1897.]

Andreas Vesalius.-BALL.

Fig. 8.-Second Plate of the Muscles (secunda musculorum tabula), from De Humani Corporis Fabrica, 1543. Reduced one-half.

true blood-vessels, and, according to the first edition of his great book, the septum of the heart was filled with foramina, yet we must say with Baas, "These are all mere shadows necessary to the brilliancy of the picture." The city of Brussels, proud of her son, has erected a splendid statue to Vesalius.

The title-page of the book of Vesalius is a grand picture, showing the author engaged in making a public demonstration to a large audience. The place is an anatomical theatre, in the centre of which we see a female cadaver, with abdomen opened, lying upon the table. The anatomist has raised the index-finger of his left hand, while the right holds a knife. Placed at the head of the table is a human skeleton gazing upward, holding a long staff in its right hand. Around are many persons of different rank. To the left, near a window, a naked man is climbing up a pillar, while to the right and below we see a living dog brought into the arena. Above, in the architecture, we see the monogram of the publisher, Oporinus; in the centre are the three weasels of the Vesalius family, on a shield whose border bears three pommels; and below is an extravagantly-decorated shield, on which the privilegium is printed. This old engraving is one of the most spirited and elaborate to be found in the whole range of medical literature.

The second edition, issued in 1555, contained 824 pages, and in some respects was an improvement. At later dates editions appeared at Zurich, Lyons, Paris, Venice, Antwerp, Frankfort, Amsterdam and Leyden. The Leyden edition, issued under the supervision of Boerhaave and Albinus, contains reproductions of the original figures engraved upon copper by Jan Wandelaer. Printed in 1725, this edition contains the complete anatomical writings of Vesalius, together with the work on surgery which bears his name. The latter is said by Morley to have been written by a Venetian, Prosper Bogarucci, a literary crow, who fed himself upon the dead man's reputation." The title-page is similar to that of the edition of 1543, but there are some changes. The monogram of Oporinus has been omitted, and the architecture is somewhat changed. The Figure 4 is a half-size reproduction of the title-page of Vesalius' Anatomy as issued in the Leyden edition. The Vesalian plates have been used to illustrate many anatomical works, both with and without acknowledgment. Thomas Gemini, an engraver and publisher of Leeds, England,

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cut them in copper, and, in 1545, issued the plates as his own. This is said to have been the first rolling press work ever done in England. The first edition, dedicated to Henry VIII., was followed by an English translation, in 1552, inscribed Edward VI. A third edition, printed in 1559, was addressed to Elizabeth.

The Mercantile Library, of St. Louis, is the fortunate possessor of a copy of the first edition of the Anatomy of Vesalius. The writer owns a copy of the edition of 1725.

3509 Franklin Avenue.

The Healing Craft Defended. --According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, the New York Sun has had upon its editorial staff for some years a writer whose sympathetic and intelligent remarks upon medical affairs have been much quoted in our journals, as showing that the profession is not absolutely friendless in the daily press. The following short paragraph was elicited by a New York City event that occurred in the heated term of last August: "Mrs. S. B. died of the heat last night, while her husband was trying to get a doctor. The medical man whom he succeeded in finding refused to attend the patient because the husband was unable to pay his fee. It is seldom that a doctor violates the oath of Hippocrates, by which he binds himself before he takes up the work of his profession. That famous formula defines the duties of the physician to his master, his pupils, the sick, and himself. With reference to the third of these the doctor promises to treat the suffering as a father cares for his children. He calls down upon himself all evil if he fails in this solemn duty. He prays that he may be accursed. The conduct of this medical man was in direct violation of the solemn obligation. But a case of this sort is only the exception that proves the rule. In no calling in life is there as much self-sacrifice willingly suffered for the good of humanity as in that of the healing craft. It is, therefore, all the greater shame that any one man should forget the traditions of his noble profession.'

VOCAL HYGIENE.

By THOS. F. RUMBOLD, M. D., St. Louis, Mo. Having had a long and large experience in the medical care of singers and speakers, I have made their health, the stability and purity of their voices, and the diseases that effect their upper respiratory organs, an earnest study. The result of this experience and study, so far as the hygiene of the voice is concerned, is given here.

So as to be certain of being clearly understood, the recommendations in regard to the hygienic care of the organs of the voice are given in as plain language as possible. Nevertheless, distinctness requires that quite a number of technical terms should be employed.

I have described the functions of the soft palate, uvula and azygos prominence for two reasons: One, because it is well that singers and speakers should be acquainted with the functions that these three organs perform in the formation of the voice. "The study of vocal physiology is surely a very essential duty of the singing teacher; without it he cannot conscientiously be a vocal teacher. Would you trust a physician of whom you knew that he had not acquired the necessary knowledge of the mysteries of the human body? Why, then, would you pin your faith upon a voice-trainer who makes a boast of his ignorance of the natural laws that govern the vocal organs? The knowledge of the vocal organs is always very useful to the singer, and especially to the teacher, and in many cases indispensable. "*

*

*

*

This leads to the second reason, namely: with a knowledge of these functions, the remedy to be employed to correct a defect of the voice suggests itself, whether it be by physical training or by medical or surgical relief. There are many singers and speakers with a partially paralyzed soft palate, or a hyperplastic uvula, or a debilitated azygos prominence, or with growths on the tonsils, whose voices could be greatly improved were it known what one or more of these organs are in an abnormal condition.

That which is given here in regard to the functions of the soft palate, uvula and azygos prominence is the result of original investigations and experiments commenced more than twenty-six

*Leo Kofler, from Browne and Benke on "Voice, Song and Speech," pp. 5 and 6, 1884.

years ago. While somewhat lengthy, yet they will repay careful study, because by far the most of the mechanical defects in singing and speaking are owing solely to abnormal conditions of one or more of these voice controlling organs.

There are many very good voices in even small cities that are slowly, but surely being lost, solely because of ignorance of the laws of vocal hygiene. Obedience to these laws alone, even without medical aid, might have saved them.

In this monograph on vocal hygiene, only those precepts and recommendations will be given that relate especially to the organs required in the immediate production and modification of the voice in singing and speaking.

Named in the order in which these organs are most frequently affected to the extent of preventing a perfect formation of the voice, and of which the greatest care will have to be taken to preserve them in their most useful condition, they are: The nasal passages; the pharyngo-nasal cavity; the pharynx; the soft palate, uvula and azygos prominence; the tonsils; the larynx; the epiglottis; the arytenoid processes and vocal cords; the ears and Eustachian tubes; the tongue; the lips, the teeth and gums; the lungs, and the diaphragm. If the voice is not in its normal condition it indicates that disease of one or more of these organs exists as the cause thereof, unless it be due to a general debility of the whole system.

In order intelligently to impart information regarding the maintenance of these organs in a healthy condition, a few remarks on some of their physiological actions, and some of their most common pathological conditions, will be given. This will also show, by contrast, how much certain sensations, as a slight dryness or slight excess of secretion in the throat, etc., deviate from the normal conditions. There are many persons who mistakenly regard the sensations of dryness, etc., that plainly indicate a diseased condition, as matter of so small import as not to require attention, or even hardly mention.

THE NASAL PASSAGES.

The Normal Quantity of Mucus.-These openings to the respiratory organs are lined with mucous membrane, one of the functions of which is to secrete mucus, another to heat the air that passes to the lungs. The purposes of the mucus are to maintain the membrane in a moistened condition, so that it can