Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1894-06-21
SCIENTIFIC MATTERS.
nv rEREsTING MISCELLANY FOR
INQUIRING MINDS.

The Usefulness of the Antiphone to
Those Who Are Troubled With In
SOmnia-The Work of u 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 Elisonian ilven-
ton, but may be made otf-hand when
needed by heating a small piece of
sealing-wax 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
ted comparatively little sleep was to
be obtained" AS to the exact method
of using the antiphone he gives the
Is warmed over the gas flame and a
ouAASiCuI 4ustAtAtJ ID PlcooSu VII DC-
tween the thumb and finger. This is
meatus. In order to make such a fit
duced when the head is placed on the
pillow, the tragus is placed over it
for an instant and the end Of the in
bottom Of the plug in the ear. Each
mn fhn Mt
away. The selection of wax Is O vital
to select Denison's Am. Express, No.
2, while in America, and Packet Lac
in Germany
The disturbing influence of noise, par
ticularly in the city, has been so much
silence is so automatic, that it seems
really surprising the ant;phone 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 sure
~ be extended to include the day, with
its unceasing, nerve-shattcring roar.
The incessant bombarding Of the brain
with the vibration of sound is believed
by some physicians to be prominent
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 a contrivance so simple rs the anti
phone can in any degree mitigate this,
it is certainly worthy of trial.
1t must be remembered, however,
that man is vain animal, aud that
mere merit is not sure passport to
public favor. In order that the anti
phone shall receive anything like fair
trial, some leader of fashion must take
it 1.-THE thing" to go about with aural
decorations suggestive of q return to
barbaric standards Of aesthetics, or else
some inventive genius must give us an
antiphone combining all the sound-eX-
Guiding properties of primitive sealing
wax with fair measure of cosmetic
attractiveness The perfected anti
phone, too, must be easy to put on and
take Off The busy man cannot waste
time in melting sealing-wax, even to
save his brain from destruction, though
he might learn to clap on pair Of
antiphones when required if they could
be adjusted with the ease of spectacles.
Here surely is field for the inventor,
and success will mean not only the
thanks of the multitude, but their dol
lars as we'll. Think of the allurement
that will lie in such a poster as this,
when once the uses Of the instrument
are understood: "Prof. rs patent Cos
meto-Antiphone - pronounced by lead
ing scientists the marvel of the age!
recommended by ten thousand physi-
cians!: An absolute sound excluder;
an infalllble sleep producer; the restor-
er of shattered nerves, and the solace
Of weary brains"
Speed the day of coming of the per-
fected antiphone! In very truth it
will meet a long-felt want.-Harper's
Weekly.