198 
Primary or ImmeptIATE Orcans oF 
Vorce.—But though the varieties of 
higher and lower, in the tones of the 
voice, be affected in some degree by 
the trachea, or pipe; and, in some de- 
gree, also, the force and firmness of 
such tones; they are more especially 
and absolutely dependent upon 
Tue Larynx, properly so called, and 
that cartilaginous knot of the throat 
(generally included in the same denomi- 
nation) by which the larynx is sur- 
rounded. 
This important organ, with its com- 
plicated apparatus, constitutes the pri- 
mary implement of vocal impulse, not 
only in the human being, but in all ani- 
mals capable of the expressions of vo- 
luntary and tunable sound, By the 
contraction or expansion of its respective 
parts, and by the modified vibrations and 
resistance of these, and their consequent 
actions and re-actions on the stream of 
breath impelled from the lungs to the 
mouth, all the varieties of STRENGTH or 
WEAKNESS, LOUDNESS or SOFTNESS, 
SHRILLNESS, CLEARNESS, HUSKINESS, 
and the musical properties of TREBLE, 
Bass and TENOR, with their inter- 
mediate modifications, are respectively 
produced: as also the essential diver- 
sities, or alterations of light and heavy, 
perceptible in the successions of syl- 
labic¢ sound; and, indeed, in the ca- 
dences of singing birds, and all the 
tunable successions of animal into- 
nation. 
The importance of the functions per- 
formed by this organ, will justify all 
the minuteness of definition and de- 
scription that can be requisite to enable 
us fully to comprehend its operations. 
It consists (1) of a strong elastic 
membrane, with a fissure in the middle 
capable of an almost infinite diversity 
of aperture, by the minuteness of its 
contractions and dilations;* (2) of a 
tension of those parts, so the Jaxity or 
diminished tension of the trachea produces 
what is vulgarly called a whisper. ‘To the 
same source is referred hoarseness, often 
the companion of a cough, and which im- 
pedes the vibrations of the larynx or tra- 
chea.”,—Tonorum varietas, &c., Wallis, 
sect. 1. 
* Brydone, by a confused quotation of 
a rather ambiguous passage from KEILL’s 
Anatomy (see 14th edit. Edinb. p. 130, 
131) would lead one to expect a much 
more minute and: curious complication in 
the:structure of the Glottis, than even that 
which it exhibits—as: if, indeed, it com- 
prized) an immehse but: arbitrary number 
of minuter: pipes; differing, like these of 
. The Anatomy of Spéech. 
{April 1, 
cartilaginous valve, by which the pas- 
sage of the larynx may be opened or 
closed; 
an organ, in their respective dimensions; 
and producing, accordingly, each its’ own 
peculiar and appropriate note or sound. 
The words of Mr. Brydone are (speaking 
of the famous Italian singer Gabrieli) “she 
alleges that it is not always caprice that 
prevents her from singing, but that it often 
depends upon physical causes: and _ this, 
indeed, I can readily believe; for that 
wonderful flexibility of voice, that runs with 
such rapidity and neatness through the 
most minute divisions, and produces, almost 
instantaneously, so great a variety of modu- 
lation, must surely depend on the very nicest 
tone of the fibres: and if these are in the 
smallest degree relaxed, or their elasticity 
diminished, how is it possible that their 
contractions and expansions can so readily 
obey the will as to produce these effects ? 
The opening of theGlottis, which forms the 
voice, is extremely small; and in every va- 
riety of tone [note], its diameter must 
suffer a sensible change ; for the same diame- 
ter must ever produce the same tone.”’ 
Thus far he is correct, but to this he adds 
the following note : 
“So wonderfully minute are its contrac- 
tions and dilations, that Dr. Keill, I think, 
computes, that in some voices, its openings 
(not more than the tenth of an inch) is 
divided into upwards of 1,200 parts; the 
different sound of every one of which is 
perceptible to an exact ear.” 
But it could not be the meaning of Mr. 
Brydone, and it certainly was not of Dr. 
Keill, that there were 1,200 littie pipes of 
different diameters, included within the 
main pipe, or Glottis. We know that there 
is no such structure. The passage, to ren- 
der the sense accurately perspicuous, should 
be altered thus—‘‘so wonderfully minute 
are its contractions and dilations, that, in 
some voices, its opening is capable of being 
varied through the gradations of upwards 
of 1,200 different diameters ; the different 
sound from eyery one of which is percep- 
tible to an exact ear.”” I have omitted the 
assertion of the opening not being more 
than the tenth part of an inch; because, 
certainly, this is very far from being correct 
with respect to any larynx I have anatomi- 
cally exanjined. But such minutiz are not 
important to the immediate subject. 
I find it necessary to object also to the 
use of the word tone in the above passage, 
however supported by popular usage and: 
authority. The notes, that is to say, the 
gradations of high and Jow in the musical 
scale, depend upon the diameter of- the 
opening of the glottis; but the tone (in 
that sense in which we use the term, when’ 
we talk of the different tones of two simi- 
lar or different instruments—and to which- 
sense I could wish it to be confined) must™ 
depend, for’ its varieties, on’ aii’ extensive’ 
complication of vibrations, proceeding from ' 
an 
