THE GIFT OF SPEECH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14508, 24 October 1910, Page 9

THE GIFT OF SPEECH.

EIGHTEEN MONTHS' SILENCE.

A WOMAN'S RECOVERY.

Eighteen months ago Mrs. Rose Hall was pursuing the daiiy round of household affairs in her home at Fitzroy, Melbourne, when she was suddenly bereft of speech- On Friday week Mrs. Hall was similarly employed at her mother's home at Bailarat East, when her 18 months' silence terminated as suddenly as it had commenced. Shock was in each instance the factor which so powerfully influenced her power of speech.

The day on which Mrs. Hall lost the use of her voice she sustained a se.'cm fright which was followed by a feeling of faintness. This was quickly followed by absolute loss of speech. The defect was at first regarded as temporary, but after a period of treatment in a hospital, . and the attention of different medical men having failed to effect any alteration, Mrs. Hall was compelled to conclude that the ability to speak had permanently deserted her. In order to make her wishes known she had to resort to paper and pencil. Her hearing, however, was not interfered with. As the months of speechlessness passed Mrs. Hall became depressed and dispirited. The result was that her nerves were affected, and latterly she' had been so physically weakened that at times she swooned. Two months ago her life was thought to be in danger, but she recovered and decided to visit her father, Mr. Lee, a miner in Bailarat East. It was stated that if the patient could be subjected to a severe shock it would probably restore speech. A surprise visit to Bailarat by her husband was arranged, and one day when she entered the kitchen to have her breakfast, she was astonished to see him sitting at the table. There was no alteration in her condition, however- Further medical advice was suggested, but Mrs. Hall declined it, and the failure of this surprise made her more depressed. On Thursday week she tried a herbal mixture, and said that she felt as if there was something cutting in her throat Next evening Mrs. Hall was in the kitchen, when her father, who had entered the room without her knowledge, touched her on the arm to attract her attention. The effect was remarkable. She started, and almost simultaneously exclaimed, " Oh, dad, you frightened me!" Mr. Lee's astonishment at hearing his daughter speak was almost as great as was that of the daughter when he touched her. They stared at each other for a moment, and then Mrs. Hall excitedly called out. " Oh, I can speak ! I can speak again!" For the rest of the evening she chatted freely, only a slight huskiness suggesting that her speech was not normal. A telegram was sent to her husband, stating she was well enough to return to her home, but nothing was said about the •.recovery of her conversational powers. The. husband's surprise may be imagined when lie was greeted with the words, " How are you 1" In the course of conversation on her way from Ballarat, Mrs. Hall laughingly said, " I've got a lot to say to my husband when I get home. He hasn't heard a word from me for 18 months, and now. like a woman, I'll make up for lost time."

" I am a very thankful woman," she remarked. " 1 It's all very well for people to say how sad it. would be. if you couldn't talk but I have been dumb for 18 months, and I know what it means." Then, turning to her little girl, she added, " Mother can talk to you now. Violet, can't she and the child nestled in to the mother, and promised not to tell " Daddie" before mother had given him the happy surprise which only his wife's voice could provide.