[LB056593], Letter from Alfred Ord Tate to Mrs H Bishoprick, June 3rd, 1892
https://edisondigital.rutgers.edu/document/LB056593
Transcription
June 3, 1892. Mrs. H. Bishoprick, No. 1078 Pacific Street, Brooklyn N.Y. Dear Madam,- Reply to your letter without date addressed to Mr. Edison has been unavoidably delayed. In regard to the use of the phonograph as a means for curing deafness, upon this subject Mr. Edison has no information whatever, except that which he obtained from newspapers. He has learned from the source mentioned that certain members of the medical profession have been experimenting with the phonograph in the direction indicated, and from the results obtained, they expect to be able to cure certain forms of deafness by its aid; but, as previously intimated, he has no additional information concerning the matter confirmatory or otherwise. The statement to the effect that Mr. Edison himself experimented with the phonograph in an attempt to cure his deafness is untrue and has absolutely no foundation in fact. It may interest you to know that Mr. Edison considers his deafness a blessing in disguise, and any reports that may reach you of his trying to improve his senses of hearing you may at once put down as canards. Yours respectfully. Private Sec’y.