Ear Trumpets

Ear trumpets. Engraving from the 1790s of ear trumpets and a syringe or clyster. These devices were designed to relieve deafness. The first ear trumpet design (Fig. 1) is a large, coiled design with a handle. The second ear trumpet (Fig. 2) is a curved design with no handle. The third (Fig. 3) was attached onto the ear with string. Ear trumpets were tubes which worked by amplifying sound as it passed from the wide end to the narrow end. The syringe (at right) was used to remove excessive earwax or an obstacle blocking the ear canal. The syringe directed a jet of warm water into the ear which then dislodged the blockage

Restrictions Only for Ireland and United Kingdom

1700s 1790s Clyster Deaf Deafness Hearing Syringe

Features In These Collections

> Contributors > PHR