BORN BLIND AND DEAF. 7 



cause, but that they can discern day from night ; and, for the 

 most part, in a strong light, distinguish black, white, and scar- 

 let ; but they cannot perceive the shape of any thing. Thus it 

 was with this young gentleman." The case I have since found 

 to have been the same, and in a degree considerably greater, 

 with the boy who has given occasion to this memoir ; inso- 

 much that his condition seems to have approached much near- 

 er to that of Mr Ware's patient than to that of Cheselden's. 

 " At the time of life" (Mr Wardrop observes) when this boy 

 began to walk, he seemed to be attracted by bright and 

 dazzling colours ; and though every thing connected with his 

 history appears to prove that he derived little information from 

 the organ of sight, yet he received from it much sensual grati- 

 Jication. 



" He used to hold between his eye and luminous objects', 

 such bodies as he had found to increase, by their interposi- 

 tion, the quantity of light ; and it was one of his chief amuse- 

 ments, to concentrate the sun's rays by means of pieces of 

 glass, transparent pebbles, or similar substances, which he 

 held between his eye and the light, and turned about in va- 

 rious directions. These, too, he would often break with his 

 teeth, and give them that form which seemed to please him 

 most. There were other modes by which he was in the ha- 

 bit of gratifying this fondness for light. He would retire to 

 any out-house, or to any room within his reach, shut the win- 

 dows and doors, and remain there for some considerable time, 

 with his eyes fixed on some small hole or chink which admit- 

 ted the sun's rays, eagerly catching them. He would also, du- 

 ring the winter-nights, often retire to a dark corner of the 

 room, and kindle a light for his amusement. On these occa- 

 sions, as well as in the gratification of his other senses, his 

 countenance and gestures displayed a most interesting avidity 

 and curiosity. 



"It 



