A YOUNG LADY FROM WASHINGTON HEIGHTS DEAF AND DUMB INSTITUTE, NEW YORK CITY. HEARING HER OWN VOICE FOR THE FIRST

TIME.

GOOD NEWS FOR THE DEAF.

An Instrument that enables the Deaf to Hear with Ease through the Medium of the Teeth, and the Deaf and Dumb to Hear and Learn to Speak.

INVENTED BY R. S. RHODES, CHICAGO, ILLS.

The Audiphone resembles a fan. It is made of a peculiar composi tion, that, like a telephone diaphragm, gathers the faintest sounds and conveys them, through the medium of the teeth and

auditory nerve, to the brain.

When in use the instrument is strung, or bent, to the proper tension and its upper edge is pressed against the edge of the upper teeth. See Figs. 1, 2, 3.

Fig. 3. The Audiphone properly adjusted to the upper teeth; ready for use. (Side view.)

upper teeth and auditory nerve the Audiphone With artificial teeth, if they fit firmly, it gives

Care should be taken, in all cases, to adjust the instrument properly. Persons not accustomed to hearing articulate sounds, or who, by the use of ear trumpets, have become accustomed to unnatural sound, will generally require a little practice before they get the full benefit of the instrument.

In all cases the result improves as the instrument is used. Its use also improves the natural sense of hearing.

FROM PERSONS USING THE AUDIPHONE.

The following testimony is in all respects authentic, and in every instance has come to Rhodes & McClure, unsolicited. The same is also true concerning the notices "From the Press."

"I hear ordinary conversation with ease, and it is a wonder to me every time I use it. Sounds that I had not heard for years and had quite forgotten came back distinctly, and the more I use it the better I like it. "ABBIE R. STEVENS,

"Oct. 9, 1879.

"Salem, Mass." "I attend church, hear perfectly six pews from the desk, and can not hear the minister's voice without the Audiphone. I go to lectures and concerts, and, in short, am alive again and a part of the world. Sometimes I think my Audiphone is bewitched, it works so well. "ABBIE. R. STEVENS.'

"Dec. 13, 1879. [Second Letter.] "The Audiphone came O. K. By its aid I am now able to join in general conversation, which I have not been able to do for eighteen years. "H. K. TAYLOR, "Nov. 21, 1879.

"Cleveland, O."

"The 'Phone at hand; and on trial even more satisfactory than could be expected at first use. My wife and friends are delighted and enthusiastic over it. They are rejoiced that I can hear, and I am glad that it no longer requires an effort on their part to enable me to do so. E. C. ELY (firm, Reynolds & Ely), "Peoria, Ills."

"Oct. 4, 1879.

"114 South Twenty First Street, Philadelphia, Pa., Nov. 15. "Messrs. Rhodes & McClure.-The Audiphone arrived safely, and I hasten to assure you of its perfect success for my hearing. In ordinary conversation I can not use it against the eye-teeth as it makes the voices too loud, although the Audiphone is scarcely drawn. I entered into general conversation with perfect ease, last evening, for the first time for five or six years. A melodeon or piano I hear distinctly at great distances. Reading aloud is also easily heard. My family and friends are so rejoiced at my success, and regard the instrument in wonder. My physician is delighted with it, and thinks, as my deafness arose greatly from nervousness, that the Audiphone will stimulate the auditory nerve, and possibly benefit or restore my sense of hearing. The terrible strain being taken from my mind gives me such rest and good spirits that I almost forget my deafness. "Yours very truly, "MRS. F. A. LEX."

"Messrs. Rhodes & McClure.-The Audiphone, per Adams' Express, arrived all right, and my wife is delighted with it. She has been to the theater and other public entertainments, and for the first time in twelve years was she able to hear all that was said. "H. A. BARRY, 26 Post Office Ave., Baltimore, Md."

"Dec. 9, 1879. "My Audiphone is the wonder of the day. It helps me wonderfully in conversation, "B. H. MULFORD, ESQ., Montrose, Pa."

"My deafness is of long standing, having originated from an attack of scarlet fever more than thirty years ago. The hearing in each ear is defective and in one almost completely impaired. The Audiphone forwarded has been tested in ordinary conversation and also by attendance upon the opera and perfectly subserves the purposes for which it was intended. My hearing when using the instrument is as acute as though no infirmity existed and the effect of the use of the instrument has appreciably toned up and improved the auditory organs-so much so as to have attracted the attention of my family.

"I have exhibited the instrument to several friends afflicted with deafness. Among the parties who have determined to use your invention are Judge McCorkle, of California; Gen. Boynton, of the Cincinnati Gazette; and General Markham, a resident of this city All of these gentlemen are afflicted with defective hearing. "G. W. CARTER,

"Nov. 28, 1879.

Washington, D. C.

"I find that the more accustomed 1 become to the use of my Audiphone the better results do I obtain, and having been quite deaf for over thirty years I can assure you it is a great gratification to be able to attend any place where public speaking is going on and hear all that is uttered by the speakers-a pleasure that has been denied me all that time, Nov. 26, 1879. "JOHN B. SCOTT, New York.'

"It answers the purpose admirably. Has created quite a sensation among my friends. "Sept. 21, 1879. "E. F. TEST, Claim Agent, U. P. R. R., " Omaha, Neb." "Your Audiphone to hand. The lady (my sister) has tried it and finds she can hear now an ordinary conversation which she can not do without it. I would not part with it for ten times its cost. "W. W. EVANS, "Grant Locomotive Works, Paterson, N. J."

"Sept., 1879.

"I procured an Audiphone yesterday and can already hear quite well an ordinary conHENRY MILNES, Cold Water, Mich."

versation.

To say that I am gratified would only express "G. H. PAINE, Freemont, Neb., Sept. 30, 1879."

"Music clear in any part of the room. moderately how I feel."

"The Audiphone is a great benefit to me. Without it music is a confused murmur of sounds; with it I can hear the different parts as well as I ever could. "Dec. 6, 1879.

"ABBIE WEST, Canton, Ills."

"I am satisfied from experiments which I have witnessed that, excepting instances in which the Auditory nerve is totally paralyzed, all the deaf may, by its help, be enabled to hear and intelligently converse. "REV. S. H. WELLEŔ, D.D., Morrison, Ills." "I have been deaf for thirty years, but can now hear distinctly with the Audiphone. "JOHN ATKINSON, "Sept. 19, 1879.

"Sec., Treas. and Sup't Racine (Wis.) Gaslight Co."

"St. Joseph's Institute,

"Fordham, (near New York City,) Dec. 4, 1879. "On Tuesday, the 2d inst., the Audiphone was tested by a number of pupils of the Institute with the following results:

"Cecilia Lynch, aged 16, is supposed to have been deaf from birth. It has, however, been remarked that she could hear very loud sounds and could sometimes distinguish her own name if spoken in a loud tone by a person quite close to her. She says also that she sometimes hears the strains of the organ in the chapel, but so far from deriving any pleasure from the music the confused sounds are very disagreeable to her. By the use of the Audiphone she not only heard distinctly but could repeat almost every word spoken to her. As she has been instructed in articulation and reads easily from the lips it was thought that this knowledge assisted her. One of the persons present then stood behind her and repeated several words which she readily imitated, thus proving, beyond a doubt, the value of the Audiphone.

"Annie Toohey, aged 10 years, became deaf at the age of three from spinal meningitis. It was supposed that her hearing was completely destroyed, but on applying the Audiphone to her teeth she heard and distinctly repeated after Mr. Rhodes several of the letters of the alphabet. This little girl has begun to make considerable progress in articulation, but up to the day on which she tried the Audiphone the vowel E appeared to be an insurmountable difficulty to her; by the aid of the Audiphone she repeated it with perfect distinctness. "Another little girl, Sarah Flemming, also heard the voice of Mr. Rhodes and others who spoke to her. As in the preceding case, her deafness was caused by spinal meningitis, by which she was attacked when five years of age. By the aid of the Audiphone she was able to repeat several sounds.

"Several others tested the Audiphone with more or less success. "MARY B. MORGAN, Principal."

In a later letter (Dec. 12) Miss Morgan states: "No doubt the Audiphone will be of great service to our pupils."

"Western and Atlantic R. Co. Office Treasurer, "Atlanta, Ga., Nov. 18, 1879. "Messrs. Rhodes & McClure.-Will you please send me a Conversational Audiphone by Express C. O. D., the price of which is $10, as per advertisement.

"Very respectfully,

"W. C. MERRILL, Sec. and Treas. W. & A. R. Co." "Please send me another Conversational Audiphone by Express."-(Telegram from W. C. Merrill, Nov. 24, 1879.)

"Please send me Concert Audiphone by Express."-(Telegram from same, Dec. 9) "lease send me Conversational Audiphone by Express."-(Telegram from same, December 12.) [N.B.-Mr. Merrill is not an agent. He purchased these Audiphones, per telegram, for friends who had seen his instrument.]

"R. S Rhodes, Esq.-Dear Sir,-I avail myself of this opportunity to tender to you my best wishes for the success of your philanthropic invention.

"Dec. 9, 1879.

Yours,

"JAMES J. BARCLAY, "Sec. Penn. Institute for Deaf and Dumb, Philadelphia."