II. SECOND GROUP-THROAT ORGANS.

The organs of phonation, their functions, and results: 1. The larynx, or Adam's apple (a cartilaginous box on the top of the trachea), expands and contracts, rises and sinks, thus enlarging or diminishing its capacity. It is depressed to produce grave sounds, and raised to produce acute sounds.

a. The cricoid (situated immediately over the upper ring of the trachea, resembles in form a seal ring, from which it takes its name, the seal being back, and the narrow part of the ring in front), by its form and position, admits of the elevation and depression of this part of the larynx, thus helping to render tone acute or grave.

b. The thyroid (in form of a buckler or shield, much bent, and by its two main plates forming the sides or walls of the larynx) usually determines the capacity of the voice, and, with other parts of the larynx, renders the voice compact and sonorous.

c. The arytenoid (two in number, so called from a fancied resemblance in shape to a pitcher, ladle, or funnel, fill the

space back of the thyroid and cricoid cartilages, and are connected with both) serve as points of support and tension for the vocal cords or ligaments.

3. The vocal chords, or ligaments (extending across the upper part of the larynx and forming the lips of the glottis), vibrate with the action of the current of air expelled from the lungs, and produce vocal sound, and, by tension and remission, produce various degrees of pitch.

4. The glottis (the small chink or opening between the vocal chords, forming the mouth of the larynx) opens and contracts, thus deciding in part the gravity or shrillness of tone. It dilates in low sounds, and contracts in high sounds.

5. The epiglottis (the valve or lid of which caps the glottis), when the larynx is elevated, as in the act of swallowing, covers the glottis, or orifice of the windpipe, and prevents strangulation. Usually it is erect, and allows free ingress and egress to the breath.

6. The hyoid, or U-like bone (a small crescent-shaped bone

Fig. 5. Section of the Head and Neck, showing the Organs of Speech.

Fig. 6. Transverse section, showing the cavity of the Larynx, with the true vocal chords nearly parallel, or in a position to vibrate.

lying at the root of the tongue, between the larynx and the mouth), forms a point of tension for the muscles which connect the larynx with the mouth, and aids in giving pitch.*

7. The pharynx, or swallow (a dilatable bag situated immediately behind and above the larynx, affects the charac

*The hyoid bone. "Situated in an almost horizontal position behind and rather below the lower jaw, it performs the triple office of a basis of the tongue, a point of support to the larynx, and a fulcrum by which the contractions of the intrinsic muscles of the tongue and the larynx may be impressed on these organs."

F

ter of sound by giving it resonant space. A large pharynx usually indicates a deep tone of voice, and a small one a comparatively high pitch.

8. The thyroid gland (so called, although "it has no excretory duct; a firm, vascular substance, lying like a cushion, in two lobes, across the upper part of the trachea") is sup posed to check the vibration of sound, and prevent its descent. When enlarged, this gland produces goître, or swelled neck.

III. THIRD GROUP-MOUTH ORGANS.

The organs of articulation, their functions, and results. 1. The Eustachian tubes (canals leading from the tympana, or drums of the ears, to the pharynx) help to render the voice clear and free.*

2. The nasal passages (the innermost parts of the nostrils united into one resonant channel, and opening into the back part of the mouth behind the "veil," or pendant and movable part of the palate) give resonance to the voice, and serve as air-channels when the mouth is closed, as in ordinary breathing.

3. The mouth cavity (oval in shape, bounded in front by the lips, behind by the soft palate, above by the hard palate or roof, below by the tongue, and on the sides by the cheeks and teeth), by its arched structure, moulds sound, and gives it scope and reverberation, sweetness and smoothness.

4. The palate (divided into the hard palate, or the roof of the mouth; [2] the veil, or soft palate-the pendant and movable membranous curtain separating the mouth from the pharynx; and [3] the uvula, a small round tag or process hanging from the middle of the lower border of the soft palate) defines the volume of sound.

5. The teeth help to give a clear and distinct character to enunciation.

6. The tongue (composed of muscular fibres, and having a

*The whole cavity of the head, its hollows and cells about the face and forehead, are subservient to the resonance of the voice. Organic malformation, snuff-taking, colds, or catarrh, at once prove how much the clear, pure, ringing tones depend upon the proper condition of these cavities.

very flexible tip) modifies vocal sound, and renders it articulate, changes the size of the mouth cavity, directs sound, and, by its various positions and movements, assists in producing the guttural, nasal, and oral qualities of voice.

7. The lips project, convey, and modify sounds very materially.

Review of Respiration, or Breathing.

The muscles of the chest-the intercostal, thoracic, and pectoral-compress and expand the thorax, or great chest cavity, thus expelling and receiving breath, and furnishing a constant supply of material for sound.*

Review of Phonation.†

The lungs being filled with breath, or material for sound, the abdominal muscles contract and elevate the diaphragm, which instantly communicates the received impulse to the pleura, or lung-case, which in its turn expels the breath from the lungs into the bronchi, thence into the trachea and larynx, where, by the action of the muscles at this point, it is rendered vocal, or is converted into sound.

Review of Articulation, or the Production of Speech-sounds. The breath, converted into voice by the action of the lar ynx, passes out to the mouth, where, by the various posi

* The sound of the human voice, as well as all mechanical or musical sounds, may be discrete or concrete. Discretes are successive detached notes or sounds; concretes are smooth and united sounds-a continuous stream of gliding sounds.

†The movement of the shoulders up and down, in respiration, indicates some organic derangement or artificial restriction. In ancient times, this was considered a great blemish in oratory, and aspirants to oratorical honors, subject to the habit, were wont to practice with a sword or other sharp instrument hung over the shoulder, so that the slightest upward movement was instantly checked, and the pupil put on his guard continually. Breathe horizontally, or down and outward. Keep the mouth closed when sleeping, and at other times when not speaking. Mr. George Catlin, the well-known Indian traveler, has written an entire volume upon this subject. He attrib utes lung diseases to the pernicious habit of breathing through the mouth. He cured himself of the habit by wearing a sort of clasp on the lips while sleeping. A small bit of isinglass-plaster answers as well.