Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-03-05
MAKING TIE DEAF HEAR,
Miracle of Modern Times Performed With
the Aid Of q Phonoxraph.

A Miracle of Modern Times Performed With
the Aid OF . Photograph.
1t is the thin edge of the wedge. If you cs,n
get one little sound one little note Of the proper
pitch into the deaf ear it is only question OK
time. and not very long time, before you can
open the ear to every sound. II you can get
vibratory force of the required intensity to play
into the ear the soun,-conducting mechanism
may be set in motion again and the deaf be
made to hear. At least that is the way The
STAR reporter understood the case 10 be when
stripped of all technicalities. The means for
introducing a steady stream Of sound of the re-
quired kind into the ear has been found in the
Edison photograph, and progressive specialists
have taken up The invention and are rapidly
developing its use in field of which prob
ably the great inventor never dreamed.
Photograph cylinders can be prepared 30 ms to
reproduce vibrations Of any intensity and in
any order Of succession required, and more
than that keep on reproducing them and re-
peating them to extent that might be ex-
ceedingly tiresome to the perfect ear. but IL
as refreshing as the sweetest music to the ear
that is just being awakened to new life 1t was
DR.. George A. Leech. whose Office 10 in the
Gunton building. corner of Pennsylvania ave-
nue and 9th street, that explained the matter
to STAR reporter. DIR. Leech has applied the
phonogral n to his practice rs an ear specialist
with results so surprising that he Is an en-
thusiast on the subject.
The principle of treatment by which the
hearing is restored said DR.. Leeeh to IHk
STAR reporter, lis the massage or mechanical
Stimulation and consequent awakening to lire
OF the sound conducting apparatus OF tie CIR
by means OF vlbratory force conveyed from the
cylinder OF phonogrnph to the parts involved.
L he pbonoHraph produces this wonderful re-
suit by impressing upon the parts involved in
slD nc mi ns.rfG axn
vibrations or sounds at regular Intervais The
character, frequency and intensity OF the vi
bratlOns are regulated and controlled by tho
surgeon. according to the exigencies OF the
case under treatment For instance, i'll q GER
tain case the sounds may consist OF intensified
shocks. So to speak. regulated SO rs to arouse
into action and vitality the Ossiclcs or chain OF
bones Of the middle ear that hive become
anchy losesl or immOvable, be the cause what it
may. In otler cases the vibrations nay he
regulated with greater frequency and less in
teusity, aud THUS reetore the junction of the
involved auditory nerve and internal ear"
Dr.. Leech, though the first in tins city to
apply the phonograph to the cure OF deafness.
lays no CLAIM to the credit OF having Jiscovere
Its adaptability to this use. DR.. Carey, pro-
lessor III the eye and department OF the
Southern Hospital. Baltimore, is, he says, en-
titled to the honor when l first heard Of
this use OF the phonOgrLph," DIR. Legch went
Oh, II WAS naturally skepticG, but concluded
to make "a thorough Investigation before pass
ing judgment 1 attended DR.. Gareys clinics
IN baltimore, questioned the patients who had
been curedby him, as wei! lis those then undergo
ing treatment, ana astonisLe, Mt the results.
| l became SO convinced of the efficacy OF the
| method employed and the wonders that il las
and can accomplish that l at once adopted it
| both In my Clinics aaI private practice. Ny
| success has been phenomenal. L Cannot help
wondering when 1 CONSIDER the simplicity Of
the principle that this adaptation # the phouo-
graph to the cure OF deafness was not CARRIER
discovered by the great lights OF the pro-
fession."
there is an odd thing. too, in connection
with the use OF the phonosraph to cure deaf
| ness. At first it was urged Ny some that the
| use of the invention would cause deafness.
1 hat this is not so long ago became evident III
tins city, where 30 many phonographs are USE.
| III + lace OF stenOgraphers; but the abso-
lutte aDsardIty OF the claim il shown b. the TACT
that experts have taken up the invention an
the bes. means OF making people hear better.