The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-09-17
AIDS For THE DE.AE.
Ingenious Appliances that More or Lcss
Help the AFFLICTED

There has been less success in the inyon-
than in any other contrivances for the alleyia-
ton of tho weakness and distress of human
organs" Prof g. II. Riker snid. There are hun
drods. yes may say thousands. Of Instruments
Tor surgical use In treating the ear some of
them wonders of delicate. complex. and in
gonious construction; and there Is an inlinity
OF things designed to aid the partially deaf TO
hear. but in every other branch Of surgica.
science better results have been attained than
in this and tho bost that can be said OF any in
vontion for the assistance Of hearing is that II
has. IN some cases. been mcasurably successful.
The widest diversity exists between the causes
and conditions of deafness. almost every case
being distinctive. and that which will help one
will be altogether useless to another Deaf
persons too are tho most sensitive Of patients.
As long as possible they seek to conceal their
defect from those about them. evon seem 10
try to deny it To themselves. OF course. in do
Ing 80 they neglect. until 1t Is too late to be-
effective treatment and remedial appliances
that might If taken in time. have conserved
their hearing. Then. too. when thuy have to
take TO mechanical aids they do so In the most
shnme-faced and hestating way. their princ-
OF the appliance han the helping OF their hear
ing. tell you, that gigantic fortune awaits
the man VINO VIII invent something that will
actually hcip deal persons to hear yet which
cannot be seem Here are some OF tho things
that have been attempted N that direction.
The smallest of Nil is this little artificial tym-
puhum for persons whose car drums are
perforated, 1t is, simply delicate, little
an inch long ; on the end Of a. gold gold
or silver wire an inch long. Toynbec Of Lon
don invented it, and it is very good for GER
comets. and nest to them the Apparitor Auris.
which is like them. only a little longer. The
tube made OF silver and covered with flesh col.
ored enamel to gnthersound and pour IL direct
lave the hardly fr 81
very little good. except to some whose hearing
is very slightly affected. Hereis another Of the
tie more than half an inch broad. and Il tube
that runs away into the ear. II is m English
invention and is only meant to relieve cases
structions. like polypi. or by contraction.
Now we come 10 the almost limitlcss field Of
are straight, like Il fish horn. others curved and
twisted in all sorts of directions; some are
together. Those latter are technically known
rs lobster backs 1t is no new thing for ear
trumpcts TO be made inside OF or attached to
canes. Here is u specimen of an old-fashioned
kind. The head. you see, is Il trumpet at right
angles with the cane. and away down. near the
flexible, is exposed. | have heard of a new
sort OF auricular cane. gotten up here some
mn ag laid across mas tho sof tom Of tho cap no
for a head. crutch fashion. but have not seen it.
understand that its introduction was not sue
much can be expected from such contriyances
by persons who are really deaf or very hard OF
hearing. for the first principle in an appl-
ancc tor this purpose must be wide
mouthed bell to catch the sound. Here is
the extreme q THAT that frine'ple an invention
on the Upper principle. a foot wide. erected
on stand. with long flexible tube leading
from its base. the end of which is fitted with
as You see. partly closed by an orname ntal pat
tern of thin iron. The theory Of that is that it
~ - iS
berates in ii and is gradually concentrated into
the bottom where II is caught up by the tube.
There are several smaller applications of this
dipper principle TO ear trumpets one Of them
with face that looks ke milk strainer. You
might think it would keep the sound out. in
stead OF letting ii in, but II doesn't.
This ingenious continuance Is known rs the
auricle.' 1t consists of pair Of things like
structon with narrow, ttumpet-liSe mouths
pointed forward. and tubes that enter the ears.
They are held in place by II steel spring over
tn. head that can h" graduated by Il slide to fit
any skull. and may b" neatly concealed by
curis or plaits of hair, or by lace when worn by
FAY So al hardly To- III ses ,h,c With
mouth 10, speak into at the, other four feet
very deaf; and is known as the conversation
tube They are made both straight and taper
ing. but the latter are the best. and cost three
appliances cost from 81 to SIS each. The
Iionysius Ear is the most expensive,
An! There is another class OF aid to the
deaf that have neglected. to .men.ion-the
audiphone. and the various improvements
and adaptations upon it. Originally II was
rested against the teeth. and by it, vibrations
TO convey sound to the nerves OF the !seih: 1t
was very nTkwaar SsT @nd te S'Srs
have been number OF changes m.dc on it.
llcre IS on" Of tho latest. gu'.t petcha fan
that folds III three parts. and can DO put in the
pocket. ~