Apho´nia

(Gr. a , not, and phōnē , voice), in pathology, the greater or le impairment, or the complete lo of the power of emitting vocal sound. The slighter and le permanent forms often arise from extreme nervousne , fright, and hysteria. Slight forms of structural aphonia are of a catarrhal nature, resulting from more or le congestion and tumefaction of the mucous and submucous ti ues of the larynx and adjoining parts. Severer cases are frequently occasioned by serous infiltration into the submucous ti ue, with or without inflammation of the mucous membrane of the larynx and of its vicinity. The voice may also be affected in different degrees by inflammatory affections of the fauces and tonsils; by tumours in these situations; by morbid growths pre ing on or implicating the larynx or trachea; by aneurisms; and most frequently by chronic laryngitis and its consequences, especially thickening, ulceration, .