CURIOSITIES OF THE VOICE. 413 



PHYSIOLOGY. 



CURIOSITIES OF THE VOICE. 



Some years ago, a delightfully interesting book was written by Sir Chas. 

 Bell, on "The Human Hand." There might be fully as interesting a work 

 written on the mechanism of the human voice, in which would be equally 

 demonstrated the power, wisdom and goodness of the Creator. We offer a 

 few observations on the subject. Until recently there Avere mysteries diffi- 

 cult to explain concerning the wonderful inflections in the voice. JSTow it 

 is thoroughly understood how words are produced, and how the throat is 

 able to send forth a wide variety of charming notes in singing. We begin 

 by mentioning that Dr. Mandl has devoted himself to the study of the or- 

 gans of speech, and from his work on " The Larynx " we give some inter- 

 esting particulars. Investigators have long been occupied with researches- 

 but, until they had seen the larynx of a living being, one thing only was 

 proved — that the voice was formed in the glottis. For fifty years of this 

 century they were trying by mirrors and other appliances to examine the 

 interior of this organ, but without results. Suddenly an inspiration came 

 into the head of a celebrated singer, whose name awakens charming 

 remembrances among old amateurs. This was M. Manuel Garcia. Igno- 

 rant of all the trouble which surgeons had taken in order to observe the 

 movements of the throat in the act of singing, he conceived the idea of 

 looking at himself B}^ the help of two mirrors, the one reflecting the 

 image on the other, he saw the whole of his larynx depicted. In ecstacy 

 before the glass, he determined to pursue the accidental discovery which 

 had been so long dreamed of. But the autumn had set in, and the sun's 

 rays, which were necessary to success, did not lend their aid. London with 

 its fogs forced him to try artificial light, the results of which were unsuc- 

 cessful, and therefore he could only profit by fine days ; yet he soon recog- 

 nized how isolated sounds were jDroduced. In 1855 the Eoyal Society re- 

 ceived some communication from him on these curious studies. 



The subject was at once taken up with great activity, especially in 

 Vienna, where success was far from equaling the hopes of the doctors. The 

 caprices of solar light and the defects of artificial threw them into a state 

 of despair. By all means they must improve their mirrors. Czermak, the 

 Professor of Physiology at Pesth, taking an example from the instrument 

 used in examining the eye, the ophthalmoscoj)e, had recourse to a concave 

 mirror which concentrated the light. From this time there was no diffi- 

 culty but to perfect the lenses. Czermak, having acquired great skill in the 

 use of his laryngoscope, visited the principal cities of Germany, where his 

 demonstrations deeply interested surgeons and physiologists. He was 

 warmly received in Paris in I860, where he showed not only the whole 

 length of his larynx, but also the interior of the trachea or windpipe as far 



