Imatges de pàgina
PDF
EPUB

deafness, dumbness, and blindness, with remarks on the muscular sense: by Dr. Fowler.

66

The case was that of a young woman
She was

in the Rotherhithe workhouse.

born deaf and dumb, and blinded by smallpox when three years old. She is now about twenty, and does not hear the loudest efforts of the voice, but starts on a poker held by a string against her ear being struck against a grate, or when her nurse stamps on the boarded floor.

"Touch was the only sense which others used for communicating with her, or that she employed in examining persons or objects. She possessed both taste and smell, but did not appear to have used them.

"Until the age of 14 or 15, her existence appeared merely animal. But then a marked difference took place in her habits. She became as attentive to dress and per

sonal decorum as any other girl. She feels her way, without a guide, to every part of the workhouse, recognises all its inmates by the feel of their hands, makes her bed, and sews not only plain work, but even the more intricate parts of dress. She is very tenacious of what she deems her own, and was much pleased with a shilling which was put into her hand-smiling, curtseying, and feeling it eagerly for some time afterwards. The author deems the true key to so much and so minute information derived from touch alone to be the development of the muscular sense, and of the reciprocal influence of the adjustments of the different organs of sense on each other, by which all the exquisite attainments of the artisan, the musician, the sculptor, the painter, and even the orator, are regulated.

"Several instances were given of the

existence and functions of this sense in the lower animals, and practical suggestions given for its application in educating the deaf and dumb, particularly when these defects are complicated with blindness." Read to the British Association, at Plymouth, 1841, by R. F.

1842.

"Further particulars respecting a young woman deaf, dumb, and blind, of whom a full account was given last year, at Plymouth. By Richard Fowler, M. D., of Salisbury.

"In consequence of Mr. Tyrrel's attention to her eyes, and syringing her ears, she can now get a glimpse of shining objects on the floor-a shilling; can catch a ball on its cup, be made sensible of the return of Sunday

by counting her fingers, and putting her hands and knees in the attitude of prayer. She starts at loud sounds, and expresses pleasure at the sound of a Jew's-harp, between her teeth. By such exercises of the senses, and constant communications by touch with two young girls, both her intelligence and comfort have been improved.

66

Now, as our thoughts are expressed by muscular adjustments, and as these reciprocally excite thoughts, ideas, similar to those they express, is there not reason for hope, that, by the frequent exercise of the muscles, some pleasurable thought may be excited, even in minds as torpid as this poor girl's?"

ON A CASE

OF

DEAFNESS, DUMBNESS, AND

BLINDNESS.

I AM about to submit to the notice of this Section the case of a young woman in the Rotherhithe workhouse, who was mentioned to me about a month ago by some gentlemen attached to the Kent-road Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb, as having been born deaf and dumb, and who was blinded by the smallpox, when only three years of age. She is now about twenty years old. Her eyes were examined about two years since by Mr. Tyrrell, whose skill and competency as an oculist, to do what might be most advisable for a case like this, must be known to many gentlemen present. He found that one eye

B

« AnteriorContinua »