March, 1880.
of hearing can be reached directly
through the teeth and hones of the
head and face. Both principles have
an abundant demonstration in the famil
iar experience, that the vibrations ot the
strings of a piano or violin are heard
with even painful intensity, by placing
the teeth or any portion of the head or
face against the instrument,
The inventor of the audiphone, R, S.
Rhodes, of Chicago, while searching
for some means by which he might Im
prove his hearing, accidentally placed
his watch between his teeth and heard
it ticking. After numerous experi
ments, based upon this observation, the
inventor was completely successful in
his own case.
The instrument with which he readily
hears all ordinary sounds and conver
sations," consists essentially of a piece
of thin, hard rubber, of exactly the
shape of a Japanese fan, being in the
form of a square, and presenting a col
lecting surface of about one square foot.
When in use, the upper and lower edges
are made to approximate by a silken
cord, so as to present a concave surface
to the listener and a convex one to the
speaker. When adjusted, the upper
edge is pressed firmly against the an
terior surface of the upper teeth, allow
ing the upper lip to rest upon the
rubber, and the deaf person is then
ready to listen. False teeth may be
used, especially if they fit tightly ;
should they not, however, they may be
made to do so by pressing the lower
teeth against them. If the natural
teeth be too far gone to be used, the
roots may in many instances be utilized
by having artificial teeth set into them-
Some deaf persons can profit-by in
structions like the above, many, from
awkwardness or, worse, from despon
dency and want of faith, will fail.
Some, holding the instrument rigidly,
destroy its power to vibrate ; in many
ways such persons require repeated in
struction, as a tyro would require teach
ing in order to play a piano ; they are
clumsy and unapt.
Others fail to derive any assistance
because the tooth they have selected is
loosened or otherwise imperfect ; yet
on account of this remediable defect or
some one of the many little obstacles
met with, they hastily conclude that
they cannot be benefitted and the instru
ment is thrown aside.
Quite recently, a gentlemen well
known all over the coast, was describ
ing to the writer his want of success with
the audiphone, and his consequent dis
appointment) as bi deafness Is consid
erable. Suspecting some faulty adjust
incut of the instrument, the writer
handed him an audiphone, and watched
his application of it to the teeth, which
was entirely faulty. On adjusting it
properly he was pleased to find his hear
ing for conversation much improved.
What is more remarkable, is that tne
same method of applying the rubber to
the teeth does not always prove of equal
advantage to two patients, due heed
must be given to individual peculiarities.
Another case of equal interest is that
of agentlemaa personally known to the
writer, far advanced in years, so deaf
that it was necessary to approach the
mouth to the ear and speak loudly. On
a first trial of the audiphone, he pro
nounced it of no assistance whatever,
and would have thrown it aside but for
the commendable determination of a
relative, who insisted upou its repealed
trial. In a few days the patient began
to find his hearing improved, and in n
short time could readily distinguish all
that was said in ordinary conversation
listen to sermons, etc. Not only this,
but to his astonishment he found that
he need no longer depend upon the
audiphone In conversation, for he could
hear quite well, though not nor
mally, without it. No fictitious excel
lence of the audiphone as a curative
agent need be urged from this latter
circumstance, as it is readily explicable
by the same reasons given for the re
covery of many chronic invalids, par
alytics for instance, whose nerves have
recovered their conducting power, but
the will has never been aroused suffi
ciently to make the necessary exertion.
Dr. Chan. Turnbull, of Philadelphia,
has lately suggested the substitution of
hiistol-hoard for rubber, as equally ad
vantageous in the construction of the
audiphone. This, the writer finds,
must be taken with some reservation,
as the bristol-board becomes moistened
by the lips and loses its transmitting
power. Neither can a makeshift com
pensate for the compactness of handle
and conductive power of the rubber
audiphone.
The Dentaphone is an ingenious in
strument Constructed and used alter the
same principles us the niidipliouc, but is
made after ilm plan of the telephone.
It consists, in brief, of a telephone
shaped box, about three inches in diam
eter, having in it an exceedingly deli
cate, ensily vibrating, dlapragm. Con
necting this with a wooden tooth-piece
is a silken cord. The person using the
dentaphone simply holds the instrument
in his hand with the tooth-pieee between
the teeth and the diaphragm facing to
ward the speaker, the cord being kept
tense. The dentaphone weighs hut one
ounce aud a half and is easily carried
about the person. In testing, it com
pares favorably with the audiphone.
Badl has its peculiar uses. Tor pro
tracted listening the audiphone is clearly
less fatiguing, and less conspicuous,
while for use on the street, etc., the
dentaphone being carried in the pocket,
has the advantage.
In conclusion, the inveutivc spirit of
our time will inevitably render this still
crude invention more perfect, Already
it has been much improved by its com
bination with the microphone,
Patience, ye deaf, and hope lor better
tidings I
Wool. Competent Judges, men who
make it a business to keep an account
of the number and condition of the
sheep between the Cascade and Mine
mountains, estimate that the clip in that
n gion will, this year, reach the very
large amount of .,(mi,xk pounds or
j,j;o tons. That the wool clip will
prove valuable this year is evident from
the fact that the common grade is to
day worth 30 eents per pound in this
market, while the very best quality
would bring i or lo cents more per
pound. A year ago it was worth IS
u nls and less per pound. A recent
New York market dispatch was as
follows : Wool -Active, but the great
bulk of sales is foreign, as the stock of
domestic is small ami under the BOntTOi
of holders whra will carry it and await
developments. Advices from abroad
continue very strong and values tend
ing upward. Cablas from London say
1 hat buyers are eager for Australian at
',,;d higher.
BstOSV ClTY, B. C The sale of
lots in this new city (us yet only on
. r), the western terminus of the
Canadian Pacific l ail wuy, took plan
on the ifith at the salesrooms of J. I'.
Davkttft Co., Victoria. (uo was the
highest price realized for choice smN,
2jo being about the nvcrugc price
paiil for lots which niny in three ycurs
from to-day be worth loon each.
I..
There is one consolation in being
broke. You have nothing to lor ami
ever) tiling to guin.