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Cornell University Library 
 MT 821.K78 
 
 3 1924 021 786 995 
 
Take Care of Your Voice 
 
 ■OR- 
 
 THE GOLDEN RULE OF HEALTH 
 
 LEO KOKIvER 
 
 Organist and Choirmaster of St. Paul's Chapel, Trinity Parish, New York ; Author 
 
 of '• The Art of Breathing as the Basis of Tone-Production," " Selected Hymn 
 
 Tunes," etc. 
 
 :>^!| 
 
 NEW YORK 
 
 Edgar S. Werner 
 
 milwaukee, wis. 
 Wm. Eohlfing & Sons 
 
 London : KEGAN PAUL, TRENCH, TRUBNER & CO. 
 
^ Reader's Attention ^ 
 
 \ 
 
 is called to a Notice upo7i the inside hack cover. 
 
 Religious tracts are promulgated for the good of meii's souls. 
 Tltc old adage : That a sound soul can only he found in a sound 
 hody, is a strong recommendation for this little hook, and goes 
 far to show that it has a great missionary work before it, jA the 
 Keynote to almost every page is contained in these few ivords: 
 Good habits of living are the source of health and strength. It 
 is the greatest charity and a nohle mission to preach this doctrine 
 to all zvho do not yet understand it. 
 
 CopuHght, 1SS9, by LEO KOFLEB. 
 
Take Care of Your Voice. 
 
 THE GOLDEN RULE OF HEALTH. 
 
 intr6duction. 
 
 TAKE Oare of Tour Voice I This is a wide subject. The 
 difficulty lies not in fining sufficient material, but in sift- 
 ing it so as not to bring before you a kaleidoscopic medley of 
 themes, but a complete work, logically arranged and of practi- 
 cal value to the voice-user. 
 
 It is at once apparent that the first requisite for preserving the 
 voice is care of the throat. The throat is the barometer of the 
 whole man — soul and body. What and how we breathe, or, in 
 other words, the respiratory process ; what we eat and drink, or 
 the state of the digestive apparatus ; the condition of the blood, 
 and its circulation ; the mode of dressing ; the character of our 
 dwellings; our occupations, social enjoyments and individual 
 pleasures ; the amount of control we have of our nerves and 
 darker passions and feelings;: — all these must receive careful 
 attention in order to keep the throat in such a condition as to 
 preserve the voice. 
 
 Nor is this all. To preserve the voice means also to use it cor- 
 rectly in speaking and in singing. This would necessitate the 
 outlining of what I believe to be a correct method of voice- 
 production in its two great divisions — the art of elocution and 
 the art of singing. 
 
 Finally, the throat, like any other part of the body, is liable to 
 disease. Therefore, it is necessary to know the essential points 
 about those diseases that affect the voice, and their remedies, in 
 
 (3) 
 
4 TAKE CARE OF YOUR VOICE. 
 
 order to keep the voice in good condition. A glance over these 
 topics shows that my subject should be divided into three parts : 
 
 I. — What should be our mode of living in regard to those mat- 
 ters that influence the vocal organs ? 
 
 II. — "What is the correct method of using the speaking and the 
 singing-voice so that the throat will be unharmed ? 
 
 III. — What diseases have an injurious effect upon the voice, 
 and how should they be treated ? 
 
 These divisions are logical and exhaustive ; and were I to give a 
 scientific analysis of my subject, I should undoubtedly treat it 
 not only exhaustively but exhaustingly to my readers. Instead, 
 I shall proceed simply and empirically, pointing out, in Part I., 
 the most important principles that govern the bodily functions, 
 as far as they relate to the voice and throat. In Part II. , I shall 
 endeavor to show how to take care of the voice while using it in 
 speaking and singing, telling what to avoid in voice-use. In 
 Part III., namely, the therapeutics of the throat, and of the body 
 as far as its ailments affect the voice, common-sense and necessity 
 force upon the layman in medical science a modest brevity. 
 
PART I. 
 
 The Most Importakt Principles Governing the Bodily 
 
 Functions, as far as They Relate to the 
 
 Throat and the Voice. 
 
 IT IS well known that our body is continually undergoing 
 decay and renovation. According to the best writers on physi- 
 ology this change of matter is so great that a daily average of one 
 per cent, of the solid organic parts and about seventy per cent, 
 of fluid matter is removed and replaced, so that we can say that 
 our body becomes entirely renewed every few weeks. 
 
 The material used in this uninterrupted process of reconstruc- 
 tion is oxygen, water, albumen, fat, salts, iron, sulphur, phos- 
 phorus, etc. Our organism cannot produce these out of itself. 
 They must be introduced into our system from without. The 
 fundamental condition of life and health, therefore, is that the 
 building-materials should be supplied in correct proportion, in 
 sufficient quantity, and that they are of the very best quality. 
 This is accomplished through respiration and nutrition, — the 
 assimilation of the food, the circulation of the blood, and the 
 cleansing of the system from all impurities and decayed matter 
 by means of the lungs, the kidneys, the liver, and the skin. 
 I remarked in the beginning that the throat is the barometer of 
 the whole system. I meant this especially in the sense that in 
 the continuous reconstructing of our bodily organism the throat 
 is the gauge by means of which we can calculate whether the 
 engine is working regularly, whether it is going at too high or 
 too low pressure, or whether it is running down and needs 
 repairing. 
 
 The respiratory process is the first important thing to engage 
 attention. 
 
 (5) 
 
6 TAKE CARE OF YOUR VOICE. 
 
 FIRST AXIOM. — In the ordinary process of respiration, be very 
 careful never to ireathe through the mouth, but always through 
 the nostiils.* 
 
 Anyone addicted to habitual mouth-breathing must not hope 
 for a" successful career either as speaker or singer. Habitual 
 mouth-breathing brings on many bodily ailments and mental 
 idiocy. Try the following experiment : Hold the hand about five 
 inches from the mouth, and expel the breath forcibly against the 
 hand ; it will feel cold to the skin, even if tried on a hot day. 
 Suppose yoa force the cold outside air in winter through the open 
 mouth against the delicate, blood-warm mucous membrane of 
 the pharynx, vocal ligaments, windpipe, bronchial tubes, and 
 lung-cells, — what must be the consequence ? Sudden huskiness 
 and hoarseness. Even in warm weather mouth-breathing is very 
 harmful. Besides, we should bear in mind that the principal 
 function of the respiratory process is to introduce fresh oxygen 
 into the lungs and the blood. The air is usually charged with 
 all sorts of deleterious substances, which should be filtered from 
 it before they enter the throat, bronchial tubes and lungs. This 
 purifying of the air can take place only when the air is taken « 
 through the nostrils. It is absolutely impossible to keep the 
 vocal organs healthy otherwise, f 
 
 SECOND AXIOM. — As breath should always be taken through 
 the nostrils, in order to make respiratioti easy, abundant, and 
 healthy it must also be the rule to carry on respiration by 
 means of the combined action of the breathing-apparatus and 
 the force generated by the downivard contraction of the dia- 
 phragm. 
 
 It is stating a very old method to say that man breathes with 
 the diaphragm. Incredible though it may seem, there are com- 
 paratively few persons who breathe correctly. I will point out 
 two wrong methods of breathing. One method is the upward 
 contracting of the diaphragm, raising the shoulders and drawing 
 the abdomen in. This is entirely wrong and unhealthy, because 
 the lower part of the lungs is not suflQciently inflated. AThe other 
 method is the downward contracting of the diaphragm, expand- 
 ing the abdominal walls completely, but leaving the chest almost 
 inactive. This is a little better than the former method, but is 
 
 ♦See " The Art of Breathing," hy Leo Kofler, S 18, pp. 47-50. 
 + See "The Art ot Breathing," § 15, pp. 40-42. 
 
TAKE CARE OF YOUR VOICE. 7 
 
 imperfect, unhealthy and unnatural, because it does not permit 
 sufficient expansion and ventilation of the upper part of the lungs. 
 A healthy, natural breath is one taken throagh the nostrils by a 
 downward contraction of the diaphragm, but not so much of a 
 contraction as to prevent the intercostal muscles from simultane- 
 ously expanding the whole chest as high as the collar-bone. 
 
 To be more explicit, the only correct and healthy method of 
 taking breath in the ordinary function of respiration is this : 
 First, feel that the diaphragm-region — the waist — expands. This 
 expansion is caused by the downward contraction of the dia- 
 phragm. Secondly, at the same time feel an incipient, expansion 
 of tlie whole trunk-region, from the lowest point of the abdomen 
 to the highest point of the chest and collar-bone. This expansion 
 is felt in the entire circumference of the trunk, as a complete 
 oneness of action, not in sections or broken. Thirdly, whether 
 the amount of breath taken be great or small, whether a half or 
 a full expansion is required, it must always by done with the com- 
 bined breathing-apparatus and with oneness o€ action. The dif- 
 ference between half and full, short and long breaths, is not in 
 method but in time and the amount of expansion. 
 
 This is the only correct, natural, healthy way of breathing; 
 for by this method the whole of the lungs is used and ventilated, 
 and thus kept healthy. Both men and women should breathe in 
 this way. There is a notion prevalent that women can take breath 
 only by the collar-bone method, i. e. , high-chest breathing. This 
 habit may have been established through the pernicious custom 
 of wearing tightly laced corsets and tight-fitting dresses ; but it is. 
 not natural, not healthy. There is but one right breathing- 
 method for both sexes — the one using the combined breathing- 
 apparatus, as just described. * 
 
 Physicians and insurance companies should know this ; for the- 
 exact breathing-capacity of a person is of great assistance in de- 
 termining the health. They measure, as a rule, only the upper- 
 chest expansion, and think they have an excellent subject if there 
 is from two to four inches' expansion. Yet a person with such a 
 chest-expansion may develop catarrhal phthisis in one Of the 
 lower lobes of the lungs within six months after the examination, 
 because he uses only the upper lungs. To properly measure the 
 breath-capacity so as to ascertain the condition of the lungs and 
 judge of longevity, two measurements must be taken : One around 
 
 » See " The Art of Breathing," 8 16, pp. 42-43. 
 
8 TAKE CARE OF YOUR VOICE. 
 
 the waist, the other around the upper ohest. A man or a woman 
 with two inches' waist-expansion and one inch or one inch and a 
 half upper-chest expansion, in full breath, is a splendid subject 
 for a life policy. If the proportion were reversed, it would be 
 equally good. But I should advise the rejecting of those, persons 
 who expand the upper chest to the exclusion of the waist and 
 the abdominal region, and should also hesitate about those who 
 expand the abdominal region exclusively. 
 
 THIRD AXIOM. — // is of paramount importance not to put 
 any obstacles in the way of a plentiful supply of fresh oxyr 
 gen at every reneival of the breath. Free expansion at the 
 diaphragm-region must not be hindered by tight dresses, 
 belts, corsets, or stooping. 
 
 The unnatural checking at the waist of the important organic 
 factors of free breathing interferes not only with the necessary 
 supply of fresh oxygen, but with the circulation of the blood and 
 the work of the stomach, directly and indirectly making voice- 
 use labopious and weakening to the lungs and the whole vocal 
 apparatus. Everybody knows this; and those who wear such 
 instruments of physical torture and destroyers of health know 
 better than anybody else that they shorten not only their profes- 
 sional careers, if they are vocalists, but also their lives. It is 
 said that love is stronger than death ; the same is true of fashion 
 and vanity. Some persons would kill themselves rather than go 
 against either. 
 
 Another check to free breathing is 
 
 THE HABIT OF STOOPING. 
 
 If I were asked which of the two habits was more hurtful, 
 tight lacing or habitual stooping, I should say the latter ; and 
 this means a great deal. Stooping interferes to a dangerous 
 extent with the vital functions.* Have you ever seen a success- 
 ful singer or speaker, with a good, strong voice, addicted to the 
 habit of stooping ? I know of none. One that stoops cannot 
 become a good singer or speaker. The dangerous consequences 
 of tight lacing and of stooping will be considered further in the 
 next axiom. I strongly urge all- persons charged with that most 
 important and responsible of all duties, the educating of children, 
 
 *See "The Art of Breathing,"' pp. 43 and 54. 
 
TAKE CARE OF YOUR VOICE. 9 
 
 to look after them in this regard. The pernicious habit of stoop- 
 ing is contracted chiefly in childhood, during that period when 
 the young spend much time on the school-benches. Teachers 
 should not allow children to bend over the desk when reading or 
 writing. Benches with narrow seats and straight backs are con- 
 ducive to stooping ; so is the folding of the arms in front of the 
 chest. When children are not actively engaged with their hands 
 in pencil or pen work, or in holding a book (in which case they 
 must not be allowed to stoop), they should fold their arms behind 
 them and sit up straight. 
 
 FOURTH AXIOM. — Keep the Mood pure and the circulation, 
 free by proper care of the lungs, liver, kidneys and skin, by 
 breathing -gymnastics, by a rational mode of dress, and by 
 frequent bathing. 
 
 It is the duty of the lungs to discharge the carbonic poison 
 gathered from the blood and to transmit to the blood fresh oxy- 
 gen from the outer air by means of respiration. Daily breathing- 
 gymnastics are absolutely necessary to keep the breathing- 
 apparatus in good working order and to increase its usefulness. 
 Thorough aerification of the lungs is possible only by breathing- 
 gymnastics. They are a daily necessity. 
 
 The liver is another blood-cleansing organ, as long as it is 
 active. Its activity is maintained chiefly through breathing- 
 gyninastics. The clothes should be loose, for if they are tight- 
 fitting they impede free action of the liver. Belts, bands, 
 corsets, and similar tortures imposed by fashion, are dangerous 
 hindrances to the purifying work of the liver, as is also the hold- 
 ing of the body in a cramped position for any length of time. 
 
 The kidneys are important factors in the process of blood- 
 cleansing. They remove the superfluous water and waste particles 
 of albumen. The activity of the kidneys is assisted by drinking 
 plenty of pure water. Mineral waters are very healthy; also 
 celery, parsley, etc. , taken with meals, increase the activity of 
 the kidneys. 
 
 The last important agent in cleansing-the blood is the skin. 
 Perspiration aids greatly in purifying the blood. Upon the con- 
 dition of the skin depends the free outlet of perspiration. Two 
 things must be observed : Keep the skin clean from head to 
 foot by frequent bathing in warm water, and change the under- 
 clothing often. 
 
10 TAKE CARE OF YQpM VOICE. 
 
 How often should one bathe ? Some advise a daily bath,; 
 others, a full bath twice a week. This question, like many 
 others, must be decided by each person for himself. The more 
 one perspires, the oftener he needs a bath. It might not be too 
 often in very hot weather to bathe twice a day ; for many it 
 would be enough to bathe twice a week in winter. But if a 
 person's 'constitution or occupation cause him to perspire freely 
 in winter, he must bathe oftener. Soap should be used freely, 
 because the fatty condition of the skin prevents it from being 
 thoroughly cleansed by water alone. The healthiest, purest and 
 most cleansing soap is white Castilian olive soap. Rub the skin 
 hard. The best thing for this purpose is the Japanese root called 
 Lofhas. Split one of the roots, flatten it out so as to make a 
 surface of the hard inside fibres, rub plenty of soap into it, wet 
 the skin thoroughly, and rub vigorously with the Lofhas. Do 
 not prolong the bath more than is necessary, and dry yourself 
 well and quickly. The temperature of the water should be 
 comfortably warm. 
 
 How often should the underwear be changed ? The clothes 
 worn during the day should be removed before retiring, and a 
 separate set of night-clothes worn. This rule should be observed 
 the year round. The underwear should be completely changed 
 once, twice, or three times a week, according to the condition of 
 the skin. 
 
 FIFTH AXIOM. — To preserve the health, IreatJdng-gymnastics 
 should he practiced at least twice a day, fifteen minutes at a 
 time. 
 
 As this treatise is intended to supplement my larger work, 
 " The Art of Breathing," it is unnecessary to consider subjects 
 already treated of therein, except incidentally. Breathing- 
 gymnastics for developing the lungs, chest and voice, and as the 
 basis of tone-production, are thoroughly treated of in " The Art 
 of Breathing."* I did not intend to have any breathing-gym- 
 nastics in this little work ; but my medical friends have persuaded 
 me to give a few exercises for daily practice, as the simplest 
 means of keeping well. Exercises I. and II. of this set are not 
 contained in " The Art of Breathing." 
 
 ' See "The Art of Breathing," pp. 75-99. 
 
TAKE CARE OF YOUR VOICE. II 
 
 Exercise I. 
 
 Stand erect, arms folded in front of the chest. Take an ener- 
 getic breath through the nostrils, simultaneously throwing botli 
 arms backward, letting one hand grasp the wrist of the otlier, 
 and holding them there below the middle of the back. Dilate 
 the nostrils well as the air is drawn noiselessly through them, 
 and draw the shoulders backward at the instant when the hands 
 grasp each other. Hold the breath a little while. Then, as the 
 air is forced out in a strong blast through the compressed lips, 
 bring the arms forward and fold them in front of the chest, as 
 before. Eepeat three times. 
 
 Exercise II. 
 
 Stand erect, arms hanging loosely at the sides. Take an ener- 
 getic breath noiselessly through the nostrils, throwing both arms 
 upward, one hand grasping the other directly overhead, the 
 thumbs crossing each other. Dilate the nostrils well in inhaling. 
 Hold the breath a little while. Then, as the breath is exhaled 
 through the nostrils, drop the arms. Eepeat three times. 
 
 Exercise III. 
 
 Select a strong stick about three feet in length. Grasp it with 
 both hands, arms hanging at full length, the thumbs turned 
 down and under the stick. Eaise the stick, by an energetic 
 movement of the arms, as high overhead as possible, bring it 
 down back of the head, and rest it upon the neck. Hold the 
 upper arms and elbows straight down and close to the sides. 
 Then take a good breath noiselessly through the nostrils, as 
 described in the Second Axiom, and retain it as long as you can 
 comfortably. You may walk up and down in a well-ventilated 
 room or outdoors during the holding of the breath, and count 
 silently the number of steps. Be careful not to hold the air 
 longer than can be done without discomfort. 
 
 Exercise IV. 
 
 Stand erect, arms hanging at the sides. Take a good breath, 
 as described in the. Second Axiom. Eetain it a few seconds, 
 then expel a small portion forcibly through the lips, pursing 
 them tightly. This ejection of the air by abdominal pressure 
 
13 TAKE CARE OF YOUR VOICE. 
 
 causes a perceptible pushing outward of the upper diaphragmatic 
 region. After the first explosion, retain the air a little while, 
 and then force out another puff in the same way, continuing 
 until the air is exhausted.* 
 
 Exercise V. 
 
 Stand erect, arms hanging at the sides. Take a good breath 
 through the nostrils, and hold the air. Bend the upper part of 
 the body forward a 'little, and have somebody pat your back. 
 When the breath cannot be held longer, resume an erect position, 
 take a fresh breath, and do Exercise IV. f 
 
 SIXTH AXIOM. — What a person should eat and drink is of 
 great importance, especially to vocalists; because- the throat 
 and voice suffer much from an inadequate supply of iuild- 
 ing-material in the daily process of bodily reconstruction. 
 
 It would require too much time to discuss the nutritious qual- 
 ities and the percentage of albumen, fat, water, sugar, starch, 
 salts, sulphur and phosphorus of the various substances that 
 serve as food for man. Suffice it to say that fat meat, eggs, fish, 
 milk, cheese, all cereals, bread, vegetables, fruit and water con- 
 tain, in greater or less degree, many of the necessary building- 
 materials. In preparing the two important daily meals, one 
 should strive for a combination of articles containing the three 
 essential food elements namely : (1) Fat meat, fish, milk, 
 cheese; (2) cereals, bread; (3) vegetables, fruit. Alcoholic 
 liquids contain no essential element for nutrition, and are apt to 
 interfere with the digestion. Some persons dislike the fat of 
 cooked meats, and, therefore, select lean meat. It may not be 
 possible always to educate a weak stomach to digest fat ; in which 
 case, eat the lean parts. The meat of lean animals is unfit for 
 human food. 
 
 SEVENTH AXIOM. — Abstain from eating too much at a time 
 and from eating irregularly. Masticate the food thoroughly. 
 
 The old rule is : At no meal eat so much that you could not 
 partake of more. It is not necessary to leave the table feeling 
 hungry, but observe a reasonable medium, regulated by your 
 
 * See " The Art of Breathing," p. 88. 
 + See " The Art of Breathing," p. 90. 
 
TAKE CARE OF YOUR VOICE. 13 
 
 daily work and exercise. Two meals a day are usually enough 
 for a person of ordinary habits; and if a third be added, it should 
 be very light. It is not advisable to lay down a regular program 
 for every day. Variety of food and novelty in arrangement 
 stimulate the appetite; systematic weekly programs, as in a 
 boarding-house, and prison-like monotony, ruin it. It is, how- 
 ever, well to follow a rigid rule in regard to the time of the 
 meals, as far as your occupations permit. Most persons are in- 
 jured by eating a heavy meal before retiring. It is very un- 
 healthy to partake of a fourth meal late at night. Many artists 
 and other people have this habit. If it is necessary to have some- 
 thing besides sleep to restore strength after the fatigue of an 
 evening's entertainment, take beef blood, the safest of all tonics 
 (in Axiom 39, Section 3, directions are given for its preparation) ; 
 or a wineglass of Nicholson's " Liquid Bread," or milk. 
 
 Rich food, heavy wines, champagne, and strong liquors are 
 poisonous at all times, and especially when taken late at night. 
 If this were done every night for a few months or a couple of 
 years, the strongest constitution would be undermined. 
 
 Do no violent exercise after a meal, has become an axiom of 
 living. Neither is it well to lie down and sleep after dinner. 
 The maxim not to sing immediately after eating is to be taken, 
 probably, in the sense that the voice is not in the best condition 
 after a heavy meal. Moderate exercise after eating is good, and 
 I cannot see why a little light vocal practice should be harmful, 
 if one has no time more convenient than attdv a meal. But it is 
 better to do heavy breathing-gymnastics and powerful vocal exer- 
 cises before than after eating. Nourishment and voice-use should 
 be so regulated as not to interfere. 
 
 EIGHTH AXIOM. — Dress in such a manner as to feel neither 
 too ivarm nor too cold. 
 
 As a general rule, men dress too warmly and women not 
 warmly enough. It stands to reason that the thickness and tex- 
 ture of the clothes should be regulated according to the health 
 and age of a person, to the clime and the season. Therefore, it 
 is impossible to give advice for all cases and times. As this 
 treatise is intended principally for people living in the United 
 States, I will point out a very important feature, found all over 
 our country, namely, the sudden changes from warm to cold, 
 
14 TAKE CARE OF YOUR VOICE. 
 
 and vice versa. The only safe mode of dressing in this hemi- 
 sphere is to wear woollen underwear — undershirt, drawers, and 
 socks or stockings. Everybody should have three sets, with at 
 least two changes for each— a thin set for summer, a little 
 heavier set for fall and spring, and the heaviest set for winter. 
 The Jaeger woollen underwear is the most comfortable and re- 
 liable. 
 
 NINTH AXIOM. — Harden the throat and head in a rational 
 tvay. 
 
 It is unhealthy to wear fur collars and woollen scarfs around 
 the neck, even in cold weather. Begin in early childhood to 
 harden the throat by exposing it, never wearing high and tight- 
 fitting collars. Voice-users especially should avoid tight collars, 
 because they hinder the free use of the larynx in speaking and 
 singing. Everybody should wear loose collars, as breathing, 
 swallowing, coughing, whispering, talking and singing may 
 irritate the throat because of tight-fitting collars, ribbons, etc. 
 
 The head also should be hardened. Sealskin caps and fur 
 hats are unfit for headgear in our climate. They are too warm, 
 causing the head to perspire and giving rise to colds. ' Sick and 
 aged persons may be excepted. 
 
 TENTH AXIOM. — As the air should circulate to a certain ex- 
 tent between the skin and the clothes, in order to regulate per- 
 sjnration, the wearing-apparel should be of such material 
 and so made as neither to hinder nor to permit too free circu- 
 lation of air. 
 
 The clothing must not be too loose, for the air should not have 
 too free access to the skin, as it dries up the perspiration too 
 rapidly and takes too much warmth away from the body at once, 
 resulting in cold. A person in a heated condition must not re- 
 move or unbutton the clothing, or expose himself to a draught. 
 This is one of the reasons why woollen underwear is better than 
 anything else ; because when cotton, linen, or silk becomes wet 
 from perspiration it draws too much warmth from the body, feels 
 cold to the skin, and is dangerous to the health. Woollen under- 
 wear, even when wet with perspiration, keeps the skin warm. 
 Tliose parts of the body that perspire most freely should be most 
 protected from cold. Almost everybody perspires most under the 
 arms. Even in winter a Tarisk walk will start perspiration there. 
 
TAKE CARE OF YOUR VOICE. 15 
 
 Overcoats and wraps ought to be worn long, reaching at least to 
 the knees, to keep the wind from the sides of the chest under the 
 arms. The unhealthiest of all outside garments is the short 
 cape of wool or fur, so much worn by women, and reaching only 
 to the elbows. Any garment leaving the arms free, even though 
 it be long, comes in for a share of blame. Waists and Jackets, 
 short and cut away to look stylish, are unhealthy, for they allow 
 the wind and the cold air to strike against the sides of the body. 
 Feather or fur boas are very iniurious, as are also the so-called 
 Thibets. 
 
 • While insulBcient protection is dangerous, it is not wise to 
 dress too warmly, for it makes the skin sensitive to cold, causes 
 too free perspiration, and invites colds. 
 
 Tight shoes and gloves are very unhealthy. They hinder the 
 circulation of the blood, and take all the warmth out of the feet 
 and hands. 
 
 ELEVENTH kWOM.— After the foregoing three rules, it 
 follows that the present mode of women's attire is entirely 
 contrary to all rules of health. Reform is necessary. 
 
 I have already said that women, as a rule, do not dress warmly 
 enough at any season of the year. The most barbarous thing in 
 woman's dress is the utter disregard of shielding the abdomen 
 and limbs. The skirts admit the wind and cold air, and the 
 scantier and thinner the underwear, the more dangerous is this 
 to hea,lth. It is often said that women have more ailments than 
 men. The very name that distinguishes them as the weaker sex 
 points to ■ it. Their careless exposure of \he body to all in- 
 clemencies of wind and weather explains this. If the fashion of 
 .skirts cannot be abolished, women should wear woollen under- 
 wear, so made that the cold air nowhere can reach the body. 
 
 Their shoes and gloves are made of material entirely too light, 
 the shoe-soles especially being too thin. 
 
 As far as hardening the throat is concerned, women go to two 
 extremes. Either the collars of their dresses are too high and 
 tight, or the dress is cut too low and too wide around the neck 
 and chest, exposing the wearer to colds. 
 
 The summer costumes of many women could not be modeled 
 more effectually to undermine the health if this had been the 
 motive in desigi^ing them. 
 
 Why is this, and why do not women clamor for reform ? Is it 
 
16 TAKi: CARE OF YOUR VOICE. 
 
 because men are opposed to it, because a reform dress would not 
 look as tasteful and stylish ? Several very rational suits modeled 
 on reform principles have been designed, and lectures on the sub- 
 ject are frequently delivered to gatherings of women. As long 
 as these lectures are listened to by women only, their missionary 
 work will not bring the results that it deserves. Let dress-re- 
 formers lecture to the men, and show them that woman is not 
 created to serve merely as a show-piece or a plaything, but that 
 she has an equal right with men to health and happiness and 
 strength, no matter if, to obtain this, she has to attire herself in 
 a manner less pleasing to the selfish eyes of the lords of creation. • 
 
 TWELFTH AXIOM. — The bed should be neither too warm nor 
 too cold. 
 
 During sleep the activity of the entire body is reduced, and 
 therefore much less warmth is generated. The bedclothes, con- 
 sequently, should be much warmer than the daily wearing- 
 apparel. Still they must not be too warm, lest perspiration is 
 caused, you get uncovered during sleep, and thus take cold. 
 Feather-beds are, beyond doubt, the most unfit and the un- 
 healthiest bedding, and feather-pillows are just as bad. A 
 mattress of straw or of corn-husks, with a horse-hair mattress on 
 top and a hair-pillow, is the most comfortable and healthiest of 
 all bedding. For a cover, use a woollen blanket, light for sum- 
 mer, a little heavier for fall and spring, and heavy for winter. 
 
 THIRTEENTH AXIOM.— ^Ae living and sleeping -rooms must 
 have plenty of freth air, sunshine and ivarmth. 
 
 It is unnecessary to give the physiological reasons why pure air, ^ 
 light and warmth are essential for dwellings. We should see" 
 that our houses are well ventilated. The rooms should have 
 several windows, and the window-sashes ought to be made so that 
 the whole window-space can be opened. This kind of window is 
 found throughout Germany, Italy, and France. But architects 
 in this country make windows so that only one-half can be 
 opened at a time, and thus only one-half of the window-space is 
 available for ventilation. This is wrong. 
 
 Do not expose yourself to draughts. Plenty of fresh, pure air 
 is needed both in summer and in winter, by day and by night. 
 As the air is colder in winter and at night than in summer and 
 
TAKE CARE OF YOUR VOICE. 17 
 
 by day, one must be guided by his judgment. Everybody needs 
 a well-ventilated room ; young and old, healthy and sick, require 
 pure air. Do not live or sleep in a room that has direct connec- 
 tion with the sewer. Stationary washstands that lead the waste 
 water through pipes into the sewer are very unhealthy. No 
 plumbing — and do not trust in so-called sanitary plumbing, 
 either — can prevent poisonous sewer-gases from entering a room. 
 Do not sleep or live in a room that opens out upon a cesspool , or 
 an outhouse. 
 
 It needs no word of mine to confirm or strengthen your own 
 conviction that a d^rk room, without sunshine, is unhealthy. 
 Neither is it necessary to say much about living in a warm room. 
 The lowest temperature of the room in which you live should be 
 about 67 degrees, unless your occupation calls for continuous 
 activity. Healthy persons ought not to allow the temperature in 
 their rooms to rise above 70 degrees. The sleeping-room, pro- 
 vided you have a warm bed, should be about 60 degrees or less. 
 Summer makes its own exception to this rule. 
 
 FOURTEENTH AXIOM.— Occupations that are injurious to 
 the voice and throat should be avoided. 
 
 . It is unhealthy for the throat and lungs to inhale dust or foul 
 air, as? for instance, in badly-ventilated rooms where many per- 
 sons are gathered, in clubrooms, flour mills, grain elevators, etc. 
 More injurious is the inhaling of stone-dust, iron and steel-dust 
 in quarries and in iron and steel-works. The occupation of a 
 plumber is very harmful to the voice, on account of the unavoid- 
 able inhaling of foul air. Occupations in which much soldering 
 is necessary are unhealthy for the vocal organs. Work requiring 
 incessant stooping must also be avoided by the voice-user. 
 
 FIFTEENTH AXIOM. — Do not let desire for pleasure and am- 
 lition interfere with rest at night, for this weakens the voice. 
 
 Work, pleasure, rest. These are the three obligations which 
 it is our duty, in the best sense of the word, to satisfy every day. 
 It is impossible to say how many hours of work a man or a 
 woman ought to do. The workingman clamors for eight hours. 
 This surely is not too much, and leaves plenty of time for recre- 
 ation anA rest. All work and no play would be a hard life ; but 
 too much play and little work is unhealthy. The New Testa- 
 
18 TAKE CARE OF YOUB VOICE. 
 
 ment view of life is the healthiest, both morally and physically. 
 It considers the fruits of the earth as remuneration for man's 
 daily work. For his living, meaning the fulfilment of his day's 
 work, he may enjoy these fruits. A more cowardly principle 
 could not be thought of than the one of the modern loafer, 
 " The world owes me a living." The world owes yon nothing. 
 But you owe to the world, to yourself and to your family a day's 
 work in every 24 hours, except on the Lord's Day. This done, 
 you are entitled to pleasure and rest. 
 
 What is sleep ? It is the complete stopping of the mental 
 machinery, the brain and the nerves, in order to rebuild and re- 
 store the parts that, through activity, have been depleted. Eest 
 alone cannot accomplish this. Complete inactivity, such as quiet 
 sleep alone can give, is the only means to put the brain in work- 
 ing shape for the next day's use. During sleep the automatic, 
 physical life-functions are reduced to about half their usual 
 activity, in order to gain time for the restoring of the lost parti- 
 cles. Every adult needs from seven to eight hours' sleep. Women 
 generally need more sleep than men. Nothing is more injurious 
 than to lose sleep. " You can reduce your eating with greater im- 
 punity than you can reduce your sleep. Night sleep is the 
 restorer of the body. 
 
 Nothing interferes with sleep so much as social pleasures and 
 ambition. As to the former, I need only to ask the retftler to 
 look among his acquaintances and count the number of women 
 and men who have suffered severe illness, ending either in death 
 or in long debility. In the majority of cases, the beginning of 
 the trouble can be traced to over-indulgence in social pleasures, 
 which means debilitated nervous and bodily strength from fre- 
 quent loss of sleep. When once a person has become reduced, 
 ho is liable to any serious -illness. There are few social pleasures 
 nowadays where sleep-breaking is not a prominent feature. The 
 percentage of human beings that loses too much sleep from over- 
 work is smaller than the percentage that loses too much from 
 pleasure-seeking. This is a point worth considering by every- 
 body; as well as by the professional voice-user. ' 
 
TAKE CARE OF YOUR VOICE. 19 
 
 SIXTEENTH AXIOM. — In order to preserve the voice until ad- 
 vanced years, no had habits imist be contracted. Acquire 
 complete control of the apjyetites, especially in regard to stim- 
 tdants. 
 
 Mere like and dislike are too often the sole controller of our 
 pleasures. Of course, what is disagreeable cannot be a source of 
 enjoyment. We do not eat what we dislike. We put salt, pep- 
 per, sugar, oil, vinegar, and all kinds of spices into our food to 
 make it more palatable. You would not eat a broiled beefsteak 
 if it wore not salted. Is it because you like the salt better than 
 the beefsteak ? Certainly not, but salt gives a flavor, withoiit 
 which you are not accustomed to eat. Salt is used in nearly 
 everything eaten. To some articles sugar is added, to others 
 vinegar. Likes and dislikes are habits. There is no law to gov- 
 ern them except that of pleasure and habit. Is this rational ? If 
 pleasure instead of reason governs the choice in one's meals, he 
 will often eat things that he knows do not agree with him. The 
 danger is doubled becatise one is apt to partake too freely of food 
 that ho is particularly fond of. The moral is: Let the daily bill 
 of fare be regulated by judgment and not by pleasure, if it is de- 
 sired to keep the health and the voice in good condition. 
 
 If this advice is important in regard to the necessaries of life, 
 it should be made even more emphatic concerning stimulants. 
 Stimulants may be divid6d into three classes: (1) Tea andcofEee; 
 (2) beverages contn'ining alcohol ; (3) tobacco. 
 
 Before discussing these, let us consider what stimulants are for. 
 Who has not at various times and for various reason^ felt that 
 the activity of the. heart has become lessened and the circulation 
 of the blood sluggish ? The tone of the nervous system is lowered, 
 and a feeling oi weariness and lassitude creeps over one. To 
 give fresh impetus to the heart's action and raise the tone of the 
 nerves, a stimulant is often advised. Let us consider the differ- 
 ent stimulants with regard to their healthfulness and their danger, 
 
 SEVENTEENTH AXIOM.— rm and coffee, moderately used, 
 are not injurious to the throat or the voice. 
 
 As to the meaning of the term moderation, one or two cups of 
 cofEee not too strong for breakfast, and one or two cups of light 
 tea for supper are not excessive. I do not now refer to nervous 
 people or those with weak stomachs. They should avoid all stimu- 
 
20 TAKE CARE OF YOUR VOICE. 
 
 lants. The trouble arises when one forms the halDit of using tea 
 or coifee, hot or cold, whenever ho is tired or thirsty. When one 
 is tired he needs rest; when he is thirsty he needs water, not 
 stimulants. Excessive use of tea or coffee will weaken the nerves, 
 make the blood thin, and ruin the digestion, injuring the voice 
 as a matter of course. 
 
 EIGHTEENTH AXIOM.— The most dangerous stimulants are 
 those containing alcohol. It is letter not to use them at all, 
 if you care for your voice and your career. 
 
 This advice is given for two reasons : First, because bad habits 
 in this respect are very easily formed ; secondly, because of the 
 great amount of adulteration in the manufacturing of alcoholie 
 drinks. \ 
 
 A small glass of beer or light wine does not contain enough 
 alcohol to do much harm. The danger lies in the peculiarly ap- 
 petizing nature of the beverage. One drink begets a longing for 
 another, and so on, until too much is taken. When thi^ free use 
 becomes a habit, the whole body is filled with poison, killing the 
 intellectual and moral faculties. It would be far better for man- 
 kind if alcoholic stimulants had never been thought of ; for the 
 enormous harm entailed by intemperance is many times greater 
 than the little questionable relief derived from moderate use of 
 alcohol. Temperate habits are a duty with all voice-users; for 
 the throat, the voice, and those parts of the body most intimately 
 connected with the voice-producing apparatus are the very parts 
 that sufEer most from a free use of alcoholic beverages. The only 
 safe way is to leave such stimulants entirely alone. From the very 
 nature of alcohol, its moderate use as an established habit is a 
 delusion; for the very person who takes stimulants habitually is 
 seldom aware that he has already contracted the habit. He is 
 blind to the fact that he is undermining his voice. 
 
 All whiskies and brandies are unfit for use as a tonic, because 
 they contain too much alcohol. In certain ailments, such as 
 cramps, dysentery, the grippe, etc., whiskey may be used as a 
 medicine by adults, but watch carefully that it does not become a 
 habit. The man who takes whiskey or brandy whenever he is 
 thirsty is very near the end. Those who have formed the habit 
 of using alcoholic drinks to quench thirst should carry a box of 
 crushed sal prunelle. Whenever thirst arises, allow a small piece 
 of the sal prunelle to dissolve slowly in the mouth. It will remove 
 
TAKE CARE OF YOUR VOICE. 21 
 
 all desire for drink for some time. When the desire returns, re- 
 peat the dose. 
 
 If pure alcoholic beverages are injurious to the voice-user, how 
 much more dangei'ous is the habit in view of the frequent adul- 
 teration joracticed in the manufacture of liquors. It has been 
 said by those who know, and who are not themselves abstainers, 
 that no beer is made in this country that is fit to drink. 
 The same is true, to a greater or less extent, of all alcoholic bev- 
 erages. 
 
 NINETEENTH AXIOM. — As tobacco is a poison, and cannot 
 be taken except through the breathing-apparatus and the 
 resonance-cavities, it must be considered as dangerous for the 
 voice-user. 
 
 Aside from the mere animal pleasure derived from the satisfy- 
 ing of a habit, there is absolutely no benefit to be obtained from 
 the use of tobacco, no matter in what form the beastly habit is 
 indulged. It affects the mucous membrane of the mouth and 
 pharynx, hardening it and causing the so-called smoker's throat. 
 It injures the nerves and the digestive xjrgans, which, in turn, 
 react upon the voice. The smoking of pipes and cigarettes is 
 especially harmful. Smoking, chewing and the use of snufl are 
 alike bad for the throat. Taken all in all, tobacco is of no good. 
 If you are a slave to it, dear voice-user, you must give it up. 
 There is only one way to do this, — stop at once and stick to the 
 resolve. The smoker who always is going to give it up, or who 
 will leave off gradually, never yet has stopped. 
 
 TWENTIETH AXIOM. — Judgment and tvill-power must never 
 become the slaves ofpiassion. 
 
 Singers and actors are engaged in expressing passion. Their 
 life and surroundings tend to make them irritable and lose self- 
 control. Anger, jealousy, envy, grief, sexual relations, are pas- 
 sions which, if not controlled, may shorten a singer's career, or 
 even his life. Self-control is looked upon usually as the out- 
 gi'ovvth of strong will. This may be true in one sense. But we 
 often meet men with wonderful will-power in their daily work, 
 yet who evince abject weakness at the slightest temptation, and 
 are apparently powerless to control the allnrements of the flesh. 
 This weakness may spring from lack of conscience or from lack 
 
23 TAKE CARE OF YOUR VOICE. 
 
 of moral courage. The theologian would say that they fall 
 because they have not the strength which comes from religion. 
 While I do not disagree with, this view, I must seek another 
 explanation. 
 
 Man's will-power is strong in the pursuit of business, because 
 he has a strong motive behind. He seldom is actuated by the 
 thought that it is a moral duty to work lor a living and to sup- 
 port his family. Greed for gain gives to his will-power a stronger 
 incentive than does conscience. Why not use this same love 
 for gain to conquer the passions and to strengthen the will 
 when the desire for forbidden fruit is strong ? I believe that 
 everyone who will look into his past with an honest, impartial 
 eye will find that every deed, sooner or later, bears fruit that is 
 the natural outgrowth of the seed. And as the fruit always is 
 larger than the seed, one can reckon his harvest beforehand. It 
 is a financial gain to do right, and never to anybody's interests 
 to do wrong. 
 
 -vH«-hC- 
 
PART II. 
 
 Injurious Methods of Voice-Productios; oe, What Not 
 TO Do ijf Speaking and Singing. 
 
 TWEiVTY=FIRST AXIOM.— /« all vocal effort, wUtlier speak- 
 inrj or singing, hreath must not ie taken thi-ough the mouth. 
 
 Opinions do not differ that nose-breathing is the only right 
 way of inhaling ia the ordinary process of respiration. Those 
 who argue that it is impossible to breathe through the nose dur- 
 ing singing or any other vocal performance, must concede that 
 mouth-breathing at such times is especially dangerous. But 
 the erroneous impression prevails that we cannot take enough 
 air and quickly enough through the nostrils to meet the demand. 
 Moreover, it is claimed that quick breathing through the nose 
 causes a disagreeable noise. These objections are easily refuted. 
 The unhealthf ulness of mouth-breathing being conceded, anybody 
 can convince himself of the possibility of taking not only suffi- 
 cient breath, but even more breath through the nose than through 
 the mouth. Educate yourself to it by breathing-gymnastics^ 
 given for this purpose in my " Art of Breathing." With a little 
 practice, a very quick breath can be taken through the nose.* 
 For this purpose, Exercises 1 and 2 in the Fifth Axiom are 
 specially good. 
 
 The objection that nose-breathing is always noisy is without- 
 foundation. Some persons seem to think that the nose was made 
 for no purpose other than to snuff or smell. In order to bring 
 the nerves that are embedded in the tortuous channels of the 
 nose in closer contact with the air when charged with odors, the 
 nostrils are contracted, and this causes the disagreeable sniffling 
 sound. In taking breath through the nose for vocalizing, the 
 nostrils are dilated ; and one can get more breath and get it more 
 
 * See " The Art of Breathing," pp. 98, 99. 
 
 (23) 
 
24 TAKE CARE OF YOUR VOICE. 
 
 quickly through the nose than he can through the mouth, and 
 without any noise. Eapid mouth-breathing is always accom- 
 panied with offensive snorting. 
 
 TWENTY=SECOND AXIOM.— Jt is injurious to (lie speaker 
 and the singer, no matter what his breathing-method, to wait 
 till just before vocalizing to take breath. 
 
 I do not now refer to the method of inhaling; this has been 
 fully explained in the Second Axiom. * I mean that the speaker 
 or the singer will lose the advantages to be derived from this 
 method of breathing, if he does not wisely utilize the few mo- 
 ments allotted to the taiking of breath. Speech and song are 
 made up of sentences, the sentences of periods, the periods of 
 phrases, each marked by a longer or a shorter pause. These 
 pauses should be utilized for renewing the breath. Voice-users 
 often waste precious moments by waiting until just as they are to 
 begin, when they hurriedly snatch a little air. This breath- 
 supply is insufficient; moreover, the habit is very fatiguing to 
 the vocal organs. 
 
 TWENTY=THIRD AXIOM.— /;! is very dangerous to hold the 
 larynx firmly, to stiffen any part of the throat, or to fofce 
 the voice by direct pressure of the throat-muscles during vocal 
 effort. 
 
 If I can claim to have investigated any subject thoroughly, it is 
 this one. For many years I suffered more or less in speaking and 
 in singing, because of straining my throat. But from the time 
 that I learned to keep my throat — the larynx and surrounding 
 parts — ^free and unrestrained, and to let the breathing-muscles 
 control the action of the voice-box and the tension of the vocal 
 ligaments, I was free from all bad effects, notwithstanding the 
 most exacting voice-use. f 
 
 I wish especially to warn voice-users against the pernicious 
 fixed-larynx system. J It has been stated in print several times 
 tliat one of its advocates claims that his own voice and the voices 
 of some of his pupils have been restored to health by adopting 
 this system. What a poor method must have been used when 
 
 * See "The Art of Breathing," Chapter iv., p. 31, etc.- 
 
 t This most important method of voice-use is fully explained in Chapters v. and 
 Ti. of " The Art of Breathing." 
 t See " The Art of Breathing," pp. 187-194. 
 
TAKE CARE OF YOUR VOICE. 3o 
 
 the resorting to such an injurious method as singing with the 
 fixed larynx appeared to effect improvement ! 
 
 Though the voice be nearly ruined by straining the throat, one 
 need not despair. Learn correct use of the throat in tone-pro- 
 duction, and the voice will return gradually, as the throat grows 
 stronger, so great is the ^recuperating power of nature. The re- 
 storing of the impaired voices of all voice-users — opera and 
 church singers, clergymen, lawyers, actors, and teacljers — has 
 become almost my specialty. No one has failed to get relief who 
 had sufficient intelligence to understand the method and perse- 
 verance to apply it faithfully. 
 
 TWENTY=FOURTH AXIOM.— To /orce the muscle-action of a 
 certain voice-range or register beyond its natural hmit is 
 always dangerous to voice and throat. 
 
 One of the most harmful practices is to carry the musqle-action 
 of the so-called chest-tones, that is, the lowest tones of the female 
 voice, too high up into the medium range.* Another frequent 
 and injurious practice among woman singers is the extending of 
 the muscle-action that belongs to the medium range up into the 
 so-called head-register. Both of these habits are not only harm- 
 ful to the beauty of the voice, but may in time injure the throat. 
 
 For male voices probably no method is more injurious to the 
 health of the throat and so sure finally to ruin the voice than that 
 of forcing the upper chest-tones into the highest range. This is 
 especially true with the tenor voice. If this method be used in 
 connection with the fixed-larynx system, it is still more harmful. 
 
 TWENTY=FIFTH AXIOM.— iVb habit is more pernicious to 
 the throat and the voice than the mania of developing high 
 notes beyond the natural compass of the voice. 
 
 The growth of this craze in the United States is to be. de- 
 plored. This is not a country that produces many high voices. 
 The uncertain climate, with its sudden changes from cold to 
 warm, from dry to damp, and vice versa, the almost unbearable 
 humidity of its thousands of miles of ocean coast and other water 
 front, all induce more or less serious catarrhal affections, and 
 cause a scarcity of really high voices. If there is one part of the 
 globe more than another where it is necessary to develop the 
 
 * See "The Art of Breathing," Chapter xii. 
 
2G TAKE CARE OF YOUR VOICE. 
 
 upper notes according to the principles laid down in "The Art of 
 Breathing," it is in America. 
 
 I wish I could convince every young singer, man or woman, of 
 the danger to his voice and throat that comes from trying to 
 force the voice with powerful straining and yelling exercises, in 
 the hope of adding a tqne or two.* The head-tones must bo ten- 
 derly nursed to their highest natural limit by years of practice 
 and not by a few months' forcing. Some teachers have a mania 
 for making high voices. Avoid them, for they will ruin the 
 voice. The following incident bears on the point in question. 
 The solo basso of a prominent choir in New York City met a 
 young friend going to his lesson, and upon invitation accom- 
 panied him. After the lesson the teacher, whom we shall call 
 Sig. Fresco, asked the basso to allow his voice to be tried. At 
 the end of the trial Sig. Fresco gave vent to his feelings in the 
 following outburst: "One that calls yon a basso is a peega 
 sliack-ass; you are a high baritone. If at first you had come to 
 a good teacher you would have been a high tenor." I happen to 
 know "this lost tenor voice and also some of his history. He 
 studied abroad, being a pupil of a representative of the modern 
 Italian school. He was treated as a high baritone from the be- 
 ginning. To be sure, he is not a basso profundo, but he is a 
 light basso. Singing high baritone almost ruined his voice. 
 What would he be now could Sig. Fresco have had an opportunity 
 twenty years ago of turning him into a tenor ! 
 
 TWENTY=SIXTH AXIOM.— The heaUhfulness of the vocal 
 organs and the freshness of the voice is impaired by always 
 shouting instead of singing. 
 
 Very few songs require continuous roaring and thundering at 
 the top of one's voice; and even should occasion arise when it 
 may seem necessary, don't do it. The fashion of shouting in- 
 stead of singing was introduced by Duprez. His advice to 
 singers was to hammer away at the chest-tones throughout the 
 whole compass ; not to be afraid or too lazy to use all the foi'ce 
 one could bring to bear upon his throat. He was also one of the 
 chief advocates of the fixed-larynx system. I have often won- 
 dered if Duprez's own throat and voice did not suffer because of 
 liis shouting, though it has always been said that he had a phe- 
 
 * See "The Art of Breathing," p. 19], etc. 
 
TAKE QARE OF YOUR VOICE. 27 
 
 nomenal throat, capable of withstanding such a strain. Never- 
 theless, very few af his pupils were equal to the effort, and an 
 alarmingly large number had their voices ruined by the continued 
 vocal artillery practice. 
 
 It would seem as if Duprez shared the same fate, for he left the 
 operatic stage while in the prime of life, and accepted a profes- 
 sorship as singing-master in the Paris Conservatoire at the age 
 of 36. Withdrawing from the stage by degrees, after his 
 fortieth year he devoted himself almost entirely to teaching. It 
 seems quite incredible that a man of whom the world boasted 
 that he was the only tenore heroico who coald sing a tremendous 
 high C in open chest-voice, and who for that alone could receive 
 fabulous prices, should throw away his chances of triumphs over 
 all other tenors and buiy himself in the comparative obscurity of 
 a teacher's life. Would an ambitious man like Duprez have done 
 this, unless compelled to give up his operatic career because of a 
 ruined voice ? * 
 
 TWENTY=SEVENTH AXIOM.— /if is always injurious to 
 sing or to speak too long at a time. 
 
 No word of mine is necessary to convince intelligent readers 
 that the vocal organs, including the muscles, tissues and carti- 
 lages, are very delicately constructed, and, therefore, are capable 
 of limited endurance only, subject to certain conditions. These 
 limi ts cannot be transgressed without injury. 
 
 The young student should never overdo his practice. No be- 
 ginner should take more than a half -hour lesson, and practice 
 should be limited to 15 or 20 minutes three times a day, with 
 plenty of time between. The practice-time should be increased 
 only bv^ slow degrees. Directors of choirs and choral societies 
 should be very careful with the voices under their charge. Few 
 of them realize their responsibility. They urge singers to sing 
 too loud as well as too long. One of the first difficulties that 
 choir directors meet is to teach the choristers to sing a selection 
 in time and tune. While this tedious work lasts, the director 
 should take one part at a time, insisting upon soft singing, and 
 allowing the rest of the choir to hum their parts very softly, in- 
 stead of having all sing with full force. Even when all the parts 
 sing together, it should be done softly, until they can render the 
 
 * See " The. Art of Breathing," pp. 191-193. 
 
28 TAKE CARE OF YOUR VOICE. 
 
 music in perfect time and tune. Then only should the dynamic 
 and other qualities of the music be considered. Not only will 
 such practice be less fatiguing to the voice, but the expression, 
 the tone-shading, and the whole conception will be enhanced. 
 
 TWENTY=EIGHTH AXIOM.— ^ singer can ruin his voice by ■ 
 undertaking parts unsuited'to it. 
 
 A mezzo-soprano ought not to attempt the work of a high dra- 
 matic soprano; the lyric tenor must not try to turn "into 
 a tenore robusto ; the low alto into a mezzo-soprano, or the basso 
 into a bairitone, and vice versa. For the sake of study and prac- 
 tice, in order to strengthen a voice and bring it out, it is some- 
 times advisable to give a heavy dramatic aria to a pupil whose 
 voice is light; but the aria should always be within his compass. 
 If a singer on the stage accepts parts beyond his voice, it will in- 
 jure the throat. 
 
 TWENTy=NmTH AXIOM.— ^ bad method of expressing the 
 feelings may weaken a good voice and finally make it almost 
 
 The advice commonly given to singers and to actors to feel the 
 emotions they express, is not quite right. Of course, it is neces- 
 sary for the artist to have a correct conception of his piece and to 
 understand how to shape the resonance-chambers and how to 
 manage the breath and the dynamic qualities of tone, in order to 
 be able to picture correctly the emotions contained in the music 
 and the poetry. Were he really to feel, to experience these 
 emotions, not only would he be unable to sing or to recite, but his 
 voice would be spasmodic in action, tremulous and iri:itated from 
 nervous excitement; and if this were continued, the voice would 
 deteriorate and become squeaky and tremulous. 
 
 THIRTIETH KXlOm.— The position of the body, especially of 
 the head, during speaking and singing, exerts a great influence 
 over the throat and the voice. 
 
 As a rule, it is not advisable to sing while in a sitting-position, 
 for it is conducive to stooping and also interferes with breath- 
 control. Any stooping of the upper part of the body during 
 exercise of the vocal organs is very unhealthy. The habit of in- 
 
TAKE CARE OF YOUR VOICE. 39 
 
 dining the head forward so that the chin almost touches the chest 
 is particularly harmful to the throat. This is often done when 
 reading aloud from a book or a manuscript, and results in clergy- 
 man's sore throat or laryngitis. Letting the head incline habitu- 
 ally to one side or the other during speaking or singing also pro- 
 duces throat-trouble. 
 
 Another unnatural and harmful position is to bend the body 
 so that the abdomen is protruded, while the back describes a con- 
 cave curve. This not only weakens the spinal column, but causes 
 nervous troubles that react upon the voice. 
 
PART HI. 
 
 Diseases Injurious to the Voice, and Hoav They Should 
 Be Treated. 
 
 IT is not within my province to prescribe for the many ailments 
 of the throat and the body. Neithe'r do I keep track of the 
 everchanging methods of throat-specialists. Not many years ago it 
 was the fashion to treat nearly all throat-affections by inhalations 
 of medicated steam. Later, came the barbarous custom of apply- 
 ing the medicines directly to the parts by means of hair-brushes. 
 Next came the medicated spray. Then followed a season of chem- 
 ical yapor inhalations. What wonder, therefore, that in this 
 day of electric lights, motors, and trolleys, it is the fashion to treat 
 the throat by electricity ! We form opinions of remedies and of 
 treatment too hastily. What is beneficial in one case may do no 
 good in another, and even positive harm in a third. The systems 
 of some fashionable throat-physicians seem as unphilosophical as 
 do the methods of some singing-teachers, changing to suit passing 
 fancy. Another class of specialists treats the throat as a chimney- 
 sweep does a chimney. They do not seem to take into account 
 the fact that many, I might say most throat-troubles originate in 
 some part of the body other than the throat — in a disordered 
 stomach, a torpid liver, weak nerves, and the like. As long as the 
 cause is not removed, it will do no good to clean out the air-pipe. 
 So true is this, that I insist that a good vocal method and 
 hygienic living would do away Avith throat-therapeutics. In other 
 words, by faithfully following the advice given in the first thirty 
 axioms, sore throat and voice-trouble would be almost unknown. 
 
 THIRTY=FIRST AXIOM.— Avoid troches, lioarhound drops, 
 potash tablets, candies, or any leind of patent throat medicine. 
 
 Many singers are in the habit of carrying troches, tablets, and 
 other preparations for the voice, frequently taking them. Nothing 
 is worse for any illness than is continual dosing. Too much 
 
 (30) 
 
TAKE CARE OF YOUR VOICE. 31 
 
 medicine aggravates the trouble it is intended to cure. Again, 
 filling the stomach with all sorts of drugs injures the digestion, 
 and often gives rise to that troublesome affection, catarrh of the 
 stomach, which, in turn, reacts injuriously upon the voice. Do 
 not use any patent medicine before singing. It is absurd to think 
 that it will clear the voice and improve the tone. If the pharynx 
 feels dry, swallow a small sip of water, or allow a bit of sal 
 prunelle to dissolve in the mouth ; but be very temperate in the 
 use even of these. Before going on the stage do Exercise V. , 
 Fifth Axiom, followed by a few minutes of soft vocalizing, then 
 repeat the exercise a couple of times. Exercises V. and VI., p. 
 90 of "The Art of Breathing," are especially beneficial. 
 
 THIRTY=SECOND AXIOM.— Do noi look to medicine, especially 
 patent medicine, to cure a cold, but rather to hygienic treat- 
 ment without drugs. 
 
 A cold, as is well known, is caused by exposing the body when 
 in a heated or perspiring condition to cold, such as draughts or 
 cold water, etc. A large quantity of warmth suddenly leaves the 
 body, and this is the starting-point of a cold or of acute catarrh. 
 The best remedy is a hot bath. I do not advise Turkish baths, 
 because they are dangerous, especially in winter. One is liable 
 to leave while the body is too warm, thus adding to the cold. 
 A home-made Turkish bath is far better. The best time to take 
 it is before retiring. Close the window and door of the bathroom. 
 Turn on the hot water and fill the tub more than half full, 
 letting the water steam until the temperature is such that you 
 can get into the tub. Eemain in the water until the perspiration 
 runs from every pore. Then, without attempting to dry your- 
 self, fasten a large woolen blanket around the waist and another 
 tightly around the neck, rolling yourself up in them. Go to 
 bed and cover up very warm, staying there till the body is thor- 
 oughly dried. Remain indoors a day or two, keeping warm, and 
 see that the bowels are open. This is the shortest and safest way 
 of breaking up a cold. 
 
 THIRTY=THIRD AXIOM.— ^ most dangerous custom, indu- 
 cing colds and causing many deaths, is the wearing of decol- 
 lete dresses. 
 
 I shall not give the old-fashioned a;dvice to keep out of 
 
32 TAKE CARE OF YOUR VOICE. 
 
 draughts, or to put an opera cloak around the shoulders when 
 you feel cold — for then the mischief is done. Before the final 
 toilet touches, rub the chest, shoulders, back, neck, and arms well 
 with alcohol ; do not be sparing of it. Rub the skin dry with the 
 hands, and then rub the finest cornstarch fiour thoroughly over 
 the parts to be exposed. With ordinary care, this will aid in 
 preventing the taking of colds. 
 
 THIRTY=FOURTH AXIOM.— /» cases of hoarseness and liush- 
 iness, the first and most important treatment is to ti^rnin 
 from all voice-use, even from talking. 
 
 It is a common but mistaken opinion that hoarseness always is 
 caused by inflammation of the vocal ligaments. A voice may be 
 very husky when the vocal bands are in a healthy condition. As 
 no musical sound can be produced by the vocal ligaments alone, 
 the cooperation o'f the sound-waves in the resonance-cavities, 
 windpipe, mouth, pharynx, and post-nasal tube being necessary, 
 so any disturbance of the mucous membranes of any of 
 these sound-cavities, caused by cold, or catarrh, or too long- 
 continued voice-use, or wrong method, may induce huskiness. 
 The speediest and most effectual remedy is to give the voice com- 
 plete rest without any other treatment, especially if the case be 
 not very serious. If, however, the trouble is aggravated by con- 
 tinued voice-use, or if the symptoms seem to point to more 
 serious or acute trouble, consult a throat-physician at once. But 
 in the meantime, stop talking and singing. It is not an uncom- 
 mon notion among singers that hoarseness can be removed by 
 singing. "Sing it ofE," is a saying. This may result in great 
 injury to the voice. The only safe way is to sing colorature exer- 
 cises very softly for five minutes. If the huskiness wears off, 
 then singing may be continued ; otherwise, not. 
 
 THIRTY=FIFTH AXIOM.— 7w the case of elongated uvula or 
 of enlarged tonsils, have the superfluous parts removed by a 
 reputable throat-physician. * 
 
 Some doctors advise gargling with stringent medicines, such as 
 alum; others burn the parts with a hot electric wire; others use 
 caustic. Stringent medicines do not always have the desired 
 effect, and at best afford only temporary relief. Caustic and 
 
 * See " The Art ot Breathing," p. 127. 
 
TAKE CARE OF YOUR VOICE. 33 
 
 electricity remove the enlarged parts, but are slow processes. 
 But the scissors and the guillotine do the work so quickly that 
 the patient hardly knows or feels it, and the trouble does not 
 reappear. It is very important that too much of the uvula is 
 not clipped ofE, as it might seriously injure the voice. 
 
 THIRTY=SIXTH AXIOM.— The chronic trouble of a hacking 
 cough can be easily cured, in many instances, by the old 
 rule — stop coughing. 
 
 Sometimes a hacking cough is caused by an elongated uvula. 
 The end of the uvula irritates the throat. This can be stopped 
 only by clipping the uvula. I refer particularly to the regular 
 dry, hacking cough, that is more often a bad habit than an ail- 
 ment. To cure it, swallow vigorously when the irritation that 
 precedes the cough is felt ;* then take an energetic, full breath, 
 hold the air a few seconds, and repeat the swallowing and inhal- 
 ing as often as the irritation is felt. This will conquer the habit. 
 
 THIRTY=SEVENTH AXIOM.— /w case of diphtheretic sore 
 throat or of diphtheria, dissolve a piece of bichromate of 
 potash the size of a pea in a tutnbler two-thirds full of wafer, 
 and gargle four times a day. 
 
 This remedy is used extensively by the medical profession in 
 Germany, and is regarded as an almost unfailing antidote for this 
 dread disease. I have given it, contrary to my avowed intention 
 not to give prescriptions, because it is not well known in this 
 country. It is a mild poison, and should be used with care. 
 
 THIRTY=EIGHTH AXIOM.— /« all colds and catarrh, find 
 out the cause. Medical treatrhent is of no avail as long as 
 the source of the evil is not removed. 
 
 All channels leading from the body to an outer orifice are lined 
 with a membrane, whose chief function is to discharge a semi-fluid 
 substance called mucus, which serves to keep the membrane moist. 
 If the membrane become inflamed from any cause, the mucus is 
 turned into a fluid which, at first, is thinner than in health, and 
 is discharged in abnormally large quantities. The mucus grad- 
 ually thickens as the trouble continues. This condition is called 
 
 * Compare " Tlie Art of Breatbing," § 15, pp. 4(MS. 
 
34 TAKE CASE OF YOUR VOICE. 
 
 catarrh. As the word is usually used, it means the chronic 
 condition, with its putrid discharge of thick, slimy matter and 
 the disagreeable crusty layers of matter over some parts of the 
 membranous lining. 
 
 Catarrh may have its seat in the nasal passages, which is called 
 catarrh of the nose or of the head ; or in the pharynx and the 
 narrow channel that leads from it into the ear, called the Eu- 
 stachian, tube ; or in the larynx and trachea ; or in the bronchial 
 tubes. There is also catarrh of the stomach, and catarrhal 
 phthisis of the lungs, or consumption. 
 
 Any one of these kinds of catarrh may start from a neglect^ed 
 cold, or from acute catarrh, or from other causes, such as 
 habitual mouth-breathing, very changeable weather, the coast 
 climate, with its damp, salt-charged air and chilly east winds 
 during winter and spring, the dust inhaled on the thoroughfares 
 of a large city or in club-rooms, bowling alleys, armories, etc. 
 Damp dwellings, the inhaling of sewer-gas, thin shoe-soles, too 
 light clothing in cold weather, standing in a light house dress at 
 the open door when bidding friends good-bye, late hours, loung- 
 ing about in negligee attire, cold water baths injudiciously used, 
 particularly in cold weather — all are fruitful causes of catarrh. 
 Cold water baths should be used for hardening the body and not 
 for cleansing purposes, and should be taken as quickly as possible. 
 Too loud or too prolonged singing or speaking, or a wrong 
 method of breathing and of voice-production, with straining of 
 the throat and breathing through the mouth, are frequent 
 sources of catarrh. Chronic pharyngitis or chronic laryngitis 
 are merely pleasanter names, given by physicians to mitigate the 
 information that the patient has chronic catarrh. It also is 
 called clergyman's sore, throat. 
 
 Catarrh of the stomach, which, under the euphonious name of 
 dyspepsia, is probably the most common ailment of mankind, is 
 caused by wearing the clothing too tight around the waist, by 
 stooping, by eating too much, too often, or too rapidly, by food 
 that is hard to digest, such as dried or smoked meat, highly 
 seasoned, rich, fat food, hot sauces, and by drinking and eating 
 too cold and too hot things. Hot bread and biscuits are very 
 injurious, as are also cake and pie, and strong liquor and wine 
 taken habitually as a beverage. Even a liberal allowance of fruit 
 and vegetables for some persons may be the starting-point of 
 catarrh of the stomach. The taking of too much medicine, as 
 noted in the Thirty-first Axiom, is to be blamed more often than 
 
TAKE CARE OF YOUR VOICE. 35 
 
 we think. Another, and probably the most serious, cause of 
 catarrh of the stomach is impoverishment of the blood. 
 
 THIRTY=NINTH AXIOM.— The general remedy for all kinds 
 of chronic catarrh lies in obeying the following six rules. 
 
 (1) Inhale only pure, dry air, neither too cold nor too warm, 
 and be careful to use a correct method of breathing, as explained 
 in the First Axiom — always through the nose. 
 
 (2) Wear seasonable and sensible clothing, as explained in the 
 Third, Fourth, Eighth, Ninth, and Tenth Axioms. 
 
 (3) Be careful about the diet. This will be explained later. 
 
 (4) Practice the breathing-gymnastics given in the Fifth 
 Axiom three times, or at least twice, a day, fifteen minutes at a 
 time.* 
 
 (5) Compare the list of causes enumerated in the Thirty-eighth 
 Axiom minutely and unbiasedly with your habits, and deny your- 
 self everything injurious, for the sake of voice, health, and hap- 
 piness. A singer must have no bad habits. He should lead a 
 life of self-sacrifice and self-control if he desires to retain his 
 voice. 
 
 (6) If the catarrh be caused by the damp, changeable climate, 
 especially near the coast, nothing but change of abode will bring 
 permanent relief. A few weeks spent at some of the winter 
 resorts in the mountains of Virginia or in the pine regions of 
 North Carolina often are beneficial. 
 
 FORTIETH AXIOM. — For specific treatment it is always advis- 
 able to have a reputable specialist diagnose your case, and 
 follow his advice in regard to dieting and tonics. 
 
 1 shall not be exceeding my domain if I offer a few practical 
 suggestions for special treatment. 
 
 (1) The most important thing in nasal catarrh is to keep the 
 nasal passages open so that you can breathe through them. Prac- 
 tice frequently the first two breathing-gymnastics in the Fifth 
 Axiom, and relief from clogged channels will follow speedily. 
 If, however, the passages are so stopped that you cannot force 
 breath through, snufE carbolated vaseline up the nostrils as far as 
 
 * other breathing-gymnastics specially designed for the acquiring of a correct 
 method of voice-use in singing and speaking may he found in "^The Art of Breath- 
 ing," pp. 87-99. 
 
36 TAKE CARE OF YOUR VOICE. 
 
 possible. By lying flat on the back, it will aid the vaseline to 
 run up.* When it has opened the channels, practice the 
 breathing-exercises just mentioned. In any dusty place, or when 
 the air is very cold, breathe through a clean handkerchief held 
 before the nose, removing the handkerchief when you exhale. 
 It is very injurious to snufE tobacco up the nostrils for catarrh ; 
 such treatment only, aggravates the trouble. 
 
 (3) In catarrh of the pharynx (pharyngitis), of the larynx (laryn- 
 gitis), or of the bronchial tubes (bronchitis), the greatest caution 
 must be exercised in using the voice. A cure can be effected 
 most quickly by completely resting the voice, with medical treat- 
 ment to assist nature. Smoking and tobacco chewing must be 
 given up; very hot or very cold food and drink must be avoided; 
 especially abstain from the use of all alcoholic beverages. Eock 
 and rye for a cold generally serves merely as an excuse to take 
 the rye, but makes the cold worse, f 
 
 (3) Catarrh of the stomach, called by physicians dyspepsia, is 
 very serious. The best advice for its treatment is to leave medi- 
 cine alone and treat it by dieting. Dieting has two sides : First, 
 to deny yourself every kind of food, liquid or solid, that does not 
 agree with you. You will be safe in excluding from your bill of 
 fare everything mentioned in the Thirty-eighth Axiom. Secondly, 
 to partake very moderately of such articles of food as are digested 
 easily and as contain a great deal of albumen. The best food for 
 a dyspeptic is beef -blood, prepared as follows : Cut two pounds 
 of round steak into small pieces. Put in an earthen or a porce- 
 lain vessel with a quart of cold water, and allow it to stand in a 
 cool place for six or eight hours, till all the blood is drawn out. 
 A very little salt added to the water draws the blood more 
 quickly. Warm it through, but do not cook or boil, as that 
 makes it more difficult of digestion. Season with a little salt, but 
 no pepper. No tonic is more strengthening and no food more 
 easily digested than this. Eegulate the quantity according to 
 your judgment. 
 
 As I have just used the word tonic, I would say that a physi- 
 cian should always be consulted when a tonic is needed. It is a 
 grave error to take alcoholic beverages, as whiskey, brandy, and 
 American beer as tonics. Their action is to break down the 
 system. An excellent tonic for weak stomachs is Nicholson's 
 Liquid Bread, which is said to contain no alcohol. Very small 
 
 * Compare " The Art of Breathing," pp. 50, 51. 
 
 + " Bronchine " is an excellent remedy for catarrh of the bronchial tubes and the 
 windpipe. 
 
TAKE CARE OF YOUR VOICE. 37 
 
 doses of Vin Mariani or of wine of cocoa are sometimes advisable 
 for voice-users, especially if they are doing heavy work. 
 
 Another easily digested food is a venison sandwich. Chop a 
 piece of venison steak very fine, season to taste with salt only, 
 and mix a little raw egg through it. Spread over rye bread. The 
 tender part of a porterhouse steak may be used if venison cannot 
 be had. Thoroughly masticate all food before swallowing. 
 
 If a' dyspeptic can digest meat at all, it must be well cooked 
 and selected from fat animals. Roasted meat is preferable,, but 
 only a small quantity should be eaten at a time, and often 
 during the day. Breakfast may consist of steam-cooked oatmeal 
 or any preferred cereal. Barley food* is wholesome and pala- 
 table. Milk and sugar may be eaten with all cereals. Milk as a 
 diet may or may not be good for dyspeptics. It contains con- 
 siderable albumen and is, therefore, very nutritious, but a 
 catarrhal stomach may find it indigestible. The fatty, cheesy 
 substances in milk are apt to curdle, in which case it must be left 
 alone. Vegetables and fruit should be selected carefully and 
 used sparingly. Everyone must learn by experience what agrees 
 with him. Eggs are nutritions on account of the albumen they 
 contain. They are hard to digest when well cooked, but easy of 
 digestion when eaten raw or very slightly cooked. Thin cocoa is 
 also good. Avoid everything mentioned in the Thirty-eighth 
 Axiom as generally causing catarrh of the stomach. To purify 
 the blood without the use of drugs, as noted in the following 
 axiom, is the best remedy for dyspepsia. 
 
 F0RTY=F1RST X'SIOM..— Impoverishment of the hlood, caused 
 iy wrong eating and constipation, is a frequent cause of 
 chronic catarrh. It can be cured by dieting, breathing- 
 gymnastics, drinking pure water, and particularly by puri- 
 fying the blood without the use of drugs. 
 
 The blood becomes impoverished through wrong eating or 
 through an insufficient supply of building materials for the body. 
 " Pood is for nourishment only " is a motto that should be hung 
 in every dining-room. Food that does not nourish, impover- 
 ishes the blood. When the system is in a bad condition, the diet 
 must be watched carefully. Outdoor exercise and breathing- 
 gymnastics are beneficial. A person sufEering from constipation 
 
 » Prepared by the American Breakfast Cereal Co., 83 Murray St., New York. 
 
38 TAKE CARE OF i'OUR VOICE. 
 
 shonld avoid all food that tends to cause that trouble, such as 
 cheese, blackberries, tea, cofEee, and all alcoholic beverages. He 
 should drink freely of pure water, especially in the morning just 
 after rising ; but be moderate in drinking it at meals. If one 
 feels feverish or uncomfortable half an hour or so after eating, a 
 glass of pure water will afford immediate relief. 
 
 What is pure water, and how can it be obtained ? You can 
 take it for granted that all water is impure and must be purified 
 before using. The surest way of purifying it is to boil it thor- 
 oughly, filter, cool, bottle and put on ice. If the distilled water 
 or the special table waters advertised be purer than boiled water, 
 I cannot say. 
 
 Constipation of necessity leads to impoverishment of the blood. 
 It is, indeed, the source of the majority of the ailments to which 
 flesh is heir. " The blood in its circulation," says Dr. Hall, 
 ' ' picks up the impurities, which are absorbed through the walls 
 of the intestinal canal, and the longer these effete and putrid con- 
 tents are retained therein, the more poison is absorbed into the 
 blood." 
 
 What is constipation ? The majority of people think they are 
 right if they have a movement of the bowels once every twenty- 
 four hours. But if the discharge be hard, black in color, and 
 insufficient in quantity, it is a sure symptom of constipation. 
 Constipation and biliousness, which nearly always go together, 
 is a common and serious ailment. Is there a remedy ? Yes, the 
 so-called "Drugless Remedy." It is not only useless in the 
 end, but positively injurious to use laxatives and cathartics. Dr. 
 Carl E. Bock, one of the most reliable German medical authori- 
 ties, in his book about the sick and the healthy man, says: 
 "Purgatives aggravate a constipated condition instead of curing 
 it, because they ruin the mucous membrane of the stomach and 
 the alimentary channels, especially that of the thin intestine, 
 making them unfit to perform their functions." 
 
 The best remedy is the injecting of very warm water; in other 
 words, an enema, by means of a rubber syringe. It is well to put 
 a little vaseline on the nozzle before inserting it in the intestinal 
 canal. The inserting and the removing of the syringe must be 
 done very gently. 
 
 There are four different kinds of enemas. The first kind is a 
 small injection of warm water, a gill, or a little more. The person 
 shonld lie down after the injection and retain the water. The 
 
Corrigenda to p. 39. 
 
 I have changed my mind in regard to the practicability of 
 the third kind of enema. Though highly beneficial in its 
 immediate results, it may, in the long ran, produce chronic 
 pains locally, on account of the overstraining of the muscles 
 and nerves. Experience shows that it is better to use a great 
 deal less water, and in less than half the timp advocated ; also 
 that the " fountain " syringe is preferable. i 
 
 L. K. 
 
TAKE CARE OF YOUR VOICE. 39 
 
 iajection is repeated every ten minutes, till it is impossible to 
 retain the water any longer. * 
 
 The second kind of enema is to be retained in the intestinal 
 canals, and is given before going to bed, two, three, or four times 
 a week. A small quantity of water, less than a half pint, is in- 
 jected, and the person at once retires. Of course, the water is to 
 be retained. As one becomes used to it, the quantity of water 
 may be increased to a pint or even more. This enema is very 
 healthy, not only for constipation but for all kidney troubles. 
 
 The third kind of enema is advised by Dr. Bock, namely, the 
 injecting of several pints of warm water, retaining it as long as 
 possible. This is the most effectual purgative and a sure relief 
 in the worst cases of constipation, as well as in other troubles of 
 the bowels and the stomach. Sick headache and cramps caused 
 by food that does not agree with a person, can be relieved almost 
 immediately by this treatment. It is also excellent in rheuma- 
 tism, nervous troubles, asthma, etc. It is not easy to do it at 
 first, but a person having self-control can be successful with the 
 first injection. The best method is: (1) Take an ordinary in- 
 jection of a pint of warm water, and retain it from three to five 
 seconds, after which it is discharged. (2) Have a gallon of warm 
 water at hand. By degrees, inject a quart into the intestinal 
 canal, taking about five minutes for the injection. Then either 
 walk around, or lie down and massage the abdomen. (3) After 
 some three minutes have- elapsed, inject a second quart of water, 
 occupying some five minutes for the injection, as before, and 
 again walking or lying down and massaging the abdomen. (4) 
 Inject a third quart in the same way, following it by the same 
 treatment. (5) If it is possible to inject more, do so. The 
 process of injecting should take about thirty minutes. Then 
 follows the discharge, which must be left entirely to nature's 
 action, with no straining. This takes from twelve to fifteen 
 minutes. The quantity of water that can be injected depends 
 upon the person's size and his will-power to retain it. Less than 
 two quarts will not have the desired effect. How much more 
 must be decided by the individual. Persons suffering from 
 chronic dyspepsia and chronic constipation and biliousness may 
 take this enema twice a week for several months, till a cure is 
 effected. 
 
 It has been said that some persons cannot take an enema large 
 
 * This remedy Is from the 14th edition of F. E. Bilz's " Das neue Heilverfahren." 
 
40 TAKE CARE OF YOUR VOICE. 
 
 enough to produce any effect. This seems almost incredible. 
 However, it is possible even for such persons to avoid taking ca- 
 thartics, by using an enema that can be bought at any drug-store 
 and inserted into the outlet of the intestinal canal. This brings 
 us to the fourth kind of enema, the so-called "Glycerine Sup- 
 positories," or "Apperient Suppositories," manufactured by 
 Parke, Davis & Co. When inserted, they work their v/ay up 
 without help, and act promptly. If one suppository has no 
 effect, it may be followed by a second or even a third. 
 
 If none of these methods are satisfactory, the patient should 
 buy the book, "The New Science of Healing; or, the Doctrine 
 of the Oneness of all Diseases Forming the Basis of a Uniform 
 Method of Cure without Medicines and without Operations. An 
 Instructor and Adviser for the Healthy and the Sick." It is by 
 Louis Kuhne, translated from the German by Dr. Th. Baker. 
 In this book is another remedy for constipation that cannot be 
 given here for lack of space. 
 
 FORTY=SECOND AXIOM.— All catarrhal affections of the 
 throat are aggravated by hurmning and whistling. Dancing 
 particularly is hurtful to the voice. 
 
 I have devoted an axiom to these points that I might call 
 special attention to such dangerous practices. Whistling is 
 always accompanied with straining and stiffening of the root of 
 the tongue, the lingual-bone muscles, and the larynx muscles. 
 This strain becomes habitual in voice-use also, marring the 
 beauty of the sound and undermining the health of the throat. 
 Humming in itself is not injurious, if done with a purpose and 
 scientifically ; it may even help to cultivate the voice. * But 
 when done as a habit while engaged in sewing, reading, working, 
 or walking, it is apt to be too loud and to strain the throat. 
 
 The possessor of a good voice should not indulge in dancing, 
 especially at balls and parties. It is at any time a very unhealthy 
 pleasure but especially injurious to the voice. If you value your 
 voice, dear singer, preserve it by denying yourself the enjoyment 
 of dancing. In my professional experience I have found invari- 
 ably that a pupil is sure to have a bad throat and to be in poor 
 voice for many days after attending a ball. 
 
 * See " The Art of Breathing," pp. 153-155. 
 
TAKE CARE OF YOUB VOICE. 41 
 
 FORTY=THIRD AXIOM.— For protection from and relief in 
 catarrh, a woolen chest-protector for the day and a flannel 
 band around the throat at night should be worn, at least dur- 
 ing the winter. 
 
 It is tinnecessary to explain this axiom, further than to caution 
 my readers against the so-called medicated flannels advertised for 
 this purpose. They are merely a humbug. Buy the Dr. Jaeger 
 flannel and you may feel sure that you are getting genuine wool. 
 For the throat, cut a strip of flannel about half a yard long and 
 eight inches in width ; wind it around the throat and fasten 
 under the chin with a safety pin. Wear it only at night. 
 
 Another precautionary measure is to wear a piece of flannel 
 around the abdomen. This prevents taking cold. It is well to 
 wear it all the year round, light in summer and heavier in winter. 
 
 FORTY=FOURTH XXMM.— Impoverished blood and depleted 
 constitution often can be traced to an unclean condition of 
 the cooking utensils and the refrigerator. 
 
 In olden times our mothers themselves went into the kitchen 
 and superintended the culinary department; and the servant 
 dreaded the Day of Judgment less than to have her mistress find 
 a dirty pot or pan. The mistress who did not look after the 
 health and cleanliness of the household would not have been con- 
 sidered a true lady or a good mother. Nowadays, a woman 
 would not be called a lady were it known that she went into the 
 kitchen even long enough to see how it looked inside. In our 
 progressive civilization, the cooks make it a condition that the 
 mistress must not interfere downstairs. 
 
 Has this peculiar state of affairs any bearing on the prevalence 
 of malaria ? In doctors' books of former days malaria is defined 
 as a disease contracted in the dwellings of the poor that are situ- 
 ated in low lands, amidst filth and stagnant water. The poison- 
 ous gases emanating from such ground produce malaria. Now- 
 adays, we find this disease in the healthiest parts of our cities, 
 even in dwellings of the rich. Some poisonous gases enter houses 
 through defective plumbing; but the most dangerous miasms are 
 generated in the neglected, unsecured cooking utensils and ice- 
 boxes. When fatty substances, meat and vegetable matter, re- 
 niain in the crevices of pots and pans for days, even months, they 
 become a dangerous poison which, through the food that is kept 
 
43 TAKE CASE OF YOUR VOICE. 
 
 or cooked in the disease-breeding pots, enters the system, causing 
 malaria. The only remedy is that the utensils be scoured 
 thoroughly, and all dishes be kept clean. We have introduced 
 psychology, physiology and calisthenics into our young ladies' 
 seminaries. There is no objection to it ; but for the health of 
 future generations it would be wise to train girls as well in cook- 
 ology, pot-ology, and a certain kind of elbow gymnastics. The 
 smattering of science obtained in boarding-schools is remembered 
 barely until marriage ; but some practical education would bring 
 health and happiness to many homes and drive out malaria. 
 
 FORTY=FIFTH XXIOM.— Catarrhal phthisis, or consump- 
 tion, may be cured by dieting and breathing-gymnastics, if 
 taken in time. 
 
 It matters little whether consumption be hereditary or con- 
 tracted ; if it is not complicated by other diseases, as scrofula and 
 Bright's disease, it can be cured during the first and sometimes 
 even during the second year. The less medicine the consumptive 
 takes the better. In every case I believe that impoverishment of 
 the blood is one of the main causes. The method of cure is two- 
 fold : First, dieting as directed in the Thirty-eighth Axiom for 
 catarrh of the stomach. The purifying of the blood without the 
 use of drugs, as described in the Forty-first Axiom, is of the 
 greatest benefit. Secondly, to cure the affected parts of the 
 lungs there is but one remedy, namely, to establish a correct 
 breathing-method, as explained in the first three axioms, and to 
 practice the breathing-gymnastics given in the Fifth Axiom. I 
 have four other exercises, each designed for that part of the lungs 
 that is affected. These, however, cannot be left to the patient's 
 choice ; therefore, I shall not describe them. Several consump- 
 tives, some in the hemorrhage stage, have taken these exercises. 
 In most cases, six lessons were sufficient to relieve the pain in the 
 lungs and to improve the general condition and appearance of the 
 patients. The method being easily learned, practice was con- 
 tinued at home, with the result that all were restored to full 
 health. I maintain that, if taken in time, a cure can be effected. 
 Even when the disease is far advanced, the condition can be re- 
 lieved and life prolonged by breathing-exercises. 
 
TAKE CARE OF YOUR VOICE. 43 
 
 FORTY=SIXTH AX10M.~-The voice may be impaired from 
 general nervous debility. Improve the condition of the nerves 
 and the voice will improve proportionately. 
 
 Nervdusness often is the result of poor blood, insufficient 
 nourishment and wrong eating. Drugs can do little or no good. 
 Follow the directions given in the Fortieth Axiom in regard to 
 dieting. Breathing-gymnastics and plenty of pure air are an 
 essential part of treatment for nervousness. Plenty of outdoor 
 exercise is also desirable. 
 
 The nervous system is the most mysterious part of the organ- 
 ism. Medical science has been unable, thus far, to penetrate the 
 depths of the mystery. When the nervous trouble is caused by 
 some bodily ailment that can be cured, the nerves will assume 
 their normal state when the exciting cause is removed. But 
 diseases of the nerves themselves are not fully understood, and 
 medical treatment is, therefore, largely experimental. 
 
 I feel impelled to give place here to an efficient remedy for all 
 nerve troubles, a remedy that is almost unknown in this country, 
 but that has been used with success in Austria and Italy. It is 
 the discovery of Dr. Roman Weissmann, formerly surgeon in the 
 Austrian army, and is called " Schlagwasser," meaning "apo- 
 plectic water," though it is just as beneficial for all other nervous 
 troubles. It is sold in America by Mr. Aich, 96 Spring street, 
 Ifew York. Take a half -pint of cold or lukewarm water and add 
 fourteen drops of the medicine. Bathe the whole head in it, 
 rubbing well into the skin and scalp. Dry the head and hair 
 thoroughly to avoid taking cold. Use the mixture every morn- 
 ing till a cure is effected. 
 
 Neuralgia is a nervous affection, causing great suffering, and 
 medical science finds it very difficult to treat it successfully. I 
 hesitate to mention a very simple remedy, because I have no 
 medical authority for it, and some people may think it merely 
 superstition. However, here it is: Drill a hole through a 
 nutmeg and hang it around the neck by means of a silken cord, 
 letting the nutmeg lie on the bare chest just below the collar-bone. 
 I am acquainted personally with a number of persons who have 
 suffered with neuralgia for years, and who have found complete 
 relief from this remedy. The nutmeg should be worn con- 
 stantly. If left off for a day or so, the neuralgia will return. I 
 do not know whether it, will prove helpful to everybody, but at 
 least it will do no harm^ 
 
44 TAKE CABE OF YOUB VOICE. 
 
 Nervous debility may be brought on by continuous overwork 
 of the brain, as in literary people, by habitual loss of sleep, or by 
 excitement and excess in pleasure of whatever kind, especially 
 that which irritates the sexual nervous system. Kever use drugs 
 for such troubles. Injections of morphine, opium smoking, the 
 taking of lavender and similar narcotics, merely make the nerves 
 worse through the after effects. The only remedy for nervous 
 debility is to remove the cause. A tonic is good to assist nature 
 in her work of recuperation. A bottle of Nicholson's Liquid 
 Bread should be taken every day ; part in the forenoon with some 
 graham crackers, and the rest at dinner. Before retiring drink 
 a glass of milk slightly warmed, but not hot. The book, " New 
 Science of Healing," by Louis Kuhne, mentioned at the close of 
 the Forty-first Axiom, gives advice and a method of treating ner- 
 vous troubles, and is well worth studying. 
 
 The best safeguard against nervousness is self-control and tem- 
 perate habits from youth. The surest means of preserving the 
 voice is to follow the oft-repeated advice : Avoid all bad habits ; 
 and if, perchance, you do become the slave of any, lose no time 
 in conquering yourself. This is the best care that you can take 
 of the voice. It will enable you to retain it through life, so that 
 your tones will be fresh, sonorous, and young when your hair is 
 white with age. 
 
Mr. Leo Kofler, 
 
 TEACHER OF THE 
 
 -ART OF SINGING. 
 
 PREPARES PUPILS FOR 
 
 Concert, Oratorio and Church. 
 
 Professional AppoiNTMBiirTS must be made By Mail Only, 
 addressing him either at 
 
 29 Vesey Street, 279 Carlton Avenue, 
 
 -OR- 
 
 New York City. Brooklyn, N. Y. 
 
 Mr. Kofler's System is based upon hygienic and artistic 
 breathing, and produces purity and strength of tone, and con- 
 tribute's largely to a pupil's health. 
 
 FOR TERMS APPLY AS ABOVE. 
 
ART OF BREATHING 
 
 AS THE 
 
 BASIS OF TONE-PRODUCTION. 
 
 BY 
 
 LEO KOFLER, 
 
 Organist and Choirmaster of ST. PAVI^'S CHAPEIi, Trinity Parlsb, 
 
 New York City. 
 
 AUTHOR OF "TAKE CARE OF YOUR VOICE," ETC. 
 
 Tbls book Is of Incalculable value to Singers, Readers, Elocution- 
 ists, Preachers, Iianryers, Physicians, Teachers, Actors, Speech- 
 sufferers, and also to everyone else ivho desires normal 
 functional activity of the respiratory and Tocal 
 organs, irhereby 
 
 HEAIiTH IS PROinOTBD AND I.IFE: PROIiONGED. 
 
 THOSE inclined to Consumption, or Hemorrhages of the Lungs, or such 
 as are afflicted with Clerical Sore Throat, will find wholesome 
 practice in it. 
 
 This Book abounds in Exercises, Illustrations and Examples; every 
 theory has its Practical Demonstration — a book pre-eminent for its 
 ' ' Whys " and ' ' Hows. " Finely bound. 
 
 The Chorgesang (Leipzig, Germany) calls it "an eminent work in every repect, 
 including diction ana style; a book equally instructive to the Singer and to the Speaker." 
 
 The London Telegram refers to it in these terms : '"The Art of Breathing', hy Leo 
 Kofler, is an ingenious and simple scientific manual of the rules of effective ana artistic 
 voice-production. . . . It is not one of physlolo^cal character— It alms at being more 
 directly practical and the rules given are clear ana concise." 
 
 Mr. H. E. Krehblel, Mxtsical Critic, New York Tribune, writes : " Mr. Kofler's ' Art 
 of Breathing Is singularly free from the faults which are generally found in writings on 
 musical subjects. It is eminently practical and sound." 
 
 The Chicago Indicator : " Mr. Kofler understands his subject. The book Is not a 
 treatise on breathing alone. But there are chapters devoted to the elements of speech, 
 and many practical suggestions for the Singer and Speaker." 
 
 PRICK, T^iVO DOLLARS. 
 
 SEND THE PRICE TO 
 
 LEO KOFLER, 
 
 279 CARLTON AVENUE, BROOKLYN, N. Y. 
 
 AND YOU WILL RECEIVE THE BOOK POSTAGE PAID. 
 
Selected Hymn Tunes 
 
 EDITED BY 
 
 LEO KOFLER, 
 
 Organist and Cbolrmaster, St. Paul's Cliapel, Trinity ParlsU, fiew 
 
 York. 
 
 The greater number and the most beautiful ones of these tunes have 
 been composed by the following great Grerman composers : 
 
 Bacb, Handel, Graun, Bortnlansky, Schubert) ITIendelssobn, Frledr. 
 Schneider, Imntanuel Falsst, Ernst Fr. RIchter, Morltz Haupt- 
 mann, Albert Becker, Carl Belnecke, Volkmar Scburlg, Dr. 
 Taubert, E. Kollner, and others. 
 
 These tunes are short, most expressive, and charmingly melodious 
 Hymn- Anthems for the use of all good church choirs, no matter to what 
 Christian denomination they belong, to brighten up the services on sundry 
 occasions, when rhythmical music is preferred on account of its stirring 
 effect. They may be sung at the opening or closing of the service, morn- 
 ing or evening, on Sundays or extra occasions, or in the musical family 
 
 circle. ^ 
 
 The musical critic ot the lAving Church (Chicago, April 19, 1890), the Rev. Mr. G. T. 
 Elder, says of these tunes: 
 
 "They are distinguished by strong and graceful melodies, almost always within 
 range of congregational singing; they are exquisitely arranged in the voice-parts, and 
 would prove edifying and effective if sung by carefully trained choirs, for offertory or 
 incidental occasions." 
 
 The contents are divided into five parts : Part I. Miscellaneous Hymns ; 
 Part II. Evening Hymns; Part III. Penitential Hymns; Part IV. Festival 
 Hymns ; Part V. Praise Hymns, and an Appendix. 
 
 Price, SI. 00 per Single Copy, or $9.00 per Dozen. 
 
 The Single Parts in Paper Cover can be had at 25c. per copy, or $2.00 per dozen. 
 
 SEND THE PRICE TO 
 
 LEO KOFLER, 
 
 379 CARLTON AVENUE, BROOKLYN, N. Y. 
 
 AND YOU WILL RECEIVE THE BOOK POSTAGE PAID. 
 
, 111 I