War Aphonia

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Abstract
Etiology and methods of treatment of 116 cases of war aphonia encountered by the author during the first World War. Treatment by direct sound or orthophonic work resulted in only 60% improvement. Use of suggestion and anaesthesia, talking by means of question and answer with the patient as the patient recovered from ether anaesthesia, and by introduction of a pellet or small ball between the vocal cords to bring about a sensation of suffocation and a cry of fright were methods utilized. Administration of short open drop of anaesthesia combined with feigned manipulation, a subcut. injn. of saline soln. into the neck, was successful. The patient was told that to regain his voice he had to receive an injn. which would be very painful, hence the anaesthesia. As he came out, the patient was urged to talk. Also a laryngoscopic mirror was introduced into the throat pro- ducing gag reflex and consequent voice. Many cases were corrected in only one sitting. Authors were unable to check most,of their corrected cases, only 2 out of the 116 being met later. War aphonies should be treated at the front lines as close to the occasion of the loss of voice as possible, since allowing these cases to stand until they are transferred to certain centers is not advisable.

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