DUMB FOR TWO YEARS

Marlborough Express, Volume LX, Issue 232, 1 October 1926, Page 4

DUMB FOR TWO YEARS

MAN CAN NOW SPEAK. VOICE RESTORED BY SHOCK. UNIQUF. OPERATION. SYDNEY, Sept, 23. Twenty-five medical men gathered round an operating table at St. George District Hospital, Sydneyv this week, and watched oue oi their brethren per form a modern miracle. He made a dumb man speak. And now they can not stop the man from talking and singing. It was one of the most recent deyelopments in surgery — an operation in which electricity playcd a great part, the oure being effected by the use of faradic current. Harry Ackerm.an, a- man of 45 years of age, was tlie patient. He wa« for many years a member of the New South Wales Fire Brigade, but two years ago a peeiiliar condition developed in his throat. At first he could speak in ,a whisiper, but gradually lie lost his voice altogether. His contiuued inability to regain his power of speecli led to his cliseharge from Ihe service, and sinee that time he has been engaged at various occupations. All the time he has been silent. He has listened to many arguments, but has not been afaie to veply. And liis youngest son has never heard his father's voice. Recently, however, Ackerman ente red. the" St, George Hospital to undergo au operation for another complainti, and while he was there his throat caught the' Ottention of the medical staff. They brought his case under the notice of a visiting specialist — a doctor with many miraculous cures to his credit, He induced Ackerman to taka his treatment, and on Tuesday night the operation was pevformed. No .anaesthetic is used in the final stage of the operation itself, the patient being held down by other medical men. Ackerman lay quiet:ly enough until the specialist introduced to his throat the needle carrying the current. Then he screamed with pain. If was enough. The operation was a success . And when he got over the shock they coukln't ma.ke him stop talking. The reeoverv of his voice so overjoyed him that he talked to evervorie, and it is even said that, during what little sleep he has had sinee, he has talked incessantly, too.