In very troublesome cases, however, nothing equals the direct application of some solution to the vocal cords and affected parts by means of a brush. This only au experienced and dexterous surgeon can accomplish properly.
Loss of Voice (A phonia, Greek, a, not, and phone, the voice) sometimes is the result of severe cold ; ulceration and other. changes of the vocal cords cause it. Paralysis of the cords makes it complete, and the paralysis is not in frequently the result of the nerves of voice being involved in sonic growth, or pressed upon by a tumour, aneurism, &c. In women loss of voice without any structural changes is frequent, being due to hysteria or other nerv ous condition. Nervous women, plagued with uterine troubles, are subject to it, and the loss of voice is not permanent but temporary, relapses being common. Cases are on record where no word was spoken for months or years, hysteria only being the cause.
Treatment it is needless to specify parti cularly, considering the necessity of someone being consulted who can determine the exact cause. In loss of voice from cold, however, warm applications to the neck, a blister over the top of the breast-bone, inhalation of steam, &c., are useful.
The Care of the Voice deserves a word. Anyone who reads the description of the vocal apparatus on pp. 354, 355 will understand how exquisite are the adjustments of the various parts for even ordinary speaking, and how the slightest alteration in the proportions of parts by cold, swelling, &c., will seriously affect the whole instrument. It should, therefore, be evident that anything that overstrains the parts—too prolonged use of the voice, talking or singing in too high a key, screaming, &c.—
must have a bad effect on the vocal instru ment; and that such overstraining will be most easily accomplished when the person is fatigued, in indifferent health, ill-nourished, or when the parts are affected by cold, &c. There fore, wherever possible, in such circumstances the voice should not be used at all. Most people become impatient at the excuse of those who can sing, when a slight cold is offered as a reason for refusing ; but it ought not to be so. Singers ought also to pay attention to the condition of tonsils, as they, if enlarged, ma terially affect the pitch and quality of the voice.
Careful training in voice production is a matter of primary importance. The mode of production of the singing voice is quite differ ent from the mode of producing the ordinary speaking voice. Women breathe by the move ment of the upper ribs mainly, and if this natural method of breathing were adopted in the production of the singing voice, it would result in the giving out of a tone lacking ful ness and staying quality. To produce a proper singing voice the chest must be expanded with air and then fixed. The abdominal muscles then come into play, and, the chest walls re maining fixed, the air is pressed out with the exact strength required. Perfect control and smoothness of the voice is thus obtained. In this the muscles of the mouth and throat play no part ; their business being to modify the shape of mouth and throat to affect the quality of the tone when produced. This control of breathing is the first thing a singer should seek to obtain.