The workes of that famous chirurgion Ambrose Parey translated out of Latin and compared with the French. by Tho: Johnson. Whereunto are added three tractates our of Adrianus Spigelius of the veines, arteries, & nerves, with large figures. Also a table of the bookes and chapters.

CHAP. V. How to he•••• such as cannot speak by reason of the loss of some part of the tongue.

* 1.1CHance gave place and authority to this remedy, as to many other in our Art. A certain man dwelling in a village named Yvoy le Chaestean, being some twenty four miles from Bourges, had a great piece of his tongue cut off; by which occasion he remained dumb some three years.* 1.2 It happened on a time, that as he was in the field with reapers, he drinking in a wooden dish, was tickled by some of the standers by, not enduring the tickling, he suddenly broke out into articulate and intellegible words. He himself wondring thereat, and delighted with the novelty of the thing, as a miracle, put the same dish to his mouth just in the same man∣ner as before, and then he spake so plainly and articulately, that he might be understood by them all. Wherefore a long time following he alwaies carried this dish in his bosom, to utter his mind, untill at length necessity, the mistress of arts, and giver of wit, inducing him, he caused a wooden instrument to be neatly cut and made for him, like that which is here delienated, which he alwaies carried hanging at his neck, as the only interpreter of his mind; and the key of his speech.

[illustration]

An instrument made to supply the defect of the speech when the tongue is cut off.

The use of the Instrument is this.

A. sheweth the upper part of it which was of the thickness of a nine-pence, which he did so hold between his cutting teeth, that it could not come out of his mouth not be seen. B. sheweth the lower part, as thick as a six-pence, which he did put hard to the rest of his tongue, close to the membranous ligament which is under the tongue. That place which is deprest and somewhat hollowed, marked with the letter C. is the inner part of the instrument. D. sheweth the outside of the same. He hanged it about his neck with the string that is tied thereto.

Textor the Physitian of Bourges shewed me this instrument: and I my self made trial thereof on a young man whose tongue was cut off, and it succeeded well, and took very good effect. And I think other Surgeons in such cases may do the like.

Notes

• * 1.1

  A remedy found out by accident.
• * 1.2

  An history.