The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-10-29
r.I n, 80 -
FIId0y You Gel Odds GRd Ends OI=
Every Description ClGlD. :
HIS ARTIFICIAL VOICE.
With Bellows and Valves a Mute Ia
Enabled to Speak to an Audience.
From tho La Magasln Pittoresaue.


From the La Magasln Picturesque
At one of the recent sessions of the
French Academy Of Medicine, Dir. Perler,
Surgeon of the Lariboisiero Hospital, pre-
sentcd for the examination Of his coll
leagues a mute who expressed all his
ideas by speech, that is to say, by modu-
lated sounds. The history Of this man is
most curious and interesting from a scien-
tifc point of view.
He was habitually enjoying robust
health when he was stricken with an in
durable affection Of the larynx the first
symptoms of which were observed in Jan
uary, 1891. Tired of the treatment that
he had to under go for two years, he ex-
pressed desire TO be operated upon as
radically as possible.
Fortified with such authorization, DR.,
Perier proceeded on the 18th OF June last
to operate upon him for the total extirDa-
tion of the larynx. Every one knows that
the region OF the larynx contains the very
organ of the voice, and that the vocal APP
paratus of man, if it is indisputably the
most delicate, is the most perfect of that
of the higher beings. It's destruction
through disease or accident is cOnse-
quently followed by aphony. The opera
ton once terminated according to the
rules of art, the skillful surgeon formed
in the anterior wall of the neck small
orifice which he left open. This opening,
consequently communicating with both
the exterior and the pharynX. was re-
served for experiments upon the re-estab-
lishment Of the voice by means Of an arti-
fetal larynx. ConValescence proceeded
quickly, and on the 28th of June the
health OF the patient was sufficiently re-
established to permit of such expert
ments.
In concert with Mr.. Aubry, manufac-
turer of surgical instruments. DR. Perier
directed these tentatives toward the
adaptation of an artificial larynx, ac-
tuated by a blowing device, and not by
the air issuing from the trachea. The
apparatus, relatively simple, that they
decided TO adopt, consists of a metallic
reed inclosed in 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 orifice in the
front of the neck. Below, it is connected
with two elastic reservoirs. coupled and
mounted upon metallic S-shaped arma-
ture. 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 commune
cation with a blowing device formed Of a
bulb similar to those that actuate vap-
orizers Under the effect of the current
Of the air, the metallic reed enters into
vibration and emits constant note Of
uniform tOnality, which is approximately
that Of the ordinary diapason. The sound
thus produced is led, 50 to speak, into the
buccal cavity.
II remains, then, in order to convert it
into true'spoken language, only TO make
il undergo, through the intormcdium OF
the tongue, lips and teeth, as ia ordinary
phOdatiOn. the series Of lnOdulatiOns thar
produce the nuanses and the difference ia
the pronunciation OF words These ma
ances, as incredible as the fact may seem
al FIRST sight, are. IL appears, obtained
quite easily An education OF o few aass
saffiCes
The individual who was the object II
the communication made ~ tie Paris
Academy of Medicine WAS a0le Amia
the piaudlts Of The whole asaembaee
after receiving bis operator nllh emotion,
% reirace The history END dela8ao Phases
Of has painf9l disease Hitb 5 voice
fbat was distinct, although ~ or aae
non0toggls tone.