Deafness practically illustrated / [James Yearsley].

  • James Yearsley
Date:
[1849]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Deafness practically illustrated / [James Yearsley]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    instrument* which had such power that the noise of two persons walking along the streets sounded like the tramp of an army, and the human voice appeared to issue from a speaking trumpet, but with such confusion that the enunciation could not be recognised. Nucky describes an instrument of the shape of a hunting horn which increased the intensity of sound, but with the disadvantage of rendering articulate language confused. In fact, the problem is yet to be solved how to accumu- late sound, and at the same time preserve the percep- tion of articulate language. In the construction of an ear trumpet, the important fact should not be lost sight of, that deaf people are an- noyed and confused by loud bawling into the ear. That which they want is distinctness of articulation. The deaf person can hear one friend remarkably well, whilst another, who speaks with a more powerful voice, cannot be understood at all. The reason is, that the articula- tion of the former is distinct, the latter muffled and con- fused. Speak deliberately and distinctly, and the deaf person will thank you; but shout or bawl into his ear, and he will be almost disposed to be offended with you. For my own part I have rarely any difficulty in holding conversation with the deaf, and patients under my treat- ment have frequently expressed surprise at the facility with which they could converse with me, and the diffi- culty they experience with others. Some, ignorant of the simple rules I observe, have looked around the con- sulting room for a reason, expecting to find something peculiar in its construction. Great attention has been devoted to the construction * Traité de la parole.—Liege, 1691. + Operationes et experimenta chirurgicee.—Leyden, 1692.
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