The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-10-26
ms 4nrrRIcIAL VOICE.
With Bellows and Valves Mute lie ENABLED
to speak to an Audience.


At one OF the recent sessions OF the
French Academy Of Medicine. DIR. Perier'
surgeon of the Larivoisiere Hospital. pre-
sented for the examination OF his col
leagues a mute who expressed all MS
ideas by speech. That is TO say, oy mouu-
lated sounds. The history OF this man
Is most curious and interesting from
scientific point Of view.
He was habitually enjoying robust
health. when he was stricken with an IN
durable affection of the larynx, the nrst
symptoms OF which were observed In jan
uary 1891. Tired Of the treatment that ne
had to undergo for two years. he expressed
a desire to be operated upon as radi-
caly as possible
Fortified with such authorization. Or.
Perier proceeded on the 18th of June last
20 operate upon him for the total ex-
tirpation of the larynx. Every one knows
that the region of the larynx contains
the very organ Of the voice and that the
vocal apparatus of man, IL Il is indis-
putably the most delicate IS the most
perfect of that OF the higher beings. It's
destruction through disease or accident Is
consequently followed by aphony. The
operation once terminated according to
the rules of art, the skilful surgeon formed
orifice which he left open. This opening,
consequently communicating with both
the exterior and the pharynx, was reserved
for experiments upon the re-establish-
ment OF the voice by means Of an artificial
larynx. Convalescence proceeded quickly,
and on the 18th Of June the health Of the
patient was sufficiently re-established TO
permit Of such experiments.
In concert with Mr.. Aubry. manufac-
turer Of surgical instruments. DR.. Perier
directed these tentatives towards the
adaptation OF an artificial Iarynx, actuated
by a blowing device, and not by the
air issuing from the trachea- The APP
paratus. relatively simple, that they de-
cided 10 adopt, consists Of metallic reed
inclosed I'm a tube, and the plates OF
which, arranged in contrary directions,
obliterate half Of the light at each ex-
tremity. This tube terminates above In a
spherical surface, capable Of being APP
piled Theoretically to the orifce In the
front Of the neck. Below. Il is connected
with two elastic reservoirs, coupled and
mounted upon a metallic S-shaped ar
mature, permitting Of one communicating
with the other in order to obtain con-
tinuous current Of air Of mean intensity.
one Of the reservoirs is put In communi-
cation with a blowing device formed OF a
bulb similar TO those that actuate vapori-
GERS. Under the effect Of the current Of
air, the metallic reed enters into vibra-
ton and emits constant note of uni
form tonality which is approximately
that Of the ordinary diapason. The sound
thus produced is led, 50 to speak, into
the buccal cavity.
1t remains, then, I'm order to convert it
into true-spoken language, only to make
it undergo, through the intermedum OF
the tongue lips and teeth, as in ordinary
phonaton. the series Of moduiations that
produce the nuances and the difference I'm
the pronunciation of words. These
nuances, as incredible as the fact may
seem at first sight, are, it appears, OBJ
tanned quite easily. An education OF
few days suilices
The individual who was the object Of
the communication made to the Paris
Academy Of Medicine was able, amid the
plaudits Of the whole assembage, after
receiving his operator with emotion, TO
retrace the history and detailed phases OF
his painful disease with a voice that was
distinct, although Of a low and monoto-
nous tone.