As previously mentioned in the Otoscopy section, providing adequate illumination of the structures of the ears, nose and throat has always been one of the primary challenges of ENT medicine. 

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In this section, we'll show you a variety of innovative ways early physicians tried to conquer that challenge with the development of common devices attached to the physician's head, including head mirrors that reflected and focused ambient light toward the target of examination, and head lights, which featured self-contained lighting powered by either batteries or direct electrical current.

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Dr. Joseph B. Touma will also take you back to the very early days of otoscopy to show you how different light sources such as sunlight, candlelight and kerosene lamps were utilized. And he'll even light two early otoscopes for the first time in more than 100 years to show you how those devices still work.