Throat Sore (clergyman's)
Sources:
Papers On Health
Those who are in the habit of using their
voice much should be very careful to produce it in the proper way. It
is noticeable that actors (who learn to produce their voice properly)
do not suffer from what is known as clergyman's sore throat.
The voice in speaking should be pitched, as a rule, considerably lower
than is usually done, especially if speaking in public. Any tightening
of the throat muscles s
ould be avoided, and the voice sent out from a
full chest well expanded.
Those who are musical should take a note on the piano enunciating the
vowels in their natural order ([=a], ay, ee, o, oo) on this note. Then
proceed to the next note; the whole of the octave may thus be gone
over. Choose an octave most consonant with the range of the voice.
Then add the consonants: b[=a], bay, bee, c[=a], cay, etc., etc. Thus a
perfect command over all the possible combinations of vowels and
consonants may be attained.
There is absolutely no reason why any musical person should have an
unmusical voice, especially since this bad production of the voice
often strains the muscles and inflames the mucous membrane of the
throat. In connection with this question of music, it should be
remembered that almost irretrievable injury to the voice may be done by
allowing a boy to continue singing after his voice has begun to
"break."
It is not a good plan to be constantly "clearing" the throat whilst
speaking. One gets to imagine after a while that it needs clearing when
it really does not.
Alcohol and tobacco are both undoubtedly injurious to the voice. A
little honey and lemon juice will be found the best gargle if a gargle
is required.
Deep breathing is of great assistance in endeavouring to produce the
lower note, in fact it is not possible to produce a full note except
from a full chest. In this connection it may be said that it has been
observed that deep-chested, deep-breathing, slow-speaking people are
frequently possessed of certain estimable points of character, such as
prudence, firmness, self-reliance, calmness. If one is going to be
angry, ten deep breaths might save a world of trouble. (See
Breathing, Correct method of).