On the principles of sound; their application in the construction of public buildings; particularly to the new houses of Parliament; and assimilation with the mechanism of the human ear / By A.W. Webster.

  • Webster, Alphonso William.
Date:
1840
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the principles of sound; their application in the construction of public buildings; particularly to the new houses of Parliament; and assimilation with the mechanism of the human ear / By A.W. Webster. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    The intention of the Author, in the original design of this Work, was to have confined his attention to a definition of the functions of the different parts of the Ear; but he found that, without an antecedent inquiry into the nature of Sound, his views would be liable to misapprehension, and he has therefore devoted Part I. to its detailed exa¬ mination. The preliminary investigation, thus rendered necessary, induced him to examine the evidence taken by a Com¬ mittee of the House of Commons upon the Principles of Sound; but the information obtained being limited, and their application to Buildings erected for Oratorical Purposes involving an inquiry both interesting and useful. Part II. has been appropriated to this subject. It is, however, in the structure of the Human Ear that these principles receive their most effective illustration. This organ, formed by Divine contrivance for one of the highest purposes of Creative Wisdom, not only exhibits a combination of every mechanical power conducive to the propagation of Sound, but embraces others of a neutralizing or opposing character, to counteract such of its properties as would be unfavourable to hearing. To render this