Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-04-25

poor progress. He Is now rapidly learning
TO speak naturally.
Anatomists will readily understand how
a displacement Of the boys upper spinal
vertebrae could have destroyed his mower
OF hearing. The nerve centres of the CEN
trail nervous system are situated in the
base Of the brain and in the spinal column
The two nerves OF hearing running 10 each
ear. known as the eighth cervical pair OF
nerves. start in the medulla oblongata.
which is part of the base OF the brain. The
medulla Is really the top Of the spinal cord
and Ia fmm ediately above the first spinal
vertebra. which Is called the atlas. 4 ne
next vertebra below this Is the axis.
Johnston Mays work consists mainly in
restoring the spinal column 10 its natural
position, in giving It its natural fe1ibility
and in removing excrescences which often
grow upon It as result OF disease or
malposition. He also corrects the position
OF other bones and makes the Joints hex-
ible.
1t Is very strange that, when scores Of
persons knew OF the unfortunate accident
attending the boys birth. no one had in
telllgence enough to connect It with his
subsequent affictiou. Doubtless, IL he had
been an ordinary child, a Butchers son.
for instance, the doctor would have found
right away that there was something
wrong with his neck and would have tried
to put II straight, but as he was prince
his person was sacred, nobody dared to
touch him and 80 he was allowed to grow
up deaf and dumb.
The Queen has sought for nearly twelve
years for some one who could cure her son.
For long time ne was under the treat
ment OF Professor Henri Raymond. the
most noted ear specialist in Switzerland.
but without any serious result. Two opera.
lions were performed on him at the
chronological Clinic, Fribourg, Switzer.
land. in 1911 and 1912. but they did him
no good He was again operated on In
1919 by Professor Moore, OF Bordeaux, a
noted French ear specialist. =
Nine distinguished European physicians
and surgeons examined him at Biarritz, in
1912. and pronounced him mentally nor
NAL. but they did not help him to hear
Year after year the King and Queen have
made new efforts to find cure for their
little sons afliction. The year before the
war King ASonso's principal physician Dr.
Vincente 1.orente, Visited the United States.
mt the instance OF his royal master. to
report ON the varioua methods in use on
this side Of the Atlantic for the relief OF
the dear ana dumb. The doctor returned
to Spain, 40 satisfied with what he had
learned over here, that at his instance the
King distributed several orders and deco.
rations among those Americans who had
assisted the doctor In his investigetlons
But these men did not help tho poor boy
to hear.
The Princes affliction was finally re-
garded as so incurable that It was officially
decided that II must bar him from succeed.
Ing TO the throne. By the laws OF most
European royal families incurably de-
formed princes are now barred from sue
ceedng.
In 1913 the youngest brother Of the az.
ficted Prince. the little Don Juan. only a
few months old, was officially designated az
the second heir to the Crown. the first
heir being. Of course. the sturdy, fair.
haired, stolid Alfonso, Prince OF the Astu-
rias. who is aB blond as his brother Jaime
is dark.
The two Older boys get on very we'll
with ono another. Jaime seemed TO under.
stand every look and every movement OF
the lips OF his elder brother, who In turn
comprehends Jaime. and always acted as
his Interpreter.
Now, 1t is certain that the order barring
Prince Jaime from the throne will be Of
ficially rescinded as soon as the officials
are satisfied that he Is thoroughly normal
Prince who can hear and talk.