The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1894-06-14
SCIENTIFIC MATTERS.
INTERVENING MISCELLANY FOR
FIGURING MINDS.

INTERESTING MISCELLANY FOR
FIGURING MINDS.
The Usefulness of the AntiphOne to
Those Who Are Troubled With In
Somnia-The Work OF Dairy
School.
Prof. Scripture of Yale has recently
suggested that persons suffering from
insomnia may find it worth while to
use "antiphones'' to shut out disturbing
noises at night The antiphone, it is
explained, is not an Edisonian inyen-
ton, but may be made of-hand when
needed by heating a small piece Of
sealing-wa and inserting it into the
external meatus Of the ear. Prof.
Scripture says Of his own experience
that for four years he has obtained
sound sleep by the use Of such anti
phones, whereas before their use (and
now at any time when they are omit
ted comparatively little sleep was to
be obtained" AS to the exact method
Of using the antiphone he gives the
| following directions: 1.-THE stick of wax
is warmed over the gas fame and
| sufficient quantity is pressed off be-
| tween the thumb and finger. This is
placed in the entrance Of the external
meatus In order to make such a fit
that no sensations Of touch are pro-
duced when the head is placed on the
pillow, the tragus is placed over it
| Mt fhn of no
dex finger slightly loosens the top and
bottom Of the plug in the ear. Each
morning the antiphones are thrown
away. The selection of wax is a vital
matter. Numerous trials have led me
| to select Denison's Am. Express, No.
| 9, while in America, and Packet Lac
in Germany"
The disturbing influence Of noise, par
ticularly in the city, has been so much
commented upon, and the restfulness OF
silence is so. automatic, that it seems
really surprising the antiphone has been
so long neglected Should it prove to
others as great boon as to Prof. Scrip
ture, it ought to rival the telephone in
popularity, for the ranks of the brain
weary are receiving hourly recruits,
and the tired brain longs before all
else for the blissfulness Of silence
while it rests Nor should the anti
phone confine it's benefactions to the
night. Its field of usefulness may SIRE
ly be extended to include the day, with
it's unceasing, nerve-shattering roar.
The incessant bombarding Of the brain
with the vibration Of sound is believed
by some physicians to be a promine ut
cause of some of the dispropOrtionate
nervousness of the residents of cities,
while no physician is required to state
the case on the score of discomfort.
If continuance so simple as the anti
phone can in any degree mitigate this,
it is certainly worthy ora trial.
It must be remembered, however
that man is a vain animal, and that
mere merit is not sure passport to
public favor. In order that the ant;
phone shall receive anything like fail
trial, some leader of fashion must take
it "the thing to go about with AURA
decorations suggestive of return tt
barbaric standards of aesthetics, or else
!; some inventive genius must give us ar
antiphone combining all the sound-ex
Guiding properties of primitive sealing
wax with a fair measure of cosmetic
attractiveness. The perfected anti
raone, too, must be easy to put on ant
take off. The busy man cannot WASTE
time in melting sealing wax, even t
save his brain from destruction, though
he might learn to clap on a pair O
: antiphones when required if they coul|
be adjusted with the ease Of spectacles
Here surely is a field for the inventor
> and success will mean not only tn
= thanks of the multitude, but their dol
! lars as well. Think of the alluremen
= that will lie in such a poster as this
: when once the uses of the instrumen
: are understood: "Prof. rs patent Cos
!, meto- Antiphone pronounced by lea6
ing scientists the marvel of the age
recommended by, ten thousand phys
cians!! An absolute sound excludel
an infalllble sleep producer; the resto1
er of shattered nerves, and the solac
j. of weary brains"
e Speed the day of coming Of the pc
fected antiphone! In very truth
4 will meet long-felt want.-Harper
Weekly.