New Britain herald., 1923-04-20
HAND, SENSITIVE, IS
 'EAR' 0F DEAF MAN
Northwestern University ProIS.
 sor Making Experiments

Chicago, April 2n.--The develop ment of hand to replace the ear n, an organ for distinguishing sounds has been carried by Professor Robert H. Gault, of Northwestern university 10 the point where university authori- ties have announced that he believes he Is uncovering new field which may lead to direct help for the deaf
 Prof. Gault has been able to train Jchn Crane. a student. who is not desf, to recognize certain spoken words. through the palm of his hand Tho vibrations of a voice, speaking through a long tube. are made to i'm pinge on MT. Cranes palm. while the sound Is shut off from his ears. Pro- lessor Gault is arranging to cxperi- ment with an acousticon in the hand of stone deaf person. with tho speaker long distance away He says of these experiments.
 Hts Conclusion
 T have concluded that John Crane when he correctly interprets words and sentences by means of the im- pressions received on the palm of his hand through long tube. does not hear these words or sentences In the first place, his ears have been plugged either with cotton or putty or with both, his head tightly bound with q thick bandage and a motor has been operated nearby. In the second place his brother George. who has done the speaking, has been distant 30 feet in another room. There are two inter vening walls. and even if John were not muffied from sound. doubt his ability to hear anything. None of us who stood at Johns side could catch tke words George spoke through the tube
 Explains Theory
 My theory therefore is as follows: The sound vibrations are conducted by the nerves from the delicate area in the hand to the general association areas of the brain and there are d. rectly transmitted 10 the mind. John does not hear the words or the phrases in the accepted sense of the term. It is true that when he is learning new word he says he thinks he hears it when it is repeated but when this word impression has been lTuSllply Ildue, JcllI duHiito thul oh thoughts of hearing leave him. and ss quickly as the vibrations strike his hand, he repeats the word automatic ally"
 Professor Gault is working out 3 process and theory which he hopes to prove of practical use. He thinks it will not be difficult to per feet an instrument that will be easily portable and of use for the deaf.
 Commenting on the experience of Wiletta Huggins. deaf girl of lanes vile, Wisconsin, who says she hears | by means of an acousticon held in her l hand, Professor Gault says he is con- | >-tnced she does not hear with the ear 1 but receives the vibrations in the gen. | eral association areas of the brain. | He adds:
 "A tuning fork may he placed upon the head or the brow of 2 stone deaf person. and it's vibrations will be clearly detected. A person extremely deaf may go to telephone and hear 8 conversa ton. These are demon strated facts It is SO remotely possi- hle that the sound actually reaches the auditory nerves in some of these instances that am convinced that John Crane gets no help from his au flitory nerves. when he pronounces H words just spoken,hy his brother, and that Willeta Huggins does not hear It all, but receives the sound impress sions by another route"