ogists," says Dr. Witkowski,[A] "are quite at issue when they
endeavour to determine what kind of instrument the vocal organ
resembles; indeed, Galien compares it to a flute, Magendie to a hautboy,
Despiney to a trombone, Diday to a hunting-horn, Savart to a
bird-catcher's call, Biot to an organ-pipe, Malgaigne to the little
instrument used by the exhibitors of Punch, and Ferrein to a spinet or
harpsichord. The last-named compared the lips of the glottis to the
strings of a violin; hence was given the name _Vocal Cords_, which they
have since retained. The current of air was the bow, the exertion of the
chest and lungs the hand which carried the bow, the thyroid cartilages
the _points d'appui_, the arytenoids the pegs, and lastly, the muscles
inserted in them the power which tensed or relaxed the cords."

It must be admitted that the human voice bears more resemblance to a
reed instrument than to any other; but when the comparison is pushed to
its legitimate consequences it is found to break down. We cannot resist
the conclusion that the vocal organ is infinitely superior to any
instrument made by human hands. Its mechanism is so wonderful as to
excite the profoundest admiration, and the more we continue to study it
the more we marvel at the wisdom of the Divine Maker who planned it. I
shall, therefore, speak of it simply as a wind instrument composed of--

1.--THE BELLOWS.

Represented by the LUNGS. Pl. I (Frontispiece), L.

2.--THE WINDPIPE. Pl. I, w.

3.--THE VOICEBOX OR LARYNX. Pl. I, v.

4.--THE RESONATOR.

Represented by (_a_) THE UPPER PART OF THE THROAT, or PHARYNX, pl.
I, P; (_b_) THE MOUTH, pl. I, M; (_c_) THE NOSE, pl. I, N.

[Illustration: PLATE II.

THE LUNGS

R. RIGHT LUNG. L. LEFT LUNG.

W. WINDPIPE (TRACHEA).

V. VOICEBOX (LARNYX).

The top part of the left Lung is represented as partly cut away in order
to show the ramifications of the Bronchial Tubes.]

[Illustration: PLATE III.

THE CHEST.

B B. BREAST BONE.

C C. COLLAR BONES.

1 TO 11. RIBS. (The twelfth not visible.)

M (curved dotted line). MIDRIFF (DIAPHRAGM).

L L. LUNGS. H. HEART.

W. WINDPIPE (TRACHEA).
]

The Lungs are enclosed in the chest, which they fit exactly, and of
which they occupy by far the largest portion, leaving but a small space
for the heart. They consist of two halves (pl. II, R, L), each roughly
resembling the upper part of a sugar-loaf somewhat flattened and