Stammering and its treatment / by Dr Chervin.

  • Chervin, Arthur, 1850-1921.
Date:
[between 1880 and 1889]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Stammering and its treatment / by Dr Chervin. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

    8/22 (page 4)
    tions, the conclusion is ariived at, that this irre- gularity of breathing is the very foundation of the affection. Indeed, Gentlemen, it stands to reason that stammering does not always reach that pitch of which I was just now giving the sad description; some who stammer suffer from but a slight impediment in speech, which they indeed not unfrequently succeed in cleverly disguising. The face of such men is calm, the inter- ruption of speech v^hich is but momentary, can easily be mistaken for a difficulty in finding the fittest expression for their thoughts. If therefore stammering were defined by what is most obvious, by an interruption of speech attended with grimaces, it would follow that stammering- would be almost rare, instead of which it is of very frequent occurrence, as I will presently show you from official returns. According to me, stammering may be defined as an impediment in speech presenting itself with great inter- mission, sometimes at the beginning, sometimes in the middle, sometimes at the end of words, but more especially at the beginning of words. This impediment is cha- racterised either by a sudden stoppage in speech, or by the convulsive and more or less frequent repetition of the same syllable; it is always attended with a disturbance, with a defective application rather, of the rhythm of breathing in the act of speech. 1 would call. Gentlemen, your attention to the fact that this infirmity presents itself v^^ith great inter- mission; for it is a fact that always strikes not only those who see stammerers for the first time, but also the patients themselves, and those about them. How many times have I heard this statement in my practice : « I must tell you a very curious fact, doc- tor ; I do not stammer every day ; there are whole davR, AA^rpks ovc^i, during \vhi(;li iny speech is so