9$ Djfcovery near 'Rome. 



tones: be produced the mod acute tones in the diatonic 

 fcale; jind thefe were found to be the belt calculated for ex- 

 citing the organs of hearing. In the fitting of March 31ft 

 laft, the fociety were defirous of afcertaining whether the 

 fenfation produced on the deaf and dumb by mufical instru- 

 ments was an indefinite and obfcure perception, or if they 

 were capable of distinguishing gradations in the tones pre- 

 lected to their ears. For this purpofe they were blindfolded, 

 and different instruments which had been before employed 

 were then made to found. The perfons who were the objects 

 of this experiment not only (bowed by uniform movements 

 that they heard thefe founds, but they indicated by particular 

 ligns the kind of instruments employed ; which was a certain 

 proof that they were able to diftinguifh the different tones. 

 In regard to one of them, the following remarkable pheno- 

 menon was obferved : a Single tone made no impreiTion upon 

 him, and it was neceffary to repeat it feveral times before he 

 was fenfible of it, and able to diftinguifh it. It was thence 

 concluded that it would be neceffary for this young man to 

 learn to hear, as perfons born blind who recover their fight 

 in confequence of a chirurgical operation muff gradually 

 learn to fee and to diftinguifh objects. 



In confequence of the experiments on deafnefs lately made 

 at Paris by C. Beyer, from which it is concluded that the 

 degree of deafnefs is to be afcribed to a relaxation or too 

 great diflenfion of the membranum tympani, Dr. Gall, of 

 Vienna, has examined the fame fubject, and, by anatomical 

 refearches on heads of feveral deaf and dumb perfons, has 

 found that the organs of hearing are in general obstructed in 

 confequence of Swelled glands. He is therefore of opinion 

 that antimony may be employed with advantage on perfons 

 whofe deafnefs has not attained to a very hio;h degree. 



DISCOVERY NEAR ROME. 



During the latter end of April, fome workmen employed 

 in digging a trench for the purpofe of planting a new vine- 

 yard at the feat of the chevalier Petrini, in the neighbour- 

 hood of Rome, found the Skeleton of an animal, to which 

 they paid little attention till they obferved fome bones of a 

 monftrous Size. A thigh bone which was meafured was two 

 Paris feet four inches in circumference. Some teeth were 

 found fix inches in length, and which had a great refem- 

 blance to others found in Siberia, and near the Ohio in 

 America. Through the negligence of the workmen this in- 

 teresting object of natural hiftory was nearly destroyed, great 

 part of it having crumbled into dull when expofed to the air. 

 There is reafon to believe that this fkeleton belonged to fome 

 of the monflrous race of animals now extinct, fuch as the 

 mammouth. XIX. PREMIUMS 



