum cœlum appellatur, observare potui, mihique videbar, si de monte caderem, non in terram, sed recte in solum me prolapsurum. Nimiá enim declivitate, species visibiles extenuatæ & hebetatæ fuerunt. Cum verò altiorem montem peterem, quasi intra nebulas densissimas hærebam——Et cùm non procul à summo vertice essem de sublimi quiescens prospexi & animadverti iis in locis, ubi mihi antea videbar intra nebulas hæsisse, compactas atque albas sese movere nubes, supra quas, per aliquot milliaria, & ultra terminos Sepusi commodus mihi prospectus patuit. Alias tamen etiam nubes altiores, alias item humiliores, necnon quasdam æqualiter à terrâ distantes vidi. Atque hinc tria intellexi, 1. Me tum transivisse principium media Aeris regionis. 2. Distantiam nubium à terrâ, non esse æqualem.——3. Distantiam nubium——non 72 Mill. Ger. ut quidam——sed tantum dimidiatum Mill. Ger. In summum montis verticem cùm pervenissem, adeò tranquillum & subtilem aërem ibi offendi, ut nè pili quidem motum sentirem, cùm tamen in depressioribus ventum vehementem expertus sim: unde collegi summum cacumen istius montis Carpathici ad Mill. Germ. à radicibus suis imis exsurgere, & ad supremam usque aëris regionem, ad quam Venti non ascendunt, pertingere. Explosi in eâ summitate Sclopetum: quod non majorem sonitum primò præ se tulit, quàm si ligillum vel bacillum confregissem; post intervallum autem temporis murmur prolixum invaluit, inferioresque montis partes, convalles & sylvas opplevit. Descendendo per nives annosas intra convalles, cùm iterum Sclopetum exonerarem, major & horribilior fragor, quàm ex tormento capacissimo inde exoriebatur: hinc verebar nè totus mons concussus mecum corrueret: duravitque hic sonus per semiquadrantem horæ usque dum abstrusissmas cavernas penetrâsset, ad quas aër undiq; multiplicatus resiliit.——In his celsis montibus, plerumq; ningit grandinatve mediâ astate, quoties nempe in subjectâ & vicinâ planitie pluit, utì hoc ipsum expertus sum. Nives diversorum annorum ex colore & cortice duriore dignosci possunt.Varen. Georg. Gen. l. 1. c. 19. Prop. ult.The Story being diverting, and containing divers Things remarkable, I have chosen to note the whole of it (altho’ somewhat long) rather than single out the Passages only which relate to the diminishing the Sound of his Pistol, by the Rarity of the Air at that great Ascent into the Atmosphere; and the magnifying the Sound by the Polyphonisms or Repercussions of the Rocks, Caverns, and other Phonocamptick Objects below in the Mount.But ’tis not the Air alone that is capable of the Impressions of Sound, but the Water also, as is manifest by striking a Bell under Water, the Sound of which may plainly enough be heard, but it is much duller, and not so loud; and it is also a fourth deeper, by the Ear of some great Judges in Musical Notes, who gave me their Judgments in the matter. ButMersennesaith, a Sound made under Water, is of the same Tone or Note, if heard under Water; as are also Sounds made in the Air, when heard under Water.Vid.Mersen. Hydraul.Having mentioned the hearing of Sounds under Water, there is another Curiosity worth mentioning, that also farther proves Water to be susceptible of the Impressions of Sound,viz.Diversat the bottom of the Sea, can hear the Noises made above, only confusedly. But, on the contrary, those above cannot hear the Divers below. Of which an Experiment was made, that had like to have been fatal: One of the Divers blew an Horn in his Diving-Bell, at the bottom of the Sea; the Sound whereof (in that compressed Air) was so very loud and irksome, that stunned the Diver, and made him so giddy, that he had like to have dropt out of his Bell, and to have been drowned.Vid.Sturmii Colleg. Cur. Vol. 2. Tentam. 1.[cc]As to the Distance to which Sound may be sent, having some doubt, whether there was any Difference between the Northern and Southern Parts, by the Favour of my learned and illustrious Friend SirHenry Newton, her Majesty’s late Envoy atFlorence: I procured some Experiments to be made for me inItaly. His most Serene Highness theGreat Duke, was pleased to order great Guns to be fir’d for this purpose atFlorence, and Persons were appointed on purpose to observe them atLeghorne, which they compute is no less than 55 Miles in a strait Line. But notwithstanding the Country between being somewhat hilly and woody, and the Wind also was not favouring, only very calm and still, yet the Sound was plainly enough heard. And they tell me, that theLeghorneGuns are often heard 66 Miles off, atPorto Ferraio; that when theFrenchbombardedGenoa, they heard it nearLeghorne, 90 Miles distant: and in theMessina Insurrection, the Guns were heard from thence as far asAugustaandSyracuse, about 100ItalianMiles. These Distances being so considerable, give me Reason to suspect, that Sounds fly as far, or nearly as far in the Southern, as in the Northern Parts of the World, notwithstanding we have a few Instances of Sounds reaching farther Distances. As Dr.Hearntells us of Guns fired atStockholmin 1685, that were heard 180EnglishMiles. And in theDutchWar, 1672, the Guns were heard above 200 Miles.Vid.Phil. Trans.Nᵒ. 113. Also there is this farther Reason of Suspicion, that theMercuryin theBarometerriseth higher without than within the Tropicks, and the more Northerly, still the higher, which may encrease the Strength of Sounds, byNote (bb).[dd]As to the Velocity of Sounds, by Reason the most celebrated Authors differ about it, I made divers nice Experiments my self, with good Instruments; by which I found, 1. That there is some, although a small Difference in the Velocity of Sounds, with or against the Wind: which also is, 2. Augmented or diminished by the Strength or Weakness of the Wind. But that nothing else doth accelerate or retard it, not the Differences of Day or Night, Heat or Cold, Summer or Winter, Cloudy or Clear, Barometer high or low,&c.3. That all kinds of Sounds have the same Motion, whether they be loud or languid, of Bells, Guns, great or small, or any other sonorous Body. 4. That they fly equal Spaces in equal Times. Fifthly and Lastly, That the Mean of their Flight is at the Rate of a Mile in 9¼ half Seconds, or 1142 Feet in one Second of Time.Vid.Phil. Trans. Ibid.[ee]Timothya Musician could exciteAlexander the Greatto Arms with thePhrygianSound, and allay his Fury with another Tone, and excite him to Merriment. SoEricusKing ofDenmark, by a certain Musician, could be driven to such a Fury, as to kill some of his best and most trusty Servants. More of this Power of Musick over the Affections, may be seen inAth. Kirch. Phonurg. L. 2. §. 1.Also inIs. Vossius de Poematum cantu, & Rythmi viribus.And not only upon the Affections, but also on the Parts of the Body. Musick is able to exert its Force, as appears from theGascoigneKnight,Cui Phormingis sono audito Vesica statim ad Urinam reddendam vellicabatur. Such another we have in Aᵒ. 1.Ephem. Nat. Curios. Observ. 134. AlsoMorhoff de Scyph. vitr. per cert. human. vocis sonum fracto: where there is not only the Account of theDutchmanatAmsterdam, oneNich. Peter, that brake Romer-Glasses with the Sound of his Voice; but also divers other Instances of the Powers and Effects of Sound. But to the Story of theGascoigneKnight, Mr.Boyl, fromScaliger, adds a pleasant Passage, That one he had disobliged, to be even with him, caused at a Feast, a Bag-pipe to be played, when he was hemmed in with the Company; which made the Knight bepiss himself, to the great Diversion of the Company, as well as Confusion of himself.Boyl’sEssay of the Effect of Lang. Motion.In the same Book are other Matters that may be noted here. One whose Arm was cut off, was exceedingly tormented with the discharge of the great Guns at Sea, although he was at a great Distance on Land. And a great Ship-Commander observed his wounded Men, with broken Limbs, suffered in like manner at the Enemies Discharges. An ingenious Domestick of his own would have his Gums bleed at the tearing of Brown-Paper. And an ingenious Gentleman of Mr.Boyl’s Acquaintance confessed to him, that he was inclined to theKnight of Gascoigne’s Distemper, upon hearing the Noise of a Tap running. The dancing to certain Tunes, of Persons bit with theTarantula, he was assured of by an ingenious Acquaintance atTarentum, who saw several, among the rest a Physician, affected with that Distemper. And many other Accounts of this kind, seemingly credible, are related inMorhoff,Kircher, and many others; although Dr.Cornelioquestions the Matters of Fact relating to the cure of theTarantula-bite, inPhil. Trans.Nᵒ. 83. Mr.Boylalso saith, a sober Musician told him, he could make a certain Woman weep, by playing one Tune, which others would be little affected at. And he saith, that he himself had a kind of shivering at the repeating two Verses inLucan. And I add, that I very well know one to have a sort of chill about hisPræcordiaand Head, upon reading or hearing the 53ᵈ Chapter ofIsaiah; as alsoDavid’s Lamentations forSaulandJonathan, 1 Sam. i.Neither are our own Minds and Bodies only affected with Sounds, but inanimate Bodies are so also. Of which many Stories may be met with inKircher, particularly a large Stone that would tremble at the Sound of one particular Organ-Pipe; inMorhoffalso, who among many other Relations hath this,Memini cùm ipsi [clarif. Willisio] de experimento Vitri per vocem fracti narrarem, ex eo audivisse, quod in adibus Musicis sibi vicinis aliquoties collapsum pavimentum fuerit; quod ipse sonis continuis adscribere non dubitavit.Morhoff. cap. 12.Mersennealso, among many Relations in hisHarmon.and other Books, tells a far more probable Story, of a particular Part of a Pavement, that would shake, as if the Earth would open, when the Organs played, than what he relates aboutAntipathy, in hisQuæst. Comment. in Genes.viz. That the Sound of a Drum made of a Wolf’s Skin, will break another made of Sheep’s Skin: That Hens will fly at the Sound of an Harp strung with Fox-Gut-Strings, and more to the same purpose. Mr.Boylalso, in his last cited Book tells us, Seats will tremble at the Sound of Organs; and that he hath felt his Hat do so too under his hand, at certain Notes both of Organs, and in Discourse, that he tried an Arch that would answer to C fa-ut, and had done so an 100 Years; and that an experienced Builder told him any well-built Vault will answer some determinate Note. And atEastbury-HousenearBarking, I my self discovered the Porch, (having firm Brick-Walls,) not only to sound when struck on the Bottom, but also to give almost as loud a Sound, when I sounded the same Note with my Voice.[ff]Willis, ubi supra.[gg]Ille Deus est——qui non calamo tantùm cantare, & agreste, atque inconditum carmen ad aliquam tantùm oblectationem modulari docuit, sed tot artes, tot vocum varietates, tot sonos, alios spiritu nostro, alios externo cantu edituros commentus est.Senec. de Benef. l. 4. cap. 6.

[a]I presume it will not be ungrateful to take notice here of the admirable, as well as useful Sagacity of some deaf Persons, that have learnt to supply their want ofHearingby understanding what is said by the Motion of the Lips. My very ingenious Friend Mr.Waller,R. S. Secr.gives this Account,There live now and have from their Birth, in our Town, a Man and his Sister, each about fifty Years old, neither of which have the least Sense of Hearing,——yet both of these know, by the Motion of the Lips only, whatever is said to them, and will answer pertinently to the Question proposed to them——The Mother told me they could hear very well, and speak when they were Children, but both lost that Sense afterwards, which makes them retain their Speech; though that, to Persons not used to them, is a little uncouth and odd, but intelligible enough.Phil. Trans. No. 312.Such another Instance is that of Mr.Goddy, Minister of St.GervaisinGeneva, his Daughter.She is now about sixteen Years old. Her Nurse had an extraordinary Thickness of Hearing; at a Year old, the Child spake all those little Words that Children begin to speak at that Age.——At two Years old, they perceived she had lost her Hearing, and was so Deaf, that ever since, though she hears great Noises, yet she hears nothing that one can speak to her.——But by observing the Motions of the Mouth and Lips of others, she hath acquired so many Words, that out of these she hath formed a sort of Jargon, in which she can hold Conversation whole Days with those that can speak her own Language. I could understand some of her Words, but could not comprehend a Period, for it seemed to be but a confused Noise. She knows nothing that is said to her, unless she seeth the Motion of their Mouths that speak to her; so that in the Night, when it is necessary to speak to her, they must light a Candle. Only one thing appeared the strangest part of the whole Narration: She hath a Sister, with whom she hath practised her Language more than with any other: And in the Night, by laying her Hand on her Sister’s Mouth, she can perceive by that what she saith, and so can discourse with her in the Night.BishopBurnet’s Let. 4. p. 248.

Such another Instance is that of Mr.Goddy, Minister of St.GervaisinGeneva, his Daughter.She is now about sixteen Years old. Her Nurse had an extraordinary Thickness of Hearing; at a Year old, the Child spake all those little Words that Children begin to speak at that Age.——At two Years old, they perceived she had lost her Hearing, and was so Deaf, that ever since, though she hears great Noises, yet she hears nothing that one can speak to her.——But by observing the Motions of the Mouth and Lips of others, she hath acquired so many Words, that out of these she hath formed a sort of Jargon, in which she can hold Conversation whole Days with those that can speak her own Language. I could understand some of her Words, but could not comprehend a Period, for it seemed to be but a confused Noise. She knows nothing that is said to her, unless she seeth the Motion of their Mouths that speak to her; so that in the Night, when it is necessary to speak to her, they must light a Candle. Only one thing appeared the strangest part of the whole Narration: She hath a Sister, with whom she hath practised her Language more than with any other: And in the Night, by laying her Hand on her Sister’s Mouth, she can perceive by that what she saith, and so can discourse with her in the Night.BishopBurnet’s Let. 4. p. 248.

[b]I cannot but admire that our most eminent modern Anatomists should not agree, whether there be any Muscles in the outward Ear of Man or not. Dr.Keilsaith there are two; Dr.Drakethe same Number; and Dr.Gibsonmakes them to be four. So also dothMonsieur Dionis, and so did the ancient Anatomists: But Dr.Schelhammerexpressly denies there are any, and saith,Seduxit autem reliquos Brutorum Anatome, in quorum plerisque tales Musculi plures inveniuntur; putârunt autem fortassis ignominiosum Homini, si non & his instructus esset, & minùs inde perfectum animal fore.Schel. de Auditu p. 1. c. 1. §. 7. ButValsalva, who wrote very lately, and is very accurate in his Survey of the Ear, saith,Musculi auriculæ posteriores quandoque quatuor, quandoque duo; sed ut plurimùm tres adnotantur; & quando solùm duo se manifestant, tunc unus ex illis duplicato tendine versùs Concham deferri solet. Horum musculorum in numero varietatem non solùm in diversis; verùm etiam in eodem subjecto quandoque vidi——Ex quibus differentiis subortæ sunt Auctorum discrepantiæ in horum Musculorum numero, & positu:——quod non evenisset, si pluries in diversis Corporibus iidem Musculi quæsiti essent.Ant. Mar.Valsalva de Aur. Human.c. 1. §. 6. But Dr.Drakethinks some ofValsalva’s Muscles the Product of Fancy. Mr.Cowpermakes them to be three, oneAttollent, and twoRetrabent Muscles. SeeAnat.Tab. 12.

[c]Inter cætera[animalia aurita]maximè admirabilis est auris leporinæ fabrica, quod cùm timidissimum animal sit, & prorsus inerme, natura id tum auditu acurissimo, tanquam hostium exploratore ad perfentienda pericula, tum pedibus ceu armis ad currendum aptis munisse videtur.A. Kircher’sPhonurg.l. 1. §. 7. Technas. 2.

[d]Moleshave no protuberant Ear, but only a round Hole between the Neck and Shoulder; which Situation of it, together with the thick, short Fur that covers it, is a sufficient Defensative against external Annoyances. TheMeatus Auditoriusis long, round and cartilaginous, reaching to the under part of the Skull. Round the inside runs a little Ridge, resembling two Threads of a Skrew; at the Bottom whereof is a pretty Inlet, leading to the Drum, made, on one side with the aforesaid cochleous Ridge, and on the other, with a small Cartilage. I observed there wasCerumenin theMeatus.As to theinner Ear, it is somewhat singular, and different from that of the other Quadrupeds, and much more from Birds, although I have met with some Authors that make it agreeing with that of Birds. There are three small Bones only (all hollow) by which theDrum(to use the old Appellation) or theMembrana Tympani(as others call it) acteth upon theAuditory Nerve. The first is theMalleus, which hath two Processes nearly of equal Length; the longer of which is braced to theMembrana Tympani, the shorter to the side of theDrumorOs Petrosum; the back part of it resembles the Head and Stalk of a smallMushroom, such as are pickled. On the back of theMalleuslies the next small Bone, which may be called theIncus, long, and without any Process, having somewhat the Form of the short Scoop wherewith Water-men throw the Water out of their Wherries. To the end of this the third and last small Bone is tacked by a very tender Brace. This little Bone bears the Office of theStapes, but is only forked without any Base. One of these Forks is at oneFenestra, orForamen, the other at another; in whichFenestraI apprehend the Forks are tacked to the Auditory Nerve. TheseFenestra(equivalent to theFenestra Ovalis, andRotundain others) are the Inlets into theCochleaandCanales Semicirculares, in which theAuditory Nervelieth. TheSemicircular Canaleslie at a distance from theDrum, and are not lodged (as in other Animals) in a strong, thick Body of Bone, but are thrust out, within the Skull, making anAntrum, with an handsomeArchleading into it, into which a part of the Brain enters.One Leg of theMalleusbeing fastned to theMembrana Tympani, and theIncusto the back of theMalleus, and the top of that to the top of theStapes, and the Forks or Branches of theStapesto theAuditory Nerve, I observed that whenever I moved the Membrane, all the little Bones were at the same time moved, and consequently theAuditory Nervethereby affected also.I hope the Reader will excuse me for being so particular in this Organ only of theMole, a despised Creature, but as notable an Example ofGod’s Work, as its Life is different from that of other Quadrupeds; for which Reason it partly is that I have enlarged on this part differing from that of others, and which no Body that I know of, hath taken much notice of, and which is not discoverable without great Patience and Application; and partly because by comparing these Observations withBook VII. Chap. 2. Note (d), we may judge how the Sense of Hearing is performed.

As to theinner Ear, it is somewhat singular, and different from that of the other Quadrupeds, and much more from Birds, although I have met with some Authors that make it agreeing with that of Birds. There are three small Bones only (all hollow) by which theDrum(to use the old Appellation) or theMembrana Tympani(as others call it) acteth upon theAuditory Nerve. The first is theMalleus, which hath two Processes nearly of equal Length; the longer of which is braced to theMembrana Tympani, the shorter to the side of theDrumorOs Petrosum; the back part of it resembles the Head and Stalk of a smallMushroom, such as are pickled. On the back of theMalleuslies the next small Bone, which may be called theIncus, long, and without any Process, having somewhat the Form of the short Scoop wherewith Water-men throw the Water out of their Wherries. To the end of this the third and last small Bone is tacked by a very tender Brace. This little Bone bears the Office of theStapes, but is only forked without any Base. One of these Forks is at oneFenestra, orForamen, the other at another; in whichFenestraI apprehend the Forks are tacked to the Auditory Nerve. TheseFenestra(equivalent to theFenestra Ovalis, andRotundain others) are the Inlets into theCochleaandCanales Semicirculares, in which theAuditory Nervelieth. TheSemicircular Canaleslie at a distance from theDrum, and are not lodged (as in other Animals) in a strong, thick Body of Bone, but are thrust out, within the Skull, making anAntrum, with an handsomeArchleading into it, into which a part of the Brain enters.

One Leg of theMalleusbeing fastned to theMembrana Tympani, and theIncusto the back of theMalleus, and the top of that to the top of theStapes, and the Forks or Branches of theStapesto theAuditory Nerve, I observed that whenever I moved the Membrane, all the little Bones were at the same time moved, and consequently theAuditory Nervethereby affected also.

I hope the Reader will excuse me for being so particular in this Organ only of theMole, a despised Creature, but as notable an Example ofGod’s Work, as its Life is different from that of other Quadrupeds; for which Reason it partly is that I have enlarged on this part differing from that of others, and which no Body that I know of, hath taken much notice of, and which is not discoverable without great Patience and Application; and partly because by comparing these Observations withBook VII. Chap. 2. Note (d), we may judge how the Sense of Hearing is performed.

[e]Among many Varieties, both in the inner and outer Ear, those which appear in the Passage into the Rock-Bone, are remarkable. For in anOwl, that perches on a Tree or Beam, and hearkens after the Prey beneath her, it is produced farther out above than it is below, for the better Reception of the least Sound. But in a Fox, that scouteth underneath the Prey at Roost; it is for the same Reason, produced farther out below. In aPole-Cat, which hearkens strait forward, it is produced behind, for the taking of a forward Sound. Whereas in aHare, which is very quick of Hearing, and thinks of nothing but being pursued, it is supplied with a bony Tube, which as a natural Otocoustick, is so directed backward, as to receive the smallest and most distant Sound that comes behind her.Grew’s Cosmolog. Sacr.lib. 1. c. 5. §. 6.

[f]The Texture of theTragusandAntitragus, is softer than that of theHelix, which serveth gently to blunt, not forcibly to repel the Sound in theConcha.

[g]Dr.Gibson’s Anatomy,Chap. 22. Book III.Those whose Ears are cut off, have but a confused way of Hearing, and are obliged either to form a Cavity round the Ear with their own Hands, or else to make use of a Horn, and apply the end of it to the inner Cavity of the Ear, on order to receive the agitated Air. ’Tis likewise observed, that those whose Ears jut out, hear better than flat-eared Persons. Monsieur Dionis’sAnat. Demonstr. 8.

[g]Dr.Gibson’s Anatomy,Chap. 22. Book III.

Those whose Ears are cut off, have but a confused way of Hearing, and are obliged either to form a Cavity round the Ear with their own Hands, or else to make use of a Horn, and apply the end of it to the inner Cavity of the Ear, on order to receive the agitated Air. ’Tis likewise observed, that those whose Ears jut out, hear better than flat-eared Persons. Monsieur Dionis’sAnat. Demonstr. 8.

[h]Gibs.Ibid.

[i]It would nauseate the Reader to reckon up the Places famed for the Conveyance of Whispers, such as the Prison ofDionysiusatSyracuse, which is said to encrease a Whisper to a Noise; the clapping ones Hands to the Sound of a Cannon, &c. Nor theAquaductsofClaudius, which carry a Voice sixteen Miles, and many others both Ancient and Modern. If the Reader hath a mind to be entertained in this way, he may find enough inKircher’sPhonurgia. But it may not be irksome to mention one or two of our own inEngland. Among which, one of the most famed is theWhispering-PlaceinGloucester Cathedral, which is no other than a Gallery above the East-end of the Choir, leading from one side thereof to the other. It consisteth, (if I mistake not) of five Angles, and six Sides, the middle-most of which is a naked, uncovered Window, looking into a Chapel behind it. I guess the two Whisperers stand at about twenty five Yards Distance from one another. But theDomeof St.Paul’s,London, is a more considerableWhispering-Place, where the ticking of a Watch (when no Noise is in the Streets) may be heard from Side to Side; yea, a Whisper may be sent all round theDome. And not only in the Gallery below, but above, upon the Scaffold, I tried, and found that a Whisper would be carried over one’s Head round the top of the Arch, notwithstanding there is a large Opening in the middle of it into the upper part of theDome.

[k]Auditus autem semper patet: ejus enim sensu etiam dormientes egemus: A quo cùm sonus est acceptus, etiam è somno excitamur. Flexuosum iter habet, nè quid intrare possit, si simplex, & directum pateret; provisum etiam, ut siqua minima bestiola conaretur irrumpere, in sordibus aurium, tanquàm in visco, inhæresceret.Cicer. de Nat. Deor. l. 2. c. 57.It deserves a particular Remark here, that in Infants in the Womb, and newly born, theMeatus Auditoriusis shut up very closely, partly by the Constriction of the Passage, and partly by a glutinous Substance, whereby theTympanumis guarded against the Water in theSecundine, and against the Injuries of the Air as soon as the Infant is born.

It deserves a particular Remark here, that in Infants in the Womb, and newly born, theMeatus Auditoriusis shut up very closely, partly by the Constriction of the Passage, and partly by a glutinous Substance, whereby theTympanumis guarded against the Water in theSecundine, and against the Injuries of the Air as soon as the Infant is born.

[l]It is remarkable, that in most, if not all Animals, whose Ears are tunnelled, or where theMeatus Auditoriusis long enough to afford Harbour toEar-wigs, or other Insects; that, I say, in the Ears of such,Ear-waxis constantly to be found. But in Birds, whose Ears are covered with Feathers, and where theTympanumlies but a little way within the Skull, noEar-waxis found, because none is necessary to the Ears so well guarded, and so little tunnelled.

[m]TheEar-waxwas thought by the old Anatomists to be an Excrement of the Brain:Humor biliosus à cerebro expugnatus, theBartholinessay of it, l. 3.c. 9.But asSchelhammerwell observes,Nil absurdius, quàm cerebri excrementum hoc statuere. Nam & ratio nulla suadet, ut in cerebro fieri excrementum tale credamus:——neque viæ patent per quas ab eo seclusum in meatum auditorium possit inde penetrare.As to its Taste,Casseriusgives Instances of its being sweet in some Creatures. ButSchelhammersays,Ego verò semper, cum amaritie aliquid dulcedinis in illo deprehendi. Vid. Schel. de Audit.p. 1. c. 2. §. 10. But I could never distinguish any Sweetness in it; but think it insipid mixed with a Bitterness.

[n]Cerumina amara Arteriolis exudantia.Willis de Anim. Brut.par. 1. c. 14.In the Skin——are little Glands, which furnish a yellow and bitter Humour.Monsieur Dionis’s Dem. 18. An handsome Cut of thoseGlandulæ ceruminosæis in Dr.Drake, fromValsalva.Plinyattributes a great Virtue to theEar-wax;Morsus hominis inter asperrimos numeratur: medentur sordes ex auribus: ac ne quis miretur, etiam Scorpionum ictibus Serpentiumque statim impositæ.Plin. Nat. Hist.l. 28. c. 4. And that it hath an healing Quality, and may be accounted a good Balsam, I my self have experienced.

Plinyattributes a great Virtue to theEar-wax;Morsus hominis inter asperrimos numeratur: medentur sordes ex auribus: ac ne quis miretur, etiam Scorpionum ictibus Serpentiumque statim impositæ.Plin. Nat. Hist.l. 28. c. 4. And that it hath an healing Quality, and may be accounted a good Balsam, I my self have experienced.

[o]That there is such a Thing as theinnate Air, (talked of much by most Authors on this Subject)Schelhammervery justly, I think, denies, by Reason there is a Passage into the inner Ear from the Throat, through which theinnate Airmay pass out, and the outward Air enter in.V.Par. Alt.p. 2. c. 1. §. 10. When by stopping our Breath, and Straining, we force the external Air into the Ear, it may be heard rushing in; and if much be forced in, it may be felt also to beat against theTympanum. When the Passage to the Throat is by any Means stopp’d, as by a Cold in the Head, &c. the Hearing thereby becomes dull and blunt; by Reason the Communication between the outward and inward Air are obstructed: But when by strong Swallowing, or such-like Motion of the Throat, the Passage is opened, we perceive it by a sudden Smack or Crack, and we immediately hear very clearly; the load of feculent Air being at that Time discharged from the inner Ear.It is a wise Provision, that the Passage for the Air into the Ear, is from the Throat;Ut non statim quivis aer externus irrumpere queat(asSchelhammersaith,Par. Ult. c. 4. §. 8.)sed nonnihil immutatus, ac temperatus, calore ex medio ventre exspirante; imò fortassis non facilè alius, nisi ex pulmonibus.

It is a wise Provision, that the Passage for the Air into the Ear, is from the Throat;Ut non statim quivis aer externus irrumpere queat(asSchelhammersaith,Par. Ult. c. 4. §. 8.)sed nonnihil immutatus, ac temperatus, calore ex medio ventre exspirante; imò fortassis non facilè alius, nisi ex pulmonibus.

[p]Valsalvahath given us a more accurate Description of theTuba Eustachiana, orPassage to the Palate, than any other Author, to whom I therefore refer,De Aur. Human.c. 2. §. 16,&c.The chief Use hereof, he thinks, is to give way to the inner Air, upon every Motion of theMembrana Tympani, theMalleus,IncusandStapes. This Passage, if it be shut up, Deafness ensues: Of which he gives two Instances: One a Gentleman, who lost his Hearing by a Polypus in the Nose reaching to theUvula; the other a Yeoman, labouring with an Ulcer above the left Side of theUvula; which when he stopt with a Tent dipped in Medicine, he lost his Hearing in the left Ear, and recovered it, as soon as the Tent was out.Ibid. c. 5. §. 10.

[p]Valsalvahath given us a more accurate Description of theTuba Eustachiana, orPassage to the Palate, than any other Author, to whom I therefore refer,De Aur. Human.c. 2. §. 16,&c.

The chief Use hereof, he thinks, is to give way to the inner Air, upon every Motion of theMembrana Tympani, theMalleus,IncusandStapes. This Passage, if it be shut up, Deafness ensues: Of which he gives two Instances: One a Gentleman, who lost his Hearing by a Polypus in the Nose reaching to theUvula; the other a Yeoman, labouring with an Ulcer above the left Side of theUvula; which when he stopt with a Tent dipped in Medicine, he lost his Hearing in the left Ear, and recovered it, as soon as the Tent was out.Ibid. c. 5. §. 10.

[q]Os [petrosum]ex quo interiores[Labyrinthi]cavitatum parietes conflati sunt, album, durissimum, necnon maximè compactum. Id autem à Naturâ ita comparatum esse videtur, ut materia ætherea Sonorum objectorum impressionibus onusta, dum prædictis impingitur Parietibus, nihil aut saltem ferè nihil motûs sui amittat, atque adeò illum qualem ab Objectis sonoris accepit, talem communicet spiritui animali contento intra expansiones rami mollioris Nervorum auris.Dr.Raym. VieussensofMontpellier, in Phil. Trans. Nᵒ. 258.

[r]TheTympanumof the Ear, or asValsalvaand the Moderns, theMembrana Tympaniwas taken notice of as early asHippocrates’s Time. In Birds, it is strained towards the outward Parts; in other Animals towards the Brain, or inner Parts. MonsieurDionissaith,It is not equally fastened to the whole Circumference of the bony Circle, in which it is inchased; for on the upper Side it hath a free disengaged Part, by which some can give vent to the Smoak in their Mouth.Demonstr. 8. That there is some Passage I doubt not, but I question whether MonsieurDionisever saw the disengaged Part he mentions. I have my self carefully searched divers Subjects, and do not remember to have seen any such Passage; and I perceive it escaped the diligentSchelhammer’s Eye.Valsalvaalso by injecting in through theTuba Eustachiana, could not force any Liquor into theMeatus Auditorius; but yet he imagines he found the Passage out in another Place of the Drum, in some morbid, and one sound Head.Valsalv. de Aur. Hum.c. 2. §. 8. Mr.Cowperalso affirms there is a Passage by the upper Part of the Membrane.Anat. Ap.Fig. 8.

[s]Dr.Vieussens, before-named, discovered a Membrane,tenuissimæ raræque admodùm texturæ intra cavitatem Tympani; as he describes it. Whose use he saith is,1. Occludens Labyrinthi januam impedit nè naturalis purissimus ac subtilissimus Aer intra cavitates——communicationem——habeat cum aere crasso. 2. Labyrinthi basin calefacit,&c.ubi supra.Probably this double Membrane may be such, or after the same Manner as it is in theTympanumof Birds: Of which see my Observations inBook VII. Chap. 2. Note (d).

[t]The four little Bones being treated of by all that have concerned themselves about this Sense of Hearing, since their Discovery, I shall take Notice of only two Things concerning them. 1. The Discovery of them is owing wholly to the Diligence and Sagacity of the latter Ages; of whichSchelhammergives this Account fromFallopius,Hæc Officula antiquis Anatomicis——ignota fuere; primusque qui in lucem produxit[Malleum & Incum]fuit Jac. Carpensis; primus quoque procul omni dubio Anatomicæ artis, quam Vesalius posteà perfecit, restaurator. Tertium[Stapedem]invenit ac promulgavit primus Joh. Phil. ab Ingrassia, Siculus, Philosophus ac Medicus doctissimus. Quartum, Thomâ Bartholin. teste, viro longè celeberrimo, Fran. Sylvio debeturSchel.ubi supr.c. 3. §. 9. 2. Their Difference in Animals: InMan, andQuadrupeds, they are four, curiously inarticulated with one another; with an external and internal Muscle to draw, or work them, in extending, or relaxing theDrum; but inFowlsthe Case is very different:His unum Ossiculum solùm largita est Natura, quod Collumellam fortè appellaveris: teres enim est & subtilissimum, basi innitens latiori, rotundæ. Huic adnexa est cartilago valde mobilis, quæ in Tympanum videtur terminari.Id. Ib. §. 8.In the Ears of all the Fowl that I could examine, I never found any more than one Bone, and a Cartilage, making a Joynt with it, that was easily moveable. The Cartilage had generally an Epiphyse, or two, one on each Side.——The Bone was very hard and small, having at the end of it a broad Plate, of the same Substance, very thin, upon which it rested, as on its Basis.Dr.Al. Moulenin Phil. Trans. Nᵒ. 100.These are the most material Things I find observed by others, concerning the Ears of Fowls, and some of them hardly, I believe, observed before. To which I shall subjoyn some other Things I have my self discovered, that I presume escaped the Eyes of those most curious and inquisitive Anatomists. Of which the last citedBook VII. Chap. 2. Note (d).

These are the most material Things I find observed by others, concerning the Ears of Fowls, and some of them hardly, I believe, observed before. To which I shall subjoyn some other Things I have my self discovered, that I presume escaped the Eyes of those most curious and inquisitive Anatomists. Of which the last citedBook VII. Chap. 2. Note (d).

[u]Videtur quòd Tympanum Auditionis instrumentum præliminare, & quasi præparatorium fuerit, quad Soni impressionem, sive species sensibiles primo suscipiens, eas in debitâ proportione, & aptâ conformitate, versùs Sensorium, quod adhuc interiùs situm est, dirigat: simili officio fungitur respectu Auditûs, ac tunicæ Oculi Pupillam constituentes, respectu Visûs; utræque Membranæ Species sensibiles refringunt & quasi emolliunt, easque Sensorio non nisi proportionatas tradunt, cui nudo si adveniant, teneriorem ejus crasin facilè lædant, aut obruant. Reverà Tympanum non audit, sed meliori tutiorique Auditioni confert. Si hæc pars destruatur, Sensio adhuc aliquamdiu, rudi licèt modo, peragi possit; quippe experimento olim in Cane facto,&c.——Janitoris officio ut Tympanum rectè defungi possit, expansum ejus pro datâ occasione stringi, aut relaxari debet, veluti nimirùm Oculi Pupilla——Quapropter huic Auris Tympano, non secus ac bellico, machinæ sive tæniæ quædam apponuntur, quæ superficiem ejus modò tensiorem, modò laxiorem reddant: hoc enim efficiunt tria Ossicula, cum Musculo,&c.Willis’s de Anim. Brut. c. 14.For this Opinion of Dr.Willis, Dr.Schelhammeris very severe upon him, deriding the Refractions he speaks of; and therefore seriously proves that they are the Humours, not Tunicks of the Eye, that refract the Rays of Light; and then jeeringly demandeth, Whether the sonorous Rays are refracted by passing through a different Medium? Whether the Convexity or Concavity of the Drum collects those Rays into a focal Point, or scatters them?&c.And then saith,Ob has rationes à clariss. Viri, ac de re Medicâ præclarè meriti, sententiâ non possumus non esse alieniores; in quo uti ingenium admiror, quoties medicamentorum vires, aut morborum causas explicat, sic ubi forum suum egressus, Philosophum agit, ac vel Partium usum, vel Chymicarum rerum naturam scrutetur, ejus haud semel non modò judicium desidero, verùm aliquando etiam fidem.This is so severe and unjust a Censure of our truly famous Countryman, (a Man of known Probity) that might deserve a better Answer; but I have only Time to say, that although Dr.Schelhammerhath out-done all that wrote before him, in his Bookde Auditu, and shewed himself a Man of Learning and Industry; yet as our Countryman wrote more than he, (though perhaps not free from Errors too) so he hath manifested himself to have been as curious and sagacious an Anatomist, as great a Philosopher, and as learned and skilful a Physician, as any of his Censurers, and his Reputation for Veracity and Integrity, was no less than any of theirs too. But after all this terrible Clamour, Dr.Schelhammerprejudicately mistaketh Dr.Willis’s Meaning, to say no worse. For byutræque Membranæ refringunt, Dr.Willisplainly enough, I think, means no more than a Restriction of the Ingress of too many Rays; as his following explicatory Words manifest,viz. refringunt, & quasi emolliunt, easque Sensorio non nisi proportionatas tradunt. But indeed Dr.Schelhammerhath shewn himself a too rigid Censor, by making Dr.Willissay, theEar-Drumhath such like Braces as theWar-Drum, viz.Quod porrò de machinis seu tæniis Tympani bellici adducit, dicitque idem in Tympano auditorio conspici, id prorsus falsissimum est.I wonder Dr.Schelhammerdid not also charge Dr.Williswith making it a Porter, since he saith in the same Paragraph,Janitoris officio,&c.But Dr.Willis’s Meaning is plain enough, that the little Bones and Muscles of theEar-Drumdo the same Office in straining and relaxing it, as the Braces of theWar-Drumdo in that. And considering how curious and solemn an Apparatus there is of Bones, Muscles, and Joynts, all adapted to a ready Motion; I am clearly of Dr.Willis’s Opinion, that one great Use of theEar-Drumis for the proportioning Sounds, and that by its Extension and Retraction, it corresponds to all Sounds, loud or languid, as the Pupil of the Eye doth to several Degrees of Light: And that they are no other than secondary uses assigned by Dr.Schelhammer, as the principal or sole Uses of keeping out the external colder Air, Dust, and other Annoyances; but especially that,ob solius aerís interni potissimùm irrumpentis vim, hunc motum Tympani ac Mallei esse conditum, ut cedere primùm, deinde sibi restitui queat; as his Words are,P. ult.c. 6. §. 13.It was no improbable thought ofRohault, nos attentos præbere, nil aliud est, nisiTympanum, ubi ita opus est facto, contendere aut laxare, & operam dare ut illud in eâ positione intentum stet, in quâ tremulum aeris externi motum commodissimè excipere possit.Roh. Phys. p. 1. c. 26. §. 48.The Hearing of deaf Persons more easily by Means of loud Noises, is another Argument of the Use of the Straining or Relaxation of theTympanumin Hearing. Thus Dr.Willis(ubi supra)Accepi olim à viro fide digno, se mulierem novisse, quæ licèt surda fuerit, quousque tamen intra conclave Tympanum pulsaretur, verba quævis clarè audiebat: quare Maritus ejus Tympanistam pro servo domestico conducebat, ut illius ope, colloquia interdum cum Uxore suâ haberet. Etiam de alio Surdastro mihi narratum est, qui prope Campanile degens, quoties unà plures Campanæ resonarent, vocem, quamvis facilè audire, & non aliàs, potuit.Abscisso Musculo[Processus majoris Mallei]in recenti aure, relaxatur[Tympani Membrana].Valsalv. de Aur. Hum.c. 2. §. 5.Upon considering the great Difference in Authors Opinions, about the Use of the Parts, and Manner how Hearing is performed, as also what a curious Provision there is made in the Ear, by the four little Bones, the Muscles, Membrane,&c.I was minded (since I penned this Note) to make enquiry my self into this Part, and not to rely upon Authority. And after a diligent search of various Subjects, I find we may give as rational and easie an Account of Hearing, as of Seeing, or any other Sense; as I have shewn in my last citedNote (d) Book VII. Chap. 2.with relation to Birds. And as to Man and Beasts, the Case is the same, but the Apparatus more complex and magnificent. For whereas in Birds, theauditory Nerveis affected by the Impressions made on theMembrane, by only the Intermediacy of theCollumella; in Man, it is done by the Intervention of the four little Bones, with the Muscles acting upon them; his Hearing being to be adjusted to all kinds of Sounds, or Impressions made upon theMembrana Tympani. Which Impressions are imparted to theauditory Nerve, in this Manner,viz.First they act upon theMembraneandMalleus, theMalleusupon theIncus, and theIncusupon theOs OrbiculareandStapes; and theStapesupon theauditory Nerve: For the Base of theStapes(the same as theOperculumin Birds) not only covers theFenestra Ovalis, within which theauditory Nervelieth, but hath a Part of theauditory Nervespread upon it too. It is manifest that this is the true Process of Hearing; because, if theMembranebe mov’d, you may see all the Bones move at the same Time, and work the Base of theStapesup and down in theFenestra Ovalis, as I shewed in this Chapter,Note (d)concerning theMole; and as it may be seen in other Ears carefully opened, if the Parts remainin situ.

For this Opinion of Dr.Willis, Dr.Schelhammeris very severe upon him, deriding the Refractions he speaks of; and therefore seriously proves that they are the Humours, not Tunicks of the Eye, that refract the Rays of Light; and then jeeringly demandeth, Whether the sonorous Rays are refracted by passing through a different Medium? Whether the Convexity or Concavity of the Drum collects those Rays into a focal Point, or scatters them?&c.And then saith,Ob has rationes à clariss. Viri, ac de re Medicâ præclarè meriti, sententiâ non possumus non esse alieniores; in quo uti ingenium admiror, quoties medicamentorum vires, aut morborum causas explicat, sic ubi forum suum egressus, Philosophum agit, ac vel Partium usum, vel Chymicarum rerum naturam scrutetur, ejus haud semel non modò judicium desidero, verùm aliquando etiam fidem.This is so severe and unjust a Censure of our truly famous Countryman, (a Man of known Probity) that might deserve a better Answer; but I have only Time to say, that although Dr.Schelhammerhath out-done all that wrote before him, in his Bookde Auditu, and shewed himself a Man of Learning and Industry; yet as our Countryman wrote more than he, (though perhaps not free from Errors too) so he hath manifested himself to have been as curious and sagacious an Anatomist, as great a Philosopher, and as learned and skilful a Physician, as any of his Censurers, and his Reputation for Veracity and Integrity, was no less than any of theirs too. But after all this terrible Clamour, Dr.Schelhammerprejudicately mistaketh Dr.Willis’s Meaning, to say no worse. For byutræque Membranæ refringunt, Dr.Willisplainly enough, I think, means no more than a Restriction of the Ingress of too many Rays; as his following explicatory Words manifest,viz. refringunt, & quasi emolliunt, easque Sensorio non nisi proportionatas tradunt. But indeed Dr.Schelhammerhath shewn himself a too rigid Censor, by making Dr.Willissay, theEar-Drumhath such like Braces as theWar-Drum, viz.Quod porrò de machinis seu tæniis Tympani bellici adducit, dicitque idem in Tympano auditorio conspici, id prorsus falsissimum est.I wonder Dr.Schelhammerdid not also charge Dr.Williswith making it a Porter, since he saith in the same Paragraph,Janitoris officio,&c.But Dr.Willis’s Meaning is plain enough, that the little Bones and Muscles of theEar-Drumdo the same Office in straining and relaxing it, as the Braces of theWar-Drumdo in that. And considering how curious and solemn an Apparatus there is of Bones, Muscles, and Joynts, all adapted to a ready Motion; I am clearly of Dr.Willis’s Opinion, that one great Use of theEar-Drumis for the proportioning Sounds, and that by its Extension and Retraction, it corresponds to all Sounds, loud or languid, as the Pupil of the Eye doth to several Degrees of Light: And that they are no other than secondary uses assigned by Dr.Schelhammer, as the principal or sole Uses of keeping out the external colder Air, Dust, and other Annoyances; but especially that,ob solius aerís interni potissimùm irrumpentis vim, hunc motum Tympani ac Mallei esse conditum, ut cedere primùm, deinde sibi restitui queat; as his Words are,P. ult.c. 6. §. 13.

It was no improbable thought ofRohault, nos attentos præbere, nil aliud est, nisiTympanum, ubi ita opus est facto, contendere aut laxare, & operam dare ut illud in eâ positione intentum stet, in quâ tremulum aeris externi motum commodissimè excipere possit.Roh. Phys. p. 1. c. 26. §. 48.

The Hearing of deaf Persons more easily by Means of loud Noises, is another Argument of the Use of the Straining or Relaxation of theTympanumin Hearing. Thus Dr.Willis(ubi supra)Accepi olim à viro fide digno, se mulierem novisse, quæ licèt surda fuerit, quousque tamen intra conclave Tympanum pulsaretur, verba quævis clarè audiebat: quare Maritus ejus Tympanistam pro servo domestico conducebat, ut illius ope, colloquia interdum cum Uxore suâ haberet. Etiam de alio Surdastro mihi narratum est, qui prope Campanile degens, quoties unà plures Campanæ resonarent, vocem, quamvis facilè audire, & non aliàs, potuit.

Abscisso Musculo[Processus majoris Mallei]in recenti aure, relaxatur[Tympani Membrana].Valsalv. de Aur. Hum.c. 2. §. 5.

Upon considering the great Difference in Authors Opinions, about the Use of the Parts, and Manner how Hearing is performed, as also what a curious Provision there is made in the Ear, by the four little Bones, the Muscles, Membrane,&c.I was minded (since I penned this Note) to make enquiry my self into this Part, and not to rely upon Authority. And after a diligent search of various Subjects, I find we may give as rational and easie an Account of Hearing, as of Seeing, or any other Sense; as I have shewn in my last citedNote (d) Book VII. Chap. 2.with relation to Birds. And as to Man and Beasts, the Case is the same, but the Apparatus more complex and magnificent. For whereas in Birds, theauditory Nerveis affected by the Impressions made on theMembrane, by only the Intermediacy of theCollumella; in Man, it is done by the Intervention of the four little Bones, with the Muscles acting upon them; his Hearing being to be adjusted to all kinds of Sounds, or Impressions made upon theMembrana Tympani. Which Impressions are imparted to theauditory Nerve, in this Manner,viz.First they act upon theMembraneandMalleus, theMalleusupon theIncus, and theIncusupon theOs OrbiculareandStapes; and theStapesupon theauditory Nerve: For the Base of theStapes(the same as theOperculumin Birds) not only covers theFenestra Ovalis, within which theauditory Nervelieth, but hath a Part of theauditory Nervespread upon it too. It is manifest that this is the true Process of Hearing; because, if theMembranebe mov’d, you may see all the Bones move at the same Time, and work the Base of theStapesup and down in theFenestra Ovalis, as I shewed in this Chapter,Note (d)concerning theMole; and as it may be seen in other Ears carefully opened, if the Parts remainin situ.

[w]I do not confine theLabyrinthto theCanales Semicirculares, or any other Part, as the elder Anatomists seem to have done, who by their erroneous and blind Descriptions seem not well to have understood there Parts; but with those much more curious and accurate Anatomists,Monsieur de Vernay, and Dr.Valsalva; under theLabyrinth, I comprehend theCanales Semicirculares, and theCochlea, together with the intermediate Cavity, called by them theVestibulum.

[x]In thesemicircular Canals, two Things deserve to be noted. 1. That the three Canals are of three different Sizes,Major,Minor, andMinimus. 2. Although in different Subjects, they are frequently different; yet in the same Subject they are constantly the same. The Reason of all which, together with their Uses,Valsalvaingeniously thinks is, that as a Part of the tenderauditory Nerveis lodged in these Canals, so they are of three Sizes, the better to suit all the Variety of Tones; some of the Canals suiting some, and others, other Tones. And although there be some Difference as to the Length and Size of these Canals, in different Persons; yet, lest there should be any discord in the auditory Organs of one and the same Man, those Canals are always in exact Conformity to one another in one and the same Man.V.Valsal.ubi supr.c. 3. §. 7. and c. 6. §. 4. 9.

[y]Hic posterior Nervus extra cranium delatus, in tres ramos dividitur, qui omnes motibus patheticis——inserviunt. Primus——musculis Auris impenditur. Proculdubio hujus actione efficitur, ut animalia quævis, à subito soni impulsu, aurs, quasi sonum nimis citò transeuntem captaturas erigant. Ramus alter——versus utrumque oculi angulum surculos emittit: qui musculis palpebrarum attollentibus inseruntur; quorum certè munus est ad subitum soni appulsum oculos confestim aperire, eosque velut ad Excubias vocare.——Tertius——ramus versus Linguæ radicem descendens, musculis ejus & ossis Hyoeideos distribuitur, adeóque organa quædam vocis edendæ actuat,&c.Willis’s Cereb. Anat. c. 17.

[z]Hujusmodi Nervorum conformatio in Homine usum alium insigniorem præstas, nempe ut Vox,&c.Willis Ibid.

[aa]Among the Uses to which the Wit of Man hath employ’d Sounds, we may reckon the Instruments useful in convocating Assemblies, managing Armies, and many other Occasions, wherein Bells, Trumpets, Drums, Horns, and other sounding Instruments are used; the Particularities of which it would be tedious to recount: As that the biggestBellinEuropeis reckoned to be atErfurtinGermany, which they say may be heard twenty four Miles; with much more to the same Purpose. I shall therefore only for a Sample take notice of theSpeaking-Trumpet; the Invention of which is commonly ascribed to our eminent SirSamuel Morland; but was more probablyAth. Kircher’s; at least he had contrived such an Instrument, before SirSamuelhit upon his.Kircherin hisPhonurg.saith, theTrombapublished last Year inEngland, he had invented twenty four Years before, and published in hisMisurgia; thatJac. Albanus Ghibbesius, andFr. Eschinardusascribe it to him; and thatG. Schottustestifieth he had such an Instrument in his Chamber in theRoman College, with which he could call to, and receive Answers from the Porter. And considering how famedAlexandertheGreat’s Tube was, which is said might be heard 100Stadia, it is somewhat strange that no Body sooner hit upon the Invention. Of thisStentorophonick HornofAlexander, there is a Figure preserved in theVatican, which for Curiosity sake, I have fromKircherrepresented inFig. 3.He saith its Diameter was five Cubits, and that it was suspended on a Supporter.For the Make of theSpeaking-Trumpet, and the Reason why it magnifies Sounds, I shall refer toKircher; especially to SirSamuel Morland’sTuba Stentorophonica, Published in 1672.

For the Make of theSpeaking-Trumpet, and the Reason why it magnifies Sounds, I shall refer toKircher; especially to SirSamuel Morland’sTuba Stentorophonica, Published in 1672.

[bb]That the Air is the Subject, orMediumof Sound, is manifest from the Experiments in rarefied and condensed Air. In an unexhausted Receiver, a small Bell may be heard at the Distance of some Paces; but when exhausted, it can scarce be heard at the nearest Distance: And if the Air be compressed, the Sound will be louder, proportionably to the Compression or Quantity of Air crouded in, as I have often tried my self, and may be seen in Mr.Hawksbee’s curious Experiments, p. 97. Also his Experiments inPhil. Trans.Nᵒ. 321.Kirchersaith, he took one of these Trumpets of fifteen Palms length, along with him to theMons Eustachianus, where he convocated 2200 Persons to Prayers, by means of the unusual Sound, at two, three, four, and fiveItalianMiles Distance.With theseBellowing Trumpets, I shall join someBellowing-Cavesfor the Reader’s Diversion.Ol. Magnusdescribes a Cave inFinland, nearViburg, calledSmellen, into which, if a Dog, or other Living Creature be cast, it sends forth so dreadful a Sound, that knocks down every one near it. For which Reason they have guarded the Cave with high Walls, to prevent the Mischiefs of its Noise.Vid.Ol. Magn. Histor.l. 11. c. 4. Such anotherPeter Martyrsaith is inHispaniola, which, with a small Weight cast into it, endangers Deafness at five Miles Distance. And inSwitzerland,Kirchersaith, in theCucumer-Mountainis a Pit that sends out both a dreadful Noise and a great Wind therewith; and that there is a Well in his Country 3000 Palms deep, whose Sound is equal to that of a great Gun.Vid.Kirch. Phonurg.Ol. Magnusspeaking of the vast high Mountains of a Northern Province, call’dAngermanniasaith,Ubi bases eorum in profundissimo gurgite stantes, casu aliquo, vel proposito Nautæ accesserint, tantum horrorem ex altâ fluctuum collisione percipiunt, ut nisi præcipiti remigio, aut valido vento evaserint, solo pavore ferè exanimes fiant, multoque dierum curriculo, ob capitis turbationem, pristinæ mentis, & sanitatis compotes vix evadant. Habent bases illorum montium in fluctuum ingressu & regressu tortuosas rimas, sive scissuras, satis stupendo naturæ opificio fabricatas, in quibus longâ varagine formidabilis ille Sonitus quasi subterraneum tonitru generatur.Ol. Magn. l. 2. c. 4. See alsoChap. 12.Neither doth this succeed only in forced Rarefactions and Condensations of the Air, but in such also as are natural; as is evident fromDavid FrœdlichiusinVarenius, upon the highest Eminencies ofCarpathus, nearKesmarcktinHungary. The Story ofFrœdlichiusis this,Ego Mense Junii 1615. tum adolescens, sublimitatem horum montium, cum duobus comitibus Scholaribus, experiri volens, ubi, cùm in primæ rupis vertice, magno labore, me summum terminum assecutum esse putarem, demum sese obtulit alia multo altior cautes, ubi pervasta eaque vacillantia saxa (quorum unum, si loco à viatore dimovetur——aliquot centena——rapit, & quidem tanto cum fragore, ut illi metuendum sit nè totus Mons corruat, eumque obruat) enixus essem, iterum alia sublimior prodiit,&c.donec summo vitæ periculo ad supremum cacumen penetraverim. Ex declivioribus montibus cùm in subjectas valles,——nil nisi obscuram noctem, aut cœruleum quid, instar profundi aeris, quod vulgò sudum cœlum appellatur, observare potui, mihique videbar, si de monte caderem, non in terram, sed recte in solum me prolapsurum. Nimiá enim declivitate, species visibiles extenuatæ & hebetatæ fuerunt. Cum verò altiorem montem peterem, quasi intra nebulas densissimas hærebam——Et cùm non procul à summo vertice essem de sublimi quiescens prospexi & animadverti iis in locis, ubi mihi antea videbar intra nebulas hæsisse, compactas atque albas sese movere nubes, supra quas, per aliquot milliaria, & ultra terminos Sepusi commodus mihi prospectus patuit. Alias tamen etiam nubes altiores, alias item humiliores, necnon quasdam æqualiter à terrâ distantes vidi. Atque hinc tria intellexi, 1. Me tum transivisse principium media Aeris regionis. 2. Distantiam nubium à terrâ, non esse æqualem.——3. Distantiam nubium——non 72 Mill. Ger. ut quidam——sed tantum dimidiatum Mill. Ger. In summum montis verticem cùm pervenissem, adeò tranquillum & subtilem aërem ibi offendi, ut nè pili quidem motum sentirem, cùm tamen in depressioribus ventum vehementem expertus sim: unde collegi summum cacumen istius montis Carpathici ad Mill. Germ. à radicibus suis imis exsurgere, & ad supremam usque aëris regionem, ad quam Venti non ascendunt, pertingere. Explosi in eâ summitate Sclopetum: quod non majorem sonitum primò præ se tulit, quàm si ligillum vel bacillum confregissem; post intervallum autem temporis murmur prolixum invaluit, inferioresque montis partes, convalles & sylvas opplevit. Descendendo per nives annosas intra convalles, cùm iterum Sclopetum exonerarem, major & horribilior fragor, quàm ex tormento capacissimo inde exoriebatur: hinc verebar nè totus mons concussus mecum corrueret: duravitque hic sonus per semiquadrantem horæ usque dum abstrusissmas cavernas penetrâsset, ad quas aër undiq; multiplicatus resiliit.——In his celsis montibus, plerumq; ningit grandinatve mediâ astate, quoties nempe in subjectâ & vicinâ planitie pluit, utì hoc ipsum expertus sum. Nives diversorum annorum ex colore & cortice duriore dignosci possunt.Varen. Georg. Gen. l. 1. c. 19. Prop. ult.The Story being diverting, and containing divers Things remarkable, I have chosen to note the whole of it (altho’ somewhat long) rather than single out the Passages only which relate to the diminishing the Sound of his Pistol, by the Rarity of the Air at that great Ascent into the Atmosphere; and the magnifying the Sound by the Polyphonisms or Repercussions of the Rocks, Caverns, and other Phonocamptick Objects below in the Mount.But ’tis not the Air alone that is capable of the Impressions of Sound, but the Water also, as is manifest by striking a Bell under Water, the Sound of which may plainly enough be heard, but it is much duller, and not so loud; and it is also a fourth deeper, by the Ear of some great Judges in Musical Notes, who gave me their Judgments in the matter. ButMersennesaith, a Sound made under Water, is of the same Tone or Note, if heard under Water; as are also Sounds made in the Air, when heard under Water.Vid.Mersen. Hydraul.Having mentioned the hearing of Sounds under Water, there is another Curiosity worth mentioning, that also farther proves Water to be susceptible of the Impressions of Sound,viz.Diversat the bottom of the Sea, can hear the Noises made above, only confusedly. But, on the contrary, those above cannot hear the Divers below. Of which an Experiment was made, that had like to have been fatal: One of the Divers blew an Horn in his Diving-Bell, at the bottom of the Sea; the Sound whereof (in that compressed Air) was so very loud and irksome, that stunned the Diver, and made him so giddy, that he had like to have dropt out of his Bell, and to have been drowned.Vid.Sturmii Colleg. Cur. Vol. 2. Tentam. 1.

Kirchersaith, he took one of these Trumpets of fifteen Palms length, along with him to theMons Eustachianus, where he convocated 2200 Persons to Prayers, by means of the unusual Sound, at two, three, four, and fiveItalianMiles Distance.

With theseBellowing Trumpets, I shall join someBellowing-Cavesfor the Reader’s Diversion.Ol. Magnusdescribes a Cave inFinland, nearViburg, calledSmellen, into which, if a Dog, or other Living Creature be cast, it sends forth so dreadful a Sound, that knocks down every one near it. For which Reason they have guarded the Cave with high Walls, to prevent the Mischiefs of its Noise.Vid.Ol. Magn. Histor.l. 11. c. 4. Such anotherPeter Martyrsaith is inHispaniola, which, with a small Weight cast into it, endangers Deafness at five Miles Distance. And inSwitzerland,Kirchersaith, in theCucumer-Mountainis a Pit that sends out both a dreadful Noise and a great Wind therewith; and that there is a Well in his Country 3000 Palms deep, whose Sound is equal to that of a great Gun.Vid.Kirch. Phonurg.

Ol. Magnusspeaking of the vast high Mountains of a Northern Province, call’dAngermanniasaith,Ubi bases eorum in profundissimo gurgite stantes, casu aliquo, vel proposito Nautæ accesserint, tantum horrorem ex altâ fluctuum collisione percipiunt, ut nisi præcipiti remigio, aut valido vento evaserint, solo pavore ferè exanimes fiant, multoque dierum curriculo, ob capitis turbationem, pristinæ mentis, & sanitatis compotes vix evadant. Habent bases illorum montium in fluctuum ingressu & regressu tortuosas rimas, sive scissuras, satis stupendo naturæ opificio fabricatas, in quibus longâ varagine formidabilis ille Sonitus quasi subterraneum tonitru generatur.Ol. Magn. l. 2. c. 4. See alsoChap. 12.

Neither doth this succeed only in forced Rarefactions and Condensations of the Air, but in such also as are natural; as is evident fromDavid FrœdlichiusinVarenius, upon the highest Eminencies ofCarpathus, nearKesmarcktinHungary. The Story ofFrœdlichiusis this,Ego Mense Junii 1615. tum adolescens, sublimitatem horum montium, cum duobus comitibus Scholaribus, experiri volens, ubi, cùm in primæ rupis vertice, magno labore, me summum terminum assecutum esse putarem, demum sese obtulit alia multo altior cautes, ubi pervasta eaque vacillantia saxa (quorum unum, si loco à viatore dimovetur——aliquot centena——rapit, & quidem tanto cum fragore, ut illi metuendum sit nè totus Mons corruat, eumque obruat) enixus essem, iterum alia sublimior prodiit,&c.donec summo vitæ periculo ad supremum cacumen penetraverim. Ex declivioribus montibus cùm in subjectas valles,——nil nisi obscuram noctem, aut cœruleum quid, instar profundi aeris, quod vulgò sudum cœlum appellatur, observare potui, mihique videbar, si de monte caderem, non in terram, sed recte in solum me prolapsurum. Nimiá enim declivitate, species visibiles extenuatæ & hebetatæ fuerunt. Cum verò altiorem montem peterem, quasi intra nebulas densissimas hærebam——Et cùm non procul à summo vertice essem de sublimi quiescens prospexi & animadverti iis in locis, ubi mihi antea videbar intra nebulas hæsisse, compactas atque albas sese movere nubes, supra quas, per aliquot milliaria, & ultra terminos Sepusi commodus mihi prospectus patuit. Alias tamen etiam nubes altiores, alias item humiliores, necnon quasdam æqualiter à terrâ distantes vidi. Atque hinc tria intellexi, 1. Me tum transivisse principium media Aeris regionis. 2. Distantiam nubium à terrâ, non esse æqualem.——3. Distantiam nubium——non 72 Mill. Ger. ut quidam——sed tantum dimidiatum Mill. Ger. In summum montis verticem cùm pervenissem, adeò tranquillum & subtilem aërem ibi offendi, ut nè pili quidem motum sentirem, cùm tamen in depressioribus ventum vehementem expertus sim: unde collegi summum cacumen istius montis Carpathici ad Mill. Germ. à radicibus suis imis exsurgere, & ad supremam usque aëris regionem, ad quam Venti non ascendunt, pertingere. Explosi in eâ summitate Sclopetum: quod non majorem sonitum primò præ se tulit, quàm si ligillum vel bacillum confregissem; post intervallum autem temporis murmur prolixum invaluit, inferioresque montis partes, convalles & sylvas opplevit. Descendendo per nives annosas intra convalles, cùm iterum Sclopetum exonerarem, major & horribilior fragor, quàm ex tormento capacissimo inde exoriebatur: hinc verebar nè totus mons concussus mecum corrueret: duravitque hic sonus per semiquadrantem horæ usque dum abstrusissmas cavernas penetrâsset, ad quas aër undiq; multiplicatus resiliit.——In his celsis montibus, plerumq; ningit grandinatve mediâ astate, quoties nempe in subjectâ & vicinâ planitie pluit, utì hoc ipsum expertus sum. Nives diversorum annorum ex colore & cortice duriore dignosci possunt.Varen. Georg. Gen. l. 1. c. 19. Prop. ult.

The Story being diverting, and containing divers Things remarkable, I have chosen to note the whole of it (altho’ somewhat long) rather than single out the Passages only which relate to the diminishing the Sound of his Pistol, by the Rarity of the Air at that great Ascent into the Atmosphere; and the magnifying the Sound by the Polyphonisms or Repercussions of the Rocks, Caverns, and other Phonocamptick Objects below in the Mount.

But ’tis not the Air alone that is capable of the Impressions of Sound, but the Water also, as is manifest by striking a Bell under Water, the Sound of which may plainly enough be heard, but it is much duller, and not so loud; and it is also a fourth deeper, by the Ear of some great Judges in Musical Notes, who gave me their Judgments in the matter. ButMersennesaith, a Sound made under Water, is of the same Tone or Note, if heard under Water; as are also Sounds made in the Air, when heard under Water.Vid.Mersen. Hydraul.

Having mentioned the hearing of Sounds under Water, there is another Curiosity worth mentioning, that also farther proves Water to be susceptible of the Impressions of Sound,viz.Diversat the bottom of the Sea, can hear the Noises made above, only confusedly. But, on the contrary, those above cannot hear the Divers below. Of which an Experiment was made, that had like to have been fatal: One of the Divers blew an Horn in his Diving-Bell, at the bottom of the Sea; the Sound whereof (in that compressed Air) was so very loud and irksome, that stunned the Diver, and made him so giddy, that he had like to have dropt out of his Bell, and to have been drowned.Vid.Sturmii Colleg. Cur. Vol. 2. Tentam. 1.

[cc]As to the Distance to which Sound may be sent, having some doubt, whether there was any Difference between the Northern and Southern Parts, by the Favour of my learned and illustrious Friend SirHenry Newton, her Majesty’s late Envoy atFlorence: I procured some Experiments to be made for me inItaly. His most Serene Highness theGreat Duke, was pleased to order great Guns to be fir’d for this purpose atFlorence, and Persons were appointed on purpose to observe them atLeghorne, which they compute is no less than 55 Miles in a strait Line. But notwithstanding the Country between being somewhat hilly and woody, and the Wind also was not favouring, only very calm and still, yet the Sound was plainly enough heard. And they tell me, that theLeghorneGuns are often heard 66 Miles off, atPorto Ferraio; that when theFrenchbombardedGenoa, they heard it nearLeghorne, 90 Miles distant: and in theMessina Insurrection, the Guns were heard from thence as far asAugustaandSyracuse, about 100ItalianMiles. These Distances being so considerable, give me Reason to suspect, that Sounds fly as far, or nearly as far in the Southern, as in the Northern Parts of the World, notwithstanding we have a few Instances of Sounds reaching farther Distances. As Dr.Hearntells us of Guns fired atStockholmin 1685, that were heard 180EnglishMiles. And in theDutchWar, 1672, the Guns were heard above 200 Miles.Vid.Phil. Trans.Nᵒ. 113. Also there is this farther Reason of Suspicion, that theMercuryin theBarometerriseth higher without than within the Tropicks, and the more Northerly, still the higher, which may encrease the Strength of Sounds, byNote (bb).

[dd]As to the Velocity of Sounds, by Reason the most celebrated Authors differ about it, I made divers nice Experiments my self, with good Instruments; by which I found, 1. That there is some, although a small Difference in the Velocity of Sounds, with or against the Wind: which also is, 2. Augmented or diminished by the Strength or Weakness of the Wind. But that nothing else doth accelerate or retard it, not the Differences of Day or Night, Heat or Cold, Summer or Winter, Cloudy or Clear, Barometer high or low,&c.3. That all kinds of Sounds have the same Motion, whether they be loud or languid, of Bells, Guns, great or small, or any other sonorous Body. 4. That they fly equal Spaces in equal Times. Fifthly and Lastly, That the Mean of their Flight is at the Rate of a Mile in 9¼ half Seconds, or 1142 Feet in one Second of Time.Vid.Phil. Trans. Ibid.

[ee]Timothya Musician could exciteAlexander the Greatto Arms with thePhrygianSound, and allay his Fury with another Tone, and excite him to Merriment. SoEricusKing ofDenmark, by a certain Musician, could be driven to such a Fury, as to kill some of his best and most trusty Servants. More of this Power of Musick over the Affections, may be seen inAth. Kirch. Phonurg. L. 2. §. 1.Also inIs. Vossius de Poematum cantu, & Rythmi viribus.And not only upon the Affections, but also on the Parts of the Body. Musick is able to exert its Force, as appears from theGascoigneKnight,Cui Phormingis sono audito Vesica statim ad Urinam reddendam vellicabatur. Such another we have in Aᵒ. 1.Ephem. Nat. Curios. Observ. 134. AlsoMorhoff de Scyph. vitr. per cert. human. vocis sonum fracto: where there is not only the Account of theDutchmanatAmsterdam, oneNich. Peter, that brake Romer-Glasses with the Sound of his Voice; but also divers other Instances of the Powers and Effects of Sound. But to the Story of theGascoigneKnight, Mr.Boyl, fromScaliger, adds a pleasant Passage, That one he had disobliged, to be even with him, caused at a Feast, a Bag-pipe to be played, when he was hemmed in with the Company; which made the Knight bepiss himself, to the great Diversion of the Company, as well as Confusion of himself.Boyl’sEssay of the Effect of Lang. Motion.In the same Book are other Matters that may be noted here. One whose Arm was cut off, was exceedingly tormented with the discharge of the great Guns at Sea, although he was at a great Distance on Land. And a great Ship-Commander observed his wounded Men, with broken Limbs, suffered in like manner at the Enemies Discharges. An ingenious Domestick of his own would have his Gums bleed at the tearing of Brown-Paper. And an ingenious Gentleman of Mr.Boyl’s Acquaintance confessed to him, that he was inclined to theKnight of Gascoigne’s Distemper, upon hearing the Noise of a Tap running. The dancing to certain Tunes, of Persons bit with theTarantula, he was assured of by an ingenious Acquaintance atTarentum, who saw several, among the rest a Physician, affected with that Distemper. And many other Accounts of this kind, seemingly credible, are related inMorhoff,Kircher, and many others; although Dr.Cornelioquestions the Matters of Fact relating to the cure of theTarantula-bite, inPhil. Trans.Nᵒ. 83. Mr.Boylalso saith, a sober Musician told him, he could make a certain Woman weep, by playing one Tune, which others would be little affected at. And he saith, that he himself had a kind of shivering at the repeating two Verses inLucan. And I add, that I very well know one to have a sort of chill about hisPræcordiaand Head, upon reading or hearing the 53ᵈ Chapter ofIsaiah; as alsoDavid’s Lamentations forSaulandJonathan, 1 Sam. i.Neither are our own Minds and Bodies only affected with Sounds, but inanimate Bodies are so also. Of which many Stories may be met with inKircher, particularly a large Stone that would tremble at the Sound of one particular Organ-Pipe; inMorhoffalso, who among many other Relations hath this,Memini cùm ipsi [clarif. Willisio] de experimento Vitri per vocem fracti narrarem, ex eo audivisse, quod in adibus Musicis sibi vicinis aliquoties collapsum pavimentum fuerit; quod ipse sonis continuis adscribere non dubitavit.Morhoff. cap. 12.Mersennealso, among many Relations in hisHarmon.and other Books, tells a far more probable Story, of a particular Part of a Pavement, that would shake, as if the Earth would open, when the Organs played, than what he relates aboutAntipathy, in hisQuæst. Comment. in Genes.viz. That the Sound of a Drum made of a Wolf’s Skin, will break another made of Sheep’s Skin: That Hens will fly at the Sound of an Harp strung with Fox-Gut-Strings, and more to the same purpose. Mr.Boylalso, in his last cited Book tells us, Seats will tremble at the Sound of Organs; and that he hath felt his Hat do so too under his hand, at certain Notes both of Organs, and in Discourse, that he tried an Arch that would answer to C fa-ut, and had done so an 100 Years; and that an experienced Builder told him any well-built Vault will answer some determinate Note. And atEastbury-HousenearBarking, I my self discovered the Porch, (having firm Brick-Walls,) not only to sound when struck on the Bottom, but also to give almost as loud a Sound, when I sounded the same Note with my Voice.

And not only upon the Affections, but also on the Parts of the Body. Musick is able to exert its Force, as appears from theGascoigneKnight,Cui Phormingis sono audito Vesica statim ad Urinam reddendam vellicabatur. Such another we have in Aᵒ. 1.Ephem. Nat. Curios. Observ. 134. AlsoMorhoff de Scyph. vitr. per cert. human. vocis sonum fracto: where there is not only the Account of theDutchmanatAmsterdam, oneNich. Peter, that brake Romer-Glasses with the Sound of his Voice; but also divers other Instances of the Powers and Effects of Sound. But to the Story of theGascoigneKnight, Mr.Boyl, fromScaliger, adds a pleasant Passage, That one he had disobliged, to be even with him, caused at a Feast, a Bag-pipe to be played, when he was hemmed in with the Company; which made the Knight bepiss himself, to the great Diversion of the Company, as well as Confusion of himself.Boyl’sEssay of the Effect of Lang. Motion.In the same Book are other Matters that may be noted here. One whose Arm was cut off, was exceedingly tormented with the discharge of the great Guns at Sea, although he was at a great Distance on Land. And a great Ship-Commander observed his wounded Men, with broken Limbs, suffered in like manner at the Enemies Discharges. An ingenious Domestick of his own would have his Gums bleed at the tearing of Brown-Paper. And an ingenious Gentleman of Mr.Boyl’s Acquaintance confessed to him, that he was inclined to theKnight of Gascoigne’s Distemper, upon hearing the Noise of a Tap running. The dancing to certain Tunes, of Persons bit with theTarantula, he was assured of by an ingenious Acquaintance atTarentum, who saw several, among the rest a Physician, affected with that Distemper. And many other Accounts of this kind, seemingly credible, are related inMorhoff,Kircher, and many others; although Dr.Cornelioquestions the Matters of Fact relating to the cure of theTarantula-bite, inPhil. Trans.Nᵒ. 83. Mr.Boylalso saith, a sober Musician told him, he could make a certain Woman weep, by playing one Tune, which others would be little affected at. And he saith, that he himself had a kind of shivering at the repeating two Verses inLucan. And I add, that I very well know one to have a sort of chill about hisPræcordiaand Head, upon reading or hearing the 53ᵈ Chapter ofIsaiah; as alsoDavid’s Lamentations forSaulandJonathan, 1 Sam. i.

Neither are our own Minds and Bodies only affected with Sounds, but inanimate Bodies are so also. Of which many Stories may be met with inKircher, particularly a large Stone that would tremble at the Sound of one particular Organ-Pipe; inMorhoffalso, who among many other Relations hath this,Memini cùm ipsi [clarif. Willisio] de experimento Vitri per vocem fracti narrarem, ex eo audivisse, quod in adibus Musicis sibi vicinis aliquoties collapsum pavimentum fuerit; quod ipse sonis continuis adscribere non dubitavit.Morhoff. cap. 12.Mersennealso, among many Relations in hisHarmon.and other Books, tells a far more probable Story, of a particular Part of a Pavement, that would shake, as if the Earth would open, when the Organs played, than what he relates aboutAntipathy, in hisQuæst. Comment. in Genes.viz. That the Sound of a Drum made of a Wolf’s Skin, will break another made of Sheep’s Skin: That Hens will fly at the Sound of an Harp strung with Fox-Gut-Strings, and more to the same purpose. Mr.Boylalso, in his last cited Book tells us, Seats will tremble at the Sound of Organs; and that he hath felt his Hat do so too under his hand, at certain Notes both of Organs, and in Discourse, that he tried an Arch that would answer to C fa-ut, and had done so an 100 Years; and that an experienced Builder told him any well-built Vault will answer some determinate Note. And atEastbury-HousenearBarking, I my self discovered the Porch, (having firm Brick-Walls,) not only to sound when struck on the Bottom, but also to give almost as loud a Sound, when I sounded the same Note with my Voice.

[ff]Willis, ubi supra.

[gg]Ille Deus est——qui non calamo tantùm cantare, & agreste, atque inconditum carmen ad aliquam tantùm oblectationem modulari docuit, sed tot artes, tot vocum varietates, tot sonos, alios spiritu nostro, alios externo cantu edituros commentus est.Senec. de Benef. l. 4. cap. 6.

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