DUMB FOR TWO YEARS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 4 October 1926, Page 8

DUMB FOR TWO YEARS.

MAN GAN NOW SPEAK. VOICE RESTORED BY SHOOK. Twenty-live medical men gathered round an operating table at St. George District Hospital, Sydney, this- > week, and watched one of their brethren perform a modern miracle. He made a dumb man speak, stated the Sydney correspondent of the l Auckland Stai. And now they cannot stop the man from talking and singing. It was one of the most recent developments in surgery—an operation in, which electricity played a great part, the cure being effected by the use of faradic current. Harry Ackerman, a man of 45 years of age, was the patient. He was for many years a member of the New South Wales Fire Brigades, but two years ago a peculiar condition developed in his throat. At first he could speak in a whisper, but gradually he lost liis voice altogether His continued inability to regain his power of speech led to his discharge from the ‘service. nTui since i/lißi/ trinie R®. xi3>s been engaged at various occupations, All the time he has been silent. He has listened to many arguments, but lie. has not been able to reply. And his youngest, son has never heard his father’s voice. • Recently, however, Ackerman entered the St. George Hospital to undergo an operation for another cornplaint, and while he was there his throat caught the attention«of the medical staff;. They brought. Ins case under the notice of a visiting specialist—a doctor with many miraculous ernes to liis credit. He induced Ackerman to take his treatment, and on Tuesday night the operation was performed. *" No operation was used in the nnai s ta°e of the operation, the patient being held down by other medical men. Ackerman lay quietly enough till the specialist introduced to his throat the needle carrying the current. Then he screamed with pain. It was enough The operation was a success. And ivlien he got over the shock they couldn’f make him stop talking, the recovery of his voice so overjoyed him that he talked to .everyone and it is even said that during what little sleep he has had since, he has talked incessantly, too.