78 The Voice and its Modifications. 



rect. Anatomists have, in every age, been too fond of comparisons, 

 and they have adopted imperfect ones rather than lose their imagin- 

 ary benefit. 



The action of the chordae vocales is in some respects like the Jews 

 harp; still, who has compared the larynx to this simple instrument? 

 We must not confine ourselves to one instrument in illustrating artic- 

 ulate sounds ; every musical instrument has some points of resemblance 

 with the human voice and yet on the whole all instruments are far in- 

 ferior to this wonderful contrivance in man. What ingenuity could 

 devise an instrument the chords of which might in a minute run 

 through innumerable changes in contraction or relaxation and through 

 wonderful alterations in diameter and length ; could in an instant fur- 

 nish different volumes of air and give to it surprising variations in its 

 force; could imbed the instrument in materials by which its action 

 was not impeded but facilitated, could lubricate the surface of the 

 tube with a fluid that preserved its power, could furnish it with an 

 elastic appendage, the lungs, serving the purpose of a bellows; could 

 add such auxiliary appendages at the mouth and nose, which possess 

 so great diversity in structure, as to form, density and component parts, 

 and still, all these dissimilar parts are to be subservient not only to 

 the voice but to the volition and other functions : and in short, could 

 make this piece of workmanship so as to be altered and repaired by an 

 action peculiar to itself, and that at length, it should be susceptible, of 

 so many changes as not to leave a particle of its original materials and 

 all this mutation to take place without destroying its power ? If we 

 reflect on these multifarious powers, we feel the inadequacy of com- 

 parisons and the impossibility of fully imitating by art this wonder of 

 nature. Any musical instrument may be compared to parts of the 

 human vocal organs, but a single instrument will no more convey an 

 adequate idea of their vast and varied powers than a single brick, as 

 mentioned in ancient fables, could give an idea of the entire edifice. 



We have noticed the four classes of sounds which are expressed 

 by symbols ; still there are others peculiar to man which must be ac- 

 counted for on principles quite different from the preceding expo- 



• * 



sitions. 



Coughing arises generally from some irritation in the larynx, tra- 

 chea, bronchiae or substance of the lungs, and is produced by the ac- 

 tion of the muscles of respiration. It might be shown, if necessary, 

 that the lungs are passive and, like the stomach in vomiting, act not 

 by any contractile power of their own. 



