Rensselaer Republican, Volume 17, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 April 1885 — The Dumb Made to Speak. [ARTICLE]

The Dumb Made to Speak.

“Nearly every hospital and house of correction in the country has its regular attendance of malingerers,” says a physician at the Episcopalian Hospital, Philadelphia. “Some are most cunning in their schemes to become patients. The comfortable bed, the good food, and the kind attention they receive are the temptations to try these deceptions. “Why, I once saw a case of feigned muteness. A youth of 17 was brought to us. His parents said he had spoken •well enough until he was 11 years old but since that he had never spoken a word. He had his hearing perfectly. We tried a good many things—galvanism, tonics, and even, because we thought it was stubbornness, we had a clergyman to talk to him, but all was of no avail At last we came to the conclusion that the young rascal was hoodwinking us, and we determined to try a trick upon him that has been tried with success before. Two of the physicians stood at his bedside, as if consulting about his case. One of them said in a loud whisper to the other; “ ‘Well, I’ll tell you what we’ll do. First of all we’ll cauterize the whole of the under surface of his tongue, and,’ if that does not succeed, we will cut opt his tongue and examine it under a microscope.’ Then, turning 'to an assistant, he continued? ‘Mr." Wilson, please get the iron red hot. We will use it at once upon this boy.’ “The fellow didn’t say anything, but he tr;ed by signs to beg the doctor not to perform the operation. The iron was brought and the surgeon began arranging the patient. The sight of the instrument on its spirit dame, almost at a white heat, brought forth a terrible cry from the boy, the first sound in six years. Then one assistant held his legs, another his arms, a third his head, and a wedge was thrust into his mouth. Still not a word,. The hot iron was lifted and brought near to his face, so that he could feel the heat. Whether the operation would have been performed or not I am unable to say, but there was no necessity, for the instant he felt the heat he shouted: “‘Oh, don’t doctor dear, please don’t; I’m not dumb. I will speak—l will, indeed.' “And he left the hospital that very afternoon."— Philadelphia Times. ,