248 
tice twelve times; the object of this opera- 
tion is to restore the free use of speech to 
those who are deprived of it, by the divi- 
sion of the velum palatinum, a defect in 
the conformation of the inside of the mouth, 
which is almost as common as the labia 
leporina, or hare lip.”’* 
* The demonstration of the practicability and effi- 
cacy of such an operation, is undoubtedly an occur- 
rence of high importance ; as it may supersede the 
doubtful expedient of attempting to supply the defi- 
ciency by the mechanism of artificial organs: an ex- 
pedient often inefficacious, always troublesome, and 
frequently productive of injurious, and eyen dan- 
gerous consequences.. It ought not, however, to be 
forgotten, that Mr, Thelwallhas, in several instances, 
most satisfactorily proved the possibility of superin- 
ducing a perfectly intelligible enunciation, and even 
an agreeable intonation of the voice, without appeal 
either to such operation, or the use of any artificial 
organ. See his Results of Experience in the Treatment 
of cases af Defective Utterance from Deficiencies in the 
Roof of the Mouth, and other Impexfections and 
Malconformations of the Organs, 8vo. Ayeh, Corn- 
hill, 1814,—The method pursued by Mr. Thelwall is, 
that of teaching those portions of the organs of the 
mouth that are in a state of completeness, to sup- 
ply the hiatus of those that are deficient or imper- 
fect ; and of so directing the organs of the glottis, the 
larynx, &c., as tomake them perform, ina consider- 
able degree, those functions of elementary and sylla- 
bic pronunciation, which, in cases of more perfect 
organization, are performed in the mouth. He 
found, by successive experiments, that the desirable 
effect could be more completely secured in this way 
than by any assistance from the mechanism of artifi- 
cial palates, &c. If the operation, however, can be 
safely and effectually performed, it is better still. 
It may be doubtful, however, whether the patient, 
unless the operation be performed very early, would 
not have great difficulty in acquiring the proper use 
of the new organs. 
Patents for Mechanical and Chemical Inventions. 
[April 1, 
Bruxelles.—The institution of the Sci- 
ences, Literature and Fine Arts of the Low 
Countries, have offered a golden medal, or 
the value, to the amount of 800 florins, for 
the best answer to the following question : 
What were the qualities which principally 
distinguished the musie of the Belgians, in 
the 14th, 15th, and 16th, centuries? and what 
has been the influence of the sojourn of Bel- 
gian artists in Italy, on the schools of music 
formed soon after that period? The mem- 
bers of this institution, but not the corres- 
pondents, are exempted from replying to 
this question. The reply must be directed, 
post-paid, before the Ist of May 1826, to 
the secretary of the 4th class; ‘a l’Hotel 
de l'Institut, sur le Kloveniers Burgwai, 
Amsterdam.” It may be written either in 
the Dutch, French, English, Italian or 
German language; but it is to be written 
in Italian, not German characters. 
SWEDEN. 
The Academy of Lund have elected the 
Prince Oscar for their chancellor. The 
following is an extract from the speech 
made to him on the oceasion: ‘‘ It is the 
duty of princes to protect the light and 
liberty of thought; for Ged has said, ‘ let 
there be light.’ You, young prince, who 
have shewn that you know how to defend 
our liberty, must now cover with disgrace 
those, who shall dare to consider it as a 
crime to enjighten the minds of the people : 
thus will you live in history, while the 
tyrants who have banished the freedom 
and nobility of sentiment will perish for 
ever.” 
PATENTS FOR MECHANICAL AND CHEMICAL 
INVENTIONS. 
——=a——— 
Zo WILLIAM JAMES, of Thavies Inn, Lon- 
don, for certain Improvements in the Con- 
struction of Rail-Roads, which Rails or 
Roads are applicable to other useful Pur- 
poses.— 28th February 1824. 
HE inyentor states these _improye- 
ments to consist, Ist, in the construc- 
tion of hollow rails, with the object of re- 
ducing the quantity of material in the rails, 
and at the same time to retain the necessary 
strength ; 2dly, ina method of constructing a 
double railway with three rails only ; 3dly, 
in affording the means of conducting water, 
gas, or other fluids, from place to place along 
the hollow part of the rails ; 4thly, in em- 
ploying the hollow. rails as a trunk or tube 
to receive ropes, chains, or rods passing 
from a standing engine; or other actuating 
power, for the purpose of protecting these 
ropes or chains from external injury ; and, 
Sthly, in attaching to such rails or tram- 
roads certain rods, wheels, and endless 
chains, for the purpose of drawing or im- 
pelling carriages on the railway—these rods 
for the ordinary rails. 
the advantages of the broad rail for reducing 
the number of lines may be obtained with- 
out the hollow rail, by constructing these 
central lines of pieces of stone joined toge- 
or wheels to be put in motion by a station- 
ary engine, worked by steam or other power. 
The patentee does not describe any peculiar 
method of forming hollow rails, nor specify 
any peculiar form for them, neither does he 
point out how the necessary breadth of 
middle rail is to be obtained, in order to keep 
the carriages clear of one another, without 
more expense of material than is necessary 
But he states that 
ther, which should be coated with plate iron 
or planks of timber. . When the hollow rails 
are to be employed for conveying water, 
there is no peculiar method specified for 
securing the joints from becoming leaky, in 
consequence of the jarring and pressure of 
the carriages, nor of protecting the pipes 
from freezing in winter, The mode of apply- 
ing the rods and chains to move carriages, 
which is described in the specification, con- 
sists 
