AUTO-LARYNGOSCOPY.--There is perhaps no better method for the beginner to overcome the difficulties besetting laryngoscopy than to practise the art on himself, for then only will he be able to appreciate to its full extent the necessity of observing all the minute details described above, as the pain and inconvenience which he inflicts upon himself by his false movements will teach him better, and enable him to attain proficiency in the use of his instruments quicker than any other method of practice. Nothing need, for auto-laryngoscopy, be added to the stock of instruments necessary for the examination of others, except a stand to which the reflector is fastened and a small toilet-mirror. The observer seats himself beside a table upon which, at his left, is placed the lamp a little behind his head and the centre of the flame on a level with his eyes. The stand, an ordinary retort-stand, is placed in front of him, and to it is fastened at the proper height the reflector. On the same stand, and immediately above the reflector, is attached the plane mirror in such a manner that it can be inclined at an angle. Inclining the head slightly backward, the observer then by watching his face in the plane mirror directs the light upon his mouth by moving the reflector upon its ball-and-socket joint until the circle falls upon his mouth. He then opens his mouth as wide as possible, grasps his protruded tongue between the folds of a towel or {30} napkin held between the thumb and fore finger of the left hand, and introduces the laryngeal mirror with the right hand in the manner described above. The laryngeal image as it appears on the surface of the laryngeal mirror is reflected by the toilet-glass above the reflector, and can be seen in all its details by the person practising auto-laryngoscopy. By substituting a perforated mirror for the toilet-glass the student can demonstrate the image to others in his own person if the observers look through the perforation in the mirror. Before giving a description of the laryngeal image it will be well, for the sake of completeness, to mention the fact that of late photography has been employed to reproduce this image, both in this country by T. R. French of Brooklyn[17] and by Lennox Browne of London, England, with very gratifying results. The writer himself several years ago made experiments in this direction, which, however, were not very satisfactory in their results. The method employed by French is a very simple one, and it will be best to give his own description of the process: