The Red Cloud chief., 1893-11-10
AN ARTIFICIAL Y
A Highly Interesting and Successful Ex-
pertinent on the Human Throat.

- eas 49,
pertinent on the Human Throat.
At one Of the recent sessions of tho
French Academy Of Medicine DIR. Perier,
surgeon Of the Lariboisiere hospital, pre-
sented for the examination of his col
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 Q
scientific 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
January, 1891. Tired Of the treatment
that he had to undergo for two years, he
expressed a desire to be operated upon
as radically as possible.
Fortified with such authorization, DR..
Perier proceeded on the 10th of June
last to operate upon him for the total *
tirpation Of the larynx. Every one
knows that the region Of the larynx on
tains the very organ Of the voice, and
that the vocal apparatus of man, If it is
indisputably the most delicate, is the most
perfect Of that of the higher beings. Its
obstruction through disease or accident
is consequently followed by aphony. The
operation once terminated according to
the rules Of art, the skillful surgeon
formed in the anterior wall Of the neck
a small orifce, which he left open. This
opening, consequently communicating
with both the exterior and the pharynx,
was reserved for experiments upon the
re-establishment Of the voice by means
Of an artificial larynx. Convalescence
proceeded quickly, and on the 2sth Of
June the health Of the patient vas suf-
fciently re-established to permit Of such
experiments.
In concert with Mr.. Aubry, manufac-
turer Of surgical instruments, DR.. Perier
| directed these ~tentatives toward the
adaptation of an artificial larnyx, actu-
| ated by u blowing device, and not by the
| air issuing from the trachea. The APP
paratus-relatively simple-that they de-
| cided to adopt, consists OF o metallic
| reed inclosed in q tube, and the plates Of
which, arranged in contrary directions,
obli;erate half Of the light at each ex-
trcmity. This tube terminates above in
q spherical surface, capable of being ap-
piled Theoretically TO the oritice in the
front of the neck. Below it is connected
with two elastic reservoirs, coupled and
mounted upon q metallic $ shaped ar
mature, permitting Of n communi.
eating with the other in order to obtain
a continuous current Of air of mean in
tensity. One Of the reservoirs is put in
communication with n blowing device
formed Of n bulb similar to those that
actuate vaporizers. Under the effect Of
the current Of air the metallic reed en-
tiers into vibration and enits a constant
note of uniform tonality, which is ap-
p~roximately that of the ordinary diapa.
son. The soard thus produced is led, SO
to speak, into the buccal cavity.
1t remains, then, in order to convert ii
into true spoken language, only to make
iG undergo, through the intermedium OF
the tongue, lips and teeth, as in ordinary
~phJnation, the series OF mcGulations that
produce the nuanceS and the difference
in 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 sufiices.
The individual who was the object OF
the communication made to the Pari,
Academy Of Medicine was able, amid tho
plaudits Of the whole assemblage, afte,
recounting his operation with emotion, &c
retrace the history and detailed phases
of his painful disease with a voice tina,
was distinct, although of a low and mo
notonous tone.-Magasin Picturesque.