Mr. Bew on Blindnefs. 
*59 
Observations on Blindness, and on the Employ¬ 
ment of the other Senfes to fapply the Loss of 
Sight. By Mr. Bew. Read April 17, 1782. 
__tenebrafque necefle ’ft 
Non radii folis, neque lucida tela diei 
Difcutiant- Lucret. 
MONGST the various accidents and cala- 
r\ mities, to which the human fpecies are 
fubje&ed, there are none that excite companion, 
or call forth our benevolent aid more power¬ 
fully, than blindlefs. The blind man, in 
all ages and countries, has ever been allowed 
an indifputable claim on the good offices of 
his fellow-creatures his necefficies have gene¬ 
rally been fupplied with facred care j and his 
genius, if it approached to excellence, has been 
refpedted with a degree of reverence, fuperior to 
what is ufually bellowed, on fuch as are pofiefled 
of the faculty of fight. 
The faculty of fight, indeed, is juftly conli- 
dered as fuperior to any of the other fenfes. Hear¬ 
ing, tailing, and fmelling, when compared with 
vifion, appear very limited in their powers and 
determinations j and though the fenfe of touch 
may polfefs the mod general, and accurate power 
of conveying the ideas of the various modifica¬ 
tions 
