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From the World, Philadelphia, March 20, 1839.

DR COMSTOCK.-We have received from the author a small pamphlet, containing a Lecture on Elocution, with remarks on stammering, delivered before the American Lyceum in this city, on the 6th of May, 1837, by Dr. Comstock. He is well known in this city, as remarkably successful in the cure of all defects in speech, and also for teaching elocution upon philosophical principles. His school contains pupils from various and distant parts of the country, resorting to him for the cure of stammering and other vocal defects. He has published a work on Practical Elocution, the perusal of which will show that his lessons are important to others besides those afflicted with stammering; for all public speakers, whether lawyers, preachers or politicians, will derive advantages from observing his rules. The voice, like any other part of the system connected with voluntary muscular action, is susceptible of cultivation. It is regulated by a very complicated system of muscles, and must therefore be more or less under command, in proportion to the control of the individual over these muscles. Why are the muscles of a blacksmith's striking arm larger than those of his holding arm? Because they are more exercised. Why have porters, stage drivers, and those whose legs are most exercised, larger femoral and crural muscles, than people of sedentary habits? For the same reason. Then if one set of muscles is improved by cultivation, so may be another; and therefore, as the voice is regulated by mus cular action, it must necessarily be improved by proper exercise.

This theory, which, as every anatomist knows, is founded on fact, explains the whole system of stammering and other vocal defects. They proceed from paralysis, weakness, or other causes, producing want of control over the vocal muscles. Such defects in the leg or arm, produce lameness in these limbs. Similar defects or infirmities in the vocal muscles, must produce lameness of the voice. This point established, the indication of cure is obvious. It consists in restoring activity to the vocal muscles by exercise, by cultivation. Singers never stammer, and stammering is often cured by singing. Why? Because singing gives active exercise to the vocal muscles. But it will not always cure stammering, because the defect may be in certain muscles which singing cannot reach, or reach with sufficient force. To supply the deficiency, we need the professor of elocution, who understands the voice anatomically, physiologically, and pathologically, or in other words, who understands the structure, actions, and diseases of the parts of the human system subservient to the voice. Dr. Comstock has particularly studied this subject, and his success as a practitioner proves that he has studied it faithfully.

I most cheerfully endorse the preceding certificates relative to Dr. Comstock's success in removing impediments of speech. Having spent several weeks in his Gymnasium, for the purpose of improving my voice, and of removing an impediment to which I had always been more or less subject, I am able to speak both from observation and experience. I consider his system of vocal gymnastics eminently fitted to accomplish the end designed: viz. to bring the organs of speech, by a thorough course of drilling, entirely under the control of volition. True it is, that much energy and perseverance, as well as time and patience, are necessary on the part of the afflicted in order to be entirely relieved. But I am confident that where there is no mal-formation of the vocal organs, an entire cure may be effected. F. W. FISK.

Philadelphia, Avril 27th, 1840.

From the Philadelphia Saturday Courier, April 3, 1841.

CURE OF STAMMERING.

Two young gentlemen called in our sanctum the other morning, and we had a pleasant conversation with them on the extraordinary benefit they had derived from having been a few weeks in the Vocal Gymnasium of Dr. Comstock. One of them, John Scribner, jr., is from. Poplin, N. H. He told us, that fourteen weeks ago he could not converse at all without stammering in the pronunciation of almost e ery word. He conversed with us the morning we saw him, as fluently as Daniel Webster or Mr. Forsyth could; and we should say his friends will be delighted to hold converse with him on his return to the salubrious atmosphere of the "Granite State." The other young gentleman is Mr. William H. Cornell, of Clinton, New York. He is eighteen years old, and had been a stammerer all his life, until Dr. Comstock had the gratification of receiving him under his discipline of the vocal powers. He has been there but four weeks, and conversed with us with very little impedi. ment of speech; and by the first of May, when he proposes to return to the beautiful region of Dutchess county, he will be able to descant upon the sweets of the "buds and the flowers" with as much buoyancy of speech as the most lovely young damsel around his romantic home. We are happy in stating such cases, for the encouragement of others in distant portions of the country, who may be labouring under the painful difficulties which impediments of speech impose.

From the National Gazette, Philadelphia, Nov. 17, 1841.

A STAMMERER CURED.

PHILADELPHIA, Nov. 10, 1841. Messrs. EDITORS-For nearly twenty years I was an inveterate stammerer. The habit was contracted when I was four years old, in consequence of the severe treatment of a schoolmaster. Being anxious to have a cure effected, if possible, but almost despairing, I placed myself, six weeks ago, under the care of Dr. Andrew Comstock of this city, and the result has been a most happy one. Since the third day after I entered his Vocal Gymnasium, I have been able to converse with friends and strangers, without any impediment whatever. I unhesitatingly recommend all who stammer to make a trial of Dr. C.'s mode of treatment. It is founded on philosophical principles, and I feel confident, if persevered in, will always produce the same beneficial results as my own case. I shall reside, during the winter, at No. 200 Arch Street, where I shall be happy to receive a visit from any one who may desire farther information on the subject.

Respectfully,

LEVI S. YATES, of Williamston, N. C., Student of Medicine in the University of Pennsylvania.

From the Philadelphia Saturday Courier, July 21, 1838.

STAMMERERS.

We notice as an interesting fact, that C. H. J. Pigman, Esq., (a young gentleman who was recently in our office, while under the care of Dr. Comstock, for stammering,) defivered the oration at Cumberland, Md., on the 4th instant. It was a clear and distinct performance, and was well received by a large auditory. A copy in print has been received by us. The Civilian of that place remarks, that the enunciation of Mr. Pigman is so clear, that if it had not previously been known that he had laboured severely under an impediment, none who hear him speak would be aware that he had ever been troubled with such a difficulty. Mr. Pigman and his friends (who are highly respectable), unite in bestowing great credit upon the scientific skill of Dr. Comstock. We think we do unfortunate stammerers a kindness by commending this gentleman to their consideration

PHONETIC READER:

CONSISTING OF

A SELECTION OF PIECES,

CLASSICAL AND MORAL,

IN PROSE AND VERSE,

IN BOTH THE OLD AND THE NEW ALPHABET;

TO WHICH IS PREFIXED

A SYSTEM OF VOCAL GYMNASTICS.

DESIGNED

FOR SCHOOLS, AS WELL AS FOR INDIVIDUALS, WHETHER NA TIVES OR FOREIGNERS, WHO WISH TO ACQUIRE THE TRUE PRONUNCIATION OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE.

BY ANDREW COMSTOCK, M.D.

PRINCIPAL OF THE VOCAL AND POLYGLOTT GYMNASIUM, AUTHOR OF A SYSTEM OF ELOCUTION, ETC.

PHILADELPHIA:

PUBLISHED BY E. H. BUTLER & CO.

A PHONETIC ALPHABET OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE.

BY ANDREW COMSTOCK, M. D.

In the following Table there is a character for each of the 38 elementary sounds of the English Language. For the sake of brevity, there are also 6 compound letters, each to be used, in particular instances, to represent two elementary sounds.

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