THE AUDIPHONE. 



185 



slips of paper upon which the music is " cut out " can be made by machinery, 

 and consequently are not dear. So far, the Autophone is fitted for popular 

 favour and use, and may supersede the barrel organ. 



The AUDIPHONE is an instrument to conduct sound to the ear, to 

 supplement it when temporary or partial deafness has occurred. Very 

 likely many of our readers have observed ladies carrying large black 

 fans on occasions, at church, or lecture, or theatre, and wondered why, 

 perhaps. Those "fans" are Audiphones. The instrument is made of 

 vulcanized rubber, and consists of a long flexible disc supported by a 

 handle. To the upper edge of the " fan " are attached cords, which pass 

 through a clip on the handle. If the person who wishes to hear by 

 means of the Audiphone will hold the fan against the upper teeth, 

 the convex side of the fan outward, he or she will hear distinctly, for 

 the vibrations of sound are collected and strike upon the teeth and bones, 



Fig. 187. Detail of the Autophone. 



and act upon the auditory nerves from within, precisely as the vibrations 

 act from without through the auricle. We need hardly add that if the ear be 

 injured the Audiphone will be of no use. A writer says : " From personal 

 observation with the Audiphone it appears to convey the sonorous vibrations 

 to the ear through the teeth, just as a long wooden rod held in the teeth will 

 convey the vibrations of the sounding-board of a piano, though the piano 

 is in another room and out of hearing by the ear. In using the Audiphone 

 during conversation there is no movement or vibration felt by the teeth ; in 

 listening to a piano there is a very faint sensation as if the Audiphone 

 vibrated slightly, while with the handle of the Audiphone resting on the 

 sounding-board of the piano the vibrations are so violent as to be painful to 

 the teeth. By closing the ears a person with even acute hearing can observe 

 the admirable manner in which the instrument conveys spoken words to the 

 car. The Audiphone will prove to be of great value to deaf mutes, as it 

 enables them to hear their own voices, and thus to train them to express 

 words, while, before, they could only make inarticulate sounds." 



