Chatham and Fox the Senate-house of England-although apparently so easy, and as if natural to man, is, when viewed physiologically, a very complicated art, requiring, on the part of the human being, that peculiar power so significantly alluded to by Anacreon as the privilege of voice-dividing men;" while, for the display of this power, the harmonious combination of a series of curious movements, performed by equally curious mechanism, is at all times essentially necessary. APPARATUSES TO AID THE DEAF. If any one desires to hear an indistinct sound he instinctively places his half-closed palm edgewise behind the auricle. All contrivances which are of any value are merely a modification of the additional auricle thus improvised. Instruments are made of tin, ivory, shell, rubber, gold, German silver, platina, Molucca wood, etc., for this purpose. Their use dates back into the misty past beyond the reach of inquiry. Very much ingenuity has been employed in the endeavor to supply aid to the deaf, and to strengthen exhausted or diseased nervous structure. SILVER TUBES Are found in the instrument stores which have a useful look, but are a worthless contrivance. They are intended to straighten the canal and to open it more fully, so as to permit the sounds to enter. If all is right at the other end of the canal the passage requires no such attention. It may be possible that a case of occlusion might be benefited, but such a case would not oftener occur than once in a century. Fig. 5 exhibits the ordinary ear-trumpet, that which will. probably never be superseded, and which forms the basis of . all others.* Its only objection is its unsightliness. It ought to be generally understood that the best instrument, the one that most aids the deaf, is and must be large, and of necessity conspicuous. The unsightly, so called, trumpet (only because it resembles a trumpet in appearance) is the only instrument that will enable the very deaf to hear conversation in an apartment, or gather the sounds from several voices at the same time. The above figure will exhibit a modification of the trumpet; a little less unsightly, and probably a little less excellent with regard to the aid afforded. The conversation tube will accomplish the same purpose in communicating with a single individual. The deaf are very sensitive with regard to their infirmity. They shrink from exposing it to all passers-by, as do those who carry with them in the streets and the place of assembly the large open-mouth "trumpet." Various methods have been employed to furnish the same relief without the objection just stated, and with some degree of success, especially in regard to those who are not very deaf. This very "trumpet " is so modified as to be portable, and not conspicuous when not in use. It is shown in fig. 7.† Fig. 7. This instrument when in use is practically the same as that shown in figure 5, although necessarily smaller in size. When not used it folds so small that it may be put into the pocket or into a lady's reticule. It is called the "telescope trumpet," * This engraving and the next, as well as the "auricles," (fig. 9,) was furnished by Mr. H. HIERNSTIEN, of New York. Furnished by Tiemann & Co. because it is composed of concentric rings, which are beveled in such manner as to fall together if loosened, and when extended fasten themselves readily, forming as complete a trumpet as that represented in fig. 5. This is a very useful instrument. The principle upon which this is made was suggested to us by the editor of this Journal, before it was known to him or to the author, that it had been before presented to the public. We are indebted also to him for the first suggestion which resulted in the instrument that we next introduce to our readers, This was made under our direction by Tiemann & Co., and they call it Fig. 8. DR. CLARK'S TRUMPET-CANE. It is a combination of the cane, eartrumpet, and conversation-tube. The diagram (fig. 8) exhibits the instrument in the right-hand figure as a neat, genteel walking cane, with a somewhat clumsy hand-piece, still easily grasped by a hand of some size. The left-hand figure exhibits an ear-trumpet, the cover being readily removed from the bell-shaped extremity by merely touching a spring, while from near the bottom of the cane a spring throws out an ivory ear-piece, which the patient readily applies to the ear. When so applied, by merely extending the instrument in the manner of holding a long pipe, the very best conversation-tube is furnished. Sound, like light, travels best in straight lines. The necessary convolutions of the ordinary conversation-tube make it less excellent for that purpose than this instrument, as well as very much less convenient. This trumpet is changed back to a cane in a single second. It must be, we think, that it supplies an important want. The following engraving exhibits another of the many contrivances to make the deaf hear by mechanical means. This is also furnished by Hiernstien.* It is, as are all the others, a * Persons from a distance may confidently order ear-trumpets of H. HIERNSTIEN, and GEORGE TIEMANN & Co., of New York, also of BENJAMIN PIKE & SON, of New modification of the instrument represented by figure 5. It consists of two small artificial auricles, which answer about the purpose of both hands placed behind the ear in the manner before suggested. They dress under the hair, so that ladies can perfectly conceal them, as well as men who wear very long hair. In cases where the deafness is not very considerable they answer a good purpose. THE ADAPTATION OF THE TRUMPET TO DISTANT SOUNDS. The instrument which we have described is further modified so as to gather sounds to be conveyed to a distance. Mr. D. D. Stelle, a Jerseyman, has patented a method of applying the instrument so as to enable the deaf to hear in a public audienceroom. He calls it "The Phonophorus." It consists merely of a gigantic ear-trumpet, placed behind the desk or pulpit in such a manner that its open mouth looks upward, presenting the appearance of a large tin kettle. It is covered by a grateing, which answers the purpose of a desk-board. The sound of the speaker's voice falls upon the desk, and entering the huge auricle is conveyed away, and is communicated under the floor in exactly the manner that sound is transmitted in conversation-tubes to the very pews, where, amid the upholstery, is artfully hidden away the terminal end, adjusted so as to be readily applied to the ear of the deaf hearer, putting him in communication with the speaker. We have seen it applied to chairs and tables, and see no reason why it might not be as well adapted to any other piece of furniture. Of course, sounds once collected can be made to travel considerable distances. Of this we have many familiar examples. The reason that some rooms are "whispering galleries," and convey sounds York; or M'ALLISTER BROTHERS, of Philadelphia, both of whom have long enjoyed an inherited reputation in all that relates to aids to the eye-sight. They have not forgotten that men also have ears. readily, is because they are really immense auricles. That we cannot so construct all apartments is because the principles of acoustics are even now but little understood. Just here is an opportunity for some Sir Isaac Newton, yet to be born, to gain immortality. Indeed, there is abundant room for many Newtons still, before we have exhausted any branch of science. METHOD OF SPEAKING TO THE DEAF. There is no little art in properly conversing with deaf persons in order to be heard easily. Most persons speak to the deaf in a quick, sharp tone on a high key. This is the very worst method possible. Persons not totally deaf hear a large part of the sentence. It is the lower cadences, as the voice is dropped at the comma or period, with an unaccented word or syllable, which is the part unheard; that being missed the deaf person asks a repetition. If the reply is made in a louder tone, on a higher key, enforcing the emphatic words, (which he heard distinctly before,) and slurring over the same cadences, he is as badly off as ever. Just the parts he heard you have screamed quickly and vociferously, and the parts he did not hear you muttered again. Distance and distinctness of voice make a very great difference. Many persons can hear perfectly well an utterance from a few inches, which is totally unintelligible one or two yards distant. They can also easily hear utterances made, directly toward them, which they lose entirely if you avert your face. The more direct the lines of sound toward the ear the more easy is it for the deaf auditor to understand. DUTIES OF THE DEAF. If the friends of the deaf are bound to be kind and forbearing, so ought the deaf themselves to exercise patience and forbearance. They should cultivate an unsuspicious disposition and a kindness of manner, the more because these virtues are with difficulty cultivated by the deaf, who live in a world of silence and solitude, which is always distressing. The deaf should not permit undue sensitiveness to induce them to postpone the use of the trumpet, in some form, after it has been found difficult to communicate. |