The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-07-24
STAlIMERING.
ChCSES OF THE DEFECT AND
CURATIVE VI f1TTHODS.
Difficult to Say What Causes lnfirm-
ity of Speech - Treatment
Without Surgery or
Drugs.


them are women. Children who
are inclined to be hasty are in the ma
iority, but their defects often pass
away as they grow older.
Physicians have become greatly in
terested in the treatment of these de-
rects, and institutions are being
founded for that purpose. Chicago
has one operating under State char
ter, the only one of its kind in the
country enjoying that position.
Douglas McCallnm, who has spent
much of his life in scientific study OF
this infrmity, and who is at the head
Of the institution there, was asked by
the Record to give some OF his views
On the scope and efficiency of this new
ield of special treatment. He said:
"Stammering, under which general
head all speech defects are frequently
classed, is often supposed to result
from nervousness, but stammerers as
class are not more nervous than 9th
ers. Defective speech seems to be
moro generally the result of want OF
balance or lack of harmony between
the mental and physical natures, and
until something like order is restored
little can usually be done for the
patient. 1t is not a lack OF force IN
any direction, for stammerer Will
often be found in possession OF an un-
usnal degree of mental and physical
power and may not be in the slightest
degree nervous 1t is impossible to
say definitely what causes the difficulty.
In some cases it seems to be conscious
or unconscious imitation. Often, ap-
parently, it is inherited, and again 1t
irst appears directly after some dis:
ease. Sudden shocks have caused
stammering in on adult and again the
same kind of shock has been known
as suddenly to cure lifelong case OF
stammering. Cases where 1T appears
of hereditary origin and of more than
twenty years continuance haveylelded
readily to corrective measures, while
others, where the habit has recently
been acquired by mocking a STAN
nerer, have proved more obstinate.
"There may be the most violent
PHYSICAL contortions in one case and
again another may remain perfectly
silent and motionless, giving no out
ward sign of effort to speak, but the
latter may suffer the more.
"Often if violent exertion has been
the accompaniment OF stamnering
ease and deliberation are studied. II
any movements have been practiced,
as moving the head, eyes OF hands,
they must be discontinued. These
and other physical movements often
are given to stammerers as a means OF
cure, either by well-meanlns parsons
who know no better or by Ignorant
charlatans. One will advise the suf-
ferer to drink water from brass bell,
another to take full breath before
speaking, to nod the head before arti-
culation or to think before speaking.
All are useless or injurious to a greater
or less degree. Many stammerers
could utter d sentence on the spur OF
the moment, but if the same sentence
we're brought over too much the very
vital force required for saying it
would be exhausted and speech would
be impossible. All physical movement
cures may be similarly exploded. They
serve for a while to take the attention
from the thought of stammering, but
soon becomes futile.
"The habit in different ages has
passed successfully through various
treatments. Once the. sufferer was
called possessed of devil or be.
witched. Later, supposing him to be
tongue tied. he was subjected to the
knife and cruelty butchered
by ignorant practitioners. Long ago
it was demonstrated that the habit did
not arise from any organic defect.
'sIt is not safe to fix any definite
age at which stammering should be
treated. If the subject be bright,
intelligent child the conditions are
favorable for o speedy cure, as habits
are less deeply cut. In many cases it
is we'll to wait until the stammerer
sees the importance OF becoming
cured. Years of experience only
teach that childhood is the best period
to treat some cases. while others will
yield more successfully at q later day.
''In treating stammering modern
science has discarded surgery, drugs,
secret methods, all physical move
ments not actually necessary for the
most refined speech and all artificial
tricks or aids. A careful observation
is made of the patient, and measures
are resorted to to restore harmony of
action between the mental and phys
lcal organizations. Calmness of man
ner and composure of mind are the
first requisites. Training is given in
control of respiration aud in produc-
ton of tone, SO progressing by easy
and regular steps into correct speech.
If any improper or useless habits are
found they are corrected at once, and
the course OF treatment demands OF
every person the fullest possible de-
velopment of the best side of charac-
ter, order, self-control, patience, de-
liberation and concentration. The
same course of lectures, study and
practice cannot be given to all, for
what would tend to cure one person
OF stammering would greatly aggra-
Yate the defect in another"