The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-01-07
DEAF-MUTEs MADE TO HEAR.
Some of the Ingenious Inventions which
Have Led to This Result.

Some of the Ingenious Inventions Which,
Have Led to This Result.
In every age prolonged struggles
have been made against deafness; there
have been special physicians, special in
strumcnts and special remedies for the
ear. The acoustic cornet of DR. Lar
rey. intended to be concealed in the
hair; the acoustic bell of Dr. Itard.
acoustic tubes, dilating tubes, artificial
ears of metal. silk and gutta percha,
audiphones, auricular microphones,
conches, artificial tympanums, even
acoustic fans for the use of ladies.
have had, at divers times, a reputation
more or less deserved. Finally. the
announcement was made that new
acoustic cornet had been found,
which not only enabled the deaf
to hear, but which diminished
and even conquered deafness. In
order to see that wonder, of which I had
some doubt, Immediately went to
Bourgla- Refine, to the institution for
deaf-mutes kept by the Sisters of CAL
vary. With n fine architectural appear
ance, in the midst of trees and flowers.
that house seems the sweetest of nests
for the poor creatures who are sheltered
there. In the little room in which was
received there were already several per-
sons from different places, and even
from abroad, waiting TO see the expert
ments directed by the inventor, Mgr.
Nerrier. Wearied by the suffering and
Isolation into which deafmute children
were often plunged by their infirmity.
DESTROYS above all TO prepare some of
them for their first communion, the
venerable prclatc sought the shortest
way to reach their hearts. He addressed
himself to their ears, and after many
attempts and much stumbling he sue
ceeded in producing that new cornet
on which he has taken out n
patent. The apparatus is COM
posed of large bell of enam-
cled metal, united by gutta percha
tube, about fifty centimcters in length,
to little bone tube covered with putta
percha, which extends somewhat be-
You'd it. The tube is covered outside
by light stuff intended to arrest all
foreign vibrations. The little tube
penetrates into the auditory passage,
and touches the tympanum. Thanks
to this, not sound. not breath is lost
on the patient, and no matter how lit
tie hearing remains to him, he per-
ceives sounds and noises, that is to say,
vowels and consonants. and finally he
even hears words. AT least that was
the theory which was explained by the
physicians who assisted ut the expert
ments, and Of which am able, from
having seen them, to state the results
A sister, holding the new cornet, placed
the end of it in the ear of each indi-
vidual brought to her. and made him
hear several phrases, without moving
her lips, and speaking in low tone.
The sound arrived clearly. without
buzzing, without Resonance, and with n
remarkable intensity. q note, in pass
ing, that the extremity of the tube
could be unscrewed, and that each pupil
had his own; IL wise hygienic precau-
tom Afterward the sister took n lit
tie girl of the first year, placed the APP
paratus in her ear, and pronounced nj
the other extremity, papa, mamma,
tata. apap, appa, etc. which the child
easily repeated She was not able t.
read the words on the lips of her teach,
! CT, because they were concealed 10y tbs