The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-12-16
NEW Y0RK'S NEWEST PERIL.
THE INTERMITTENT ACTION or THE
ORGANS or SPEECH.
Alarm Aiaycd nv the Ingentous Hypothesis
OF IA snvant Of NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Case for Discussion by the Health Hoard.

Alarm AIlaycd nv the IngenIous Uypothesis
OF Snvant Of Ictown-Nevcrthciess
Case for Discussion by the Health Hoard.
MTDDLETowN, Dec IS wcro in the
midst Of cider and doughnuts. pork and apple
sauce, buckwheat cakes and honey. rs n well
come letter was received from John Y Of New
York city. announcing his intention OF making
us visit He arrived by the train. and met
him with my carringe. John seemed to DO
very we'll He was not only the picture. but tho
very embodiment Of health. In fact. he said ho
had mover felt 80 well and strong.
We had not been together half an hour before
| noticed n strange singularity in his speech.
He had always been n FREQ convcrsationalist
and II ready writer, and on the rostrum had
never hesitnted for words. But now at short
intervals, he stopped speaking suddenly for
nearly minute. and then continued talking
as before. In few minutes he paused
again. and these pauses or Interruptions con-
tnued ut short intervals in his whole conversa-
ton. mentally sought for tho cause. 1t GER
tainly was not a hesitation for want OF tho
proper word. or OF the choice OF one OF several
words that Nigh; come simultaneously before
hs mind; for tho lapses occurred frequently
when the most commonplace or familiar terms
wero to be brought into use There WIS no
suffering no stammcring. but n sudden and
abrupt stoppagc OF speech. II did not seem to
me that any disorder OF the brain could DO the
cause. for Y. Is brain was clear. With courteous
dclicacy l concealed my noticing his misfor-
tune. i reasoned that he might not know II
himself. was right. At that hour he was not
aware Of II. hut early in the day hr discovered
That thcre was something detective in his utter
ance. Then he hecumc very RESTLESS and emhar-
rassed. Suddcnlyho looked me full in the face.
and asked whether | had noticed anything
wrong In his articulation.
| frankly admitted that I hal. and nfter
further conversation we agreed to consult Dr.
y. on the morrow. II. 10y u continuance Of the
LhonumenOn 1t should be found necessary.
The remainder 81 tho day and evening there
was no changc-the same sudden, voicclcss
seconds. intervening at regular intervals. II
distressed my friend, and saw next morning
that VI had disturbed his rest.
Tho next morning. soon after breakfast. we
John Y related his trouble and tho discovery
Of H. DIR. y, after asking him about his general
health and feeling his pulse inquired about his
habits. diet a.. Ii was a simple story. Hc od
a very quiet, temperate lie. He was a hrnin-
the. elevated railroad. His habits wcre regular
aud temperate. lie went 10 bed usually NJ II
aud arosr at G.. The only little excitement that
attended his daily quiet life was the frequent
passage Of the elevated railroad trains before
his Office and his residence His studiOus
habits forbade his frequent appearance IN
Were centred at his domestic Preside.
While speaking Of his habits and vocation the
silent intervals occurred with their accustomed
regularity, and both the Doctor and observed
what had not previously seen. VIZ: a moment
before tho utterHncc stopped John Y partially
raised his head 10 the lcft. us though in cX-
pcctEtion Of hearing something. and accom-
panied i with light contraction Of the hrows,
followed by a shadow or cypress lon of pain or
annoyance. which soon faded away.
pr. y. questioned and questioned. and
admitted that II was a very novel ease. After
two hours cons ultatlon be- suddenly frightened
VI, and. laying Ais watch upon the table H. xcd /:
low often do the railroad trains pass your
Every three minutes. believe" John Y.
replied
No, invariably walk.'
Or. y. then glancing at his watch, engaged
his patient IN conversation. AMI after repeated
notiugs OF the passing minutes and seconds
IN your case. II is simply q functional de-
rungrm"nt ana from the experiments that
have lcrn irving the past few minutes am
satisfied us To- the caus". II is habit. not "a
voluntary one. hut one forced upon you hy cir
cumstanccs. The circumstance are tac Oft
residence. day after day The condolences of
time ARE eNnf; every minutes and ~ seconds
your Sp'nri In continuous. then iNr 40 seconds
you nro silent. do Nnu Sn"-R tram H. pass NJ
hud bOn luNuIuutarllY stop taking. tie train
Its-'- ou Nut ni NHuglu-. ull ylu Resume .fn-
0'.ur-. ana go oM a. 'ut-rNcry three
minutes tram. These cDuluuud rep,iitions
nave tlirlr "il'D ITS upon you. and NOR habit o.
hr only r1us" ~ your % Ahir. There is mo-
mouuWauiu; You ar" perfectly rational. and
You nay" NJ organized disease. You sun. r under
health is 80 = You should remove your rp-i-
deu'' ton strp.t not on the line Of the elevated
railway
John \. brca,hed more freely.