Copy 1, Volume 2

The life of Sir Astley Cooper, bart.: interspersed with sketches from his note-books of distinguished contemporary characters / By Bransby Blake Cooper.

  • Bransby Blake Cooper
Date:
1843
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The life of Sir Astley Cooper, bart.: interspersed with sketches from his note-books of distinguished contemporary characters / By Bransby Blake Cooper. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    14/512 (page 2)
    having explained the means by which he was fur- nished with the opportunities of prosecuting his anatomical studies, I proceed to show some of the results of his investigations, as manifested in the publications which at various periods emanated from his pen, tending alike to the benefit of the public, and to the increase of the reputation which he had already attained. In 1800, the year of his election as Surgeon to Guy’s Hospital, Mr. Cooper distinguished himself by a communication to the Royal Society, on a subject connected with the Ear, which promised at the time to lead to most important results in the cure of persons affected with a certain kind of deaf- ness. His friend, Sir (then Mr.) Everard Home, had been appointed by the Croonian Institution to investigate the structure and use of the membrana tympani, or drum of the ear, and on the 7th of November of the preceding year, had read a paper on the subject before the Royal Society. This essay, and some conversation with Mr. Home, directed the attention of Mr. Cooper to the subject, and eventually led him to invent an operation which he performed on certain patients who applied to him for advice. His observations, and the imme- diate results of this new treatment, appeared so extraordinary, that he was induced to lay an account of them before the Royal Society in two commu- nications, which followed each other in rapid succession. Not being himself at that time a Fellow of the Society, he requested his friend Mr. Home