a natura expelli, vel medicamentorum ope, quae masticatoria appellantur, com- mode expurgari. The last paragraph of this quotation shows, that Eusta- chius anticipated an earlier use of his discovery than was made by the profession. The writers who followed Eustachius up to Valsalva's time, based their labors on what Eustachius had done. Mayer, in order to express his estimate as to their value, quotes Goethe, who says : "Denn eben wo Begriffe fehlen, da stellt ein Wort zur rechten Zeit sich ein." Where the ideas are wanting, words serve a very good turn. Valsalva, however, described the muscles of the Eustachian tube very exactly, but a hundred and twenty-five years after Eustachius. He supposed that the function of the muscles was to keep the tube constantly open. It was not until 1850 that the anatomical descriptions began to be accurate. Then F. Arnold, in his Randbuch der Anafomie des Mensclien, published at Freiburg in Bresgau, in 1851, gave a careful description of the tube. Merkel, Anatomie und Physiologie der menscJilichen Slimme und des Sprech- Organs, and Tortual, Neuen Untersuch- ungen uber den Bau des mertschlichen Schlundes und Kelilkopfes, 1881, afterwards described the canal. Von Troltsch*, in an article published in his Archives, elaborated the subject much farther. The labors of Majer and Rudinger have brought our knowledge of the anatomical structure to the present stage. It should never be forgotten that Joseph Toynbee was the first writer, in a paper presented to the Royal Society in 1851, to show that the faucial orifice was controlled by the muscles of the palate, and that the act of swallowing affected the caliber of the tube. Toynbee thought that the tube was completely closed in a state of repose, and although not strictly correct in this, his labors can hardly be overestimated.
<Callout type="important" title="Key Discovery">Toynbee's work highlighted the role of swallowing in opening the Eustachian tube.</Callout>
AUTHORITIES. Bochdalek, Prof. Vierteljahrsschrift fur praktisclie Heilkunde. XXIII. Jahrgang, Prag., 1866, Bd. 89. Gray, Henry. Anatomy, Descriptive and Surgical. Reprint. Philadelphia, 1862. Gruber, Josef. Lehrbuch der Ohrenheilkunde. Wien, 1870. Gruber, Josef. Anatomisch-physiologische Studien liber das Trommelfell und die Gehorknochelchen. Wien, 1867. Home, Everard. Transactions of the Royal Society of London, 1800, Part II. JZenle, J. Handbuch der Eingeweide-lehre. Braunschweig, 1866. Myrtl. Lehrbuch der Anatomie des Menschen. Siebente Aufiage. Wien, 1862. Jones, T. Wharton. In the Cyclopaedia of Anatomy and Physiology. Lon- don, 1839. Vol. II. Jfessel, J~, Das mittlere Ohr. Handbuch der Lehre von den Geweben. S. Strieker, IV. Lieferung. Leipzig, 1870. Jfessel, J~. A Manual of Histology. By S. Strieker Article, Outer and Middle Ear. Translated by J. Orne Green. New York, 1872. jifftyerj Ludwig. Studien uber die Anatomie des Canalis Eustachii. Miinchen, * Archiv fur Ohrenheilkunde, Bd. I., Heft i., p. 15. AUTHOEITIES. 221 jPalr/(ban, Prof. von. In Monatsschrift filr Ohrenheilbunde. Jahrgang III No. 1. J 'Pulitzer, Adam. Die Beleuchtungsbilder des Trommelfells im gesunden und kranken Zustande. Wien, 1865. '.Politzer, Adam. The Membrana Tympani in Health and Disease. With Supplement. Translated by A. Mathewson, M.D., and H. G. Newton, M.D. New York, 1869. IZudinger, JV. Beitriige zur vergleichenden Anatomie und Histologic dor Ohrtrompete. Miinchen, 1870. IZudinger, JV. Atlas des menschlichen Gebororganes, herausgegeben von Dr. Riidinger. Nach der Natur pbotogiaphirt von J. Albert. I.— II. Lie- ferung. Miinchen, 1867. 'Rudinger, JV. In Strieker's Manual of Histology ; Article, The Eustachian Tube. Translated by J. Orne Green. New York, 1872. Shrapnell, Henry Jones. On the Form and Structure of the Membrana Tympani. The London Medical Gazette, vol. x., p. 120. On the Func- tion of the Membrana Tympani, ibid., p. 282. 2'oynbee, Joseph. The Diseases of the Ear ; their Nature, Diagnosis, and Treatment (Reprint). Philadelphia, 1860. Yon Troltsch, Anton. Archiv fur Ohrenheilkunde, 1865. Yon Troltsch, Anton. The Diagnosis and Treatment of Diseases of the Ear, including the Anatomy of the Organ. Second American edition. Translated by D. B. St. John Roosa. New York, 1869. Yalsalvce Viri celeberrimi Antonii Mariee opera. Tractatas de Aure Hu- mana. Lugdunum Batavorum, 1742.
Key Takeaways
- Eustachius anticipated the use of his discovery in medicine before Valsalva's time.
- Toynbee highlighted the role of swallowing in opening the Eustachian tube.
- The anatomical descriptions of the Eustachian tube became accurate only by 1850.
Practical Tips
- Understand that the muscles of the palate control the Eustachian tube, which can be useful for managing ear pressure during air travel or diving.
- Recognize the importance of accurate anatomical descriptions in understanding the structure and function of the middle ear.
- Be aware of the historical context to appreciate the evolution of medical knowledge.
Warnings & Risks
- Do not assume that the Eustachian tube is always open, as Toynbee's work suggests it can be closed during rest.
- Avoid making assumptions about the function of the muscles without considering their role in swallowing and ear pressure regulation.
Modern Application
While the specific anatomical descriptions may have evolved since this chapter was written, understanding the historical context and evolution of medical knowledge is crucial for modern survival preparedness. This chapter provides a foundation for comprehending the complexities of the middle ear and its management during various conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What did Eustachius anticipate before Valsalva's time?
Eustachius anticipated that his discovery would be used in medicine earlier than it actually was, as indicated by a quote from Goethe: 'Denn eben wo Begriffe fehlen, da stellt ein Wort zur rechten Zeit sich ein.' This means that even when ideas are lacking, words can serve their purpose.
Q: How did Toynbee contribute to our understanding of the Eustachian tube?
Toynbee was the first writer to show that the faucial orifice is controlled by the muscles of the palate and that swallowing affects the caliber of the tube. Although his theory that the tube is completely closed in a state of repose is not entirely correct, his work is still highly valued.
Q: What was significant about F. Arnold's contribution to the understanding of the Eustachian tube?
F. Arnold provided a careful description of the Eustachian tube in his book 'Randbuch der Anatomie des Menschen' published in 1851, which helped bring our knowledge of its anatomical structure up to date.