Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-11-01
CURE FOR STAMMERING.

We are well aware that the publication OF
this article will be injurious to the pecuniary
interest of some individuals; but the public have
a right to it, and many, W. are sure, will be
grateful to the man who has not, as he might
have done, and as others haze done, concealed
and turned to his own profit, a discovery by
which the happiness, for life, of multitudes of
our fellow-men may be so greatly promoted
We have had no opportunity to test it ourselves,
bu, we have no doubt of the perfect CORE ctness
of our correspondents assertion, that !" the diff
fculty consists almost wholly in the a,temptt to
speak while the lungs are partially exhausted"
How beautifully this explains the fact that
stammering people can always sing without the
least embarrassment When a man sings, he
raises his head, the lungs have free play, and
are kept well filled with air. The difficulty is
in the lungs, not in the tongue, which evident
ly can articulate nothing without a sufficient
current of air passing through the mouth.
Mrs. Leigh's experience may, for aught we
know, render her a useful assistant in some diff
fcult cases; but very few, we apprehend, will
need any thing more than a careful attention to
the rules given by our correspondence. Myon.
Mr.. ED1roR-It is a maxim which l have
adopted from my youth, to give publicity to "a
ny fact which will, in my opinion, be conducive
to the public good. I'plty, from my heart, the
man, whose sordid sel6shness is SO great, that
he will Withhold from the public, information
which,. if generally known, would promote the
happiness Of thousands. l apply this remark
to those who were the first discoveries Of the
art of curing stammering people. Shall a man
demand pay for telling another :iow he may be
cured Il of a disagreeable disease; or rather, how
he may overcome an unfortunate habit? Yet
such is the fact, and from tho to ffy dollars
have been demanded and received for the COM
munication of a secret, which every friend of
man would consider himself bound to reveal.
Permit me, therefore, in order to prevent any
farther unjust exactions' from the unfortunate
sufferers, to state, in a few words, the method
by which the cure of stammerers is effected. .
l.. Keep the lungs full by frequent limitations
Of air. The difficulty consists almost wholly
in the attempt to speak while the lungs are par
italy exhausted.
Q. If the tongue adhsres too closely, at first,
to the roof of the mouth, place on it a nine-pen-
nv piece, or a quarter Of a dollar, as it may be
found necessary, that the utterance may be
more distinct.
8. Being thus prepared, read a page of poe
try, consisting Of short lines, remembering to
draw in the breath at the end of every line.
By following this plan, in a short time, a ra-
dical and permanent cure will be effected. No
instance of failure has come to my knowledge.
If had time I would explain the principle on
which the above rules are founded. What I
have communicated is the result of my own in
vestigations, and as l have learned that others
employ this method of cure, l feel confident that
those who are afflicted with the complaint will
put a speedy end to the harrassing embarrass-
ments which it often occasions.