426 DISEASES Class IV. 2. 3. 8. 



in accurate language on fubjects, which he had been accuftomed 

 to think upon ; and yet did not know that he had rung the bell 

 by his fire-fide in one minute afterwards ; nor could then recol- 

 lect the object he had wanted, when his fervant came. 



Similar to this is the difficulty which old people experience in 

 learning new bodily movements, that is, in aflbciating new muf- 

 cular actions, as in learning a new trade or manufacture. The 

 trains of movements, which obey volition, are the lafl which we 

 acquire ; and the firft, which are diiibciated. 



The fymbols mod in ufe, with which we have aflbciated ideas, 

 are thofe of vifible and of audible language. It is curious to ob- 

 ferve in the inftruction of young people, that fome remember 

 written language the bed, and others vocal language. The fame 

 thin^ fometimes occurs in aged people, that is, that fome lofe 

 the ideas aflbciated with founds fooneft, and others thofe aflb- 

 ciated with letters. See recollectionis jactura, Clafs III. 2. 2. 1. 

 and Tarditas paralytica above. 



The following curious account of this defect of aflbciation of 

 ideas with audible but not with vifible fymbols was fent me by 

 Dr. Darwin of Shrewfbury. 



" The cafe of an old man lately occurred to me, who was fu- 

 peranuated j his hearing and vifion were perfect, but he could 

 only call up a train of ideas from the latter. When he was told 

 it was nine o'clock, and time for him to eat his breakfaft, he re- 

 peated the words diftinctly but without underftanding them. 

 His fervant put a watch into his hand. " Why, William, have 

 not I my breakfaft, for it is juft nine o'clock ?" he would fay 

 with expreilion, that {hewed he felt what he faid. 



«< On almoft every occafion his fervants converfed with him 

 by vifible objects, although his hearing was perfect: ; and when 

 this kind of communication was ufed, he did not appear impair- 

 ed in his intellects. This ftate came on from a {broke of the 

 palfy •, and till he and, his attendants ufed this kind of language 

 he was quite childifh." 



ORDO 



