174 Afr. Bezv on Blindnefs . 
Thefe inftances will, I am perfuaded, be fuffici- 
ent to prove, how effe&ually, by proper exercife, 
the other fenfes may be refined and perfected, 
fo as, in many refpe&s, to fupply the lofs of 
fight. The fenfations of fmell and talte, indeed, 
are fo very limited, that they do not feem 
capable of yielding many peculiar advantages to 
blind people : but the perceptions of hearing 
and touch, as we have feen, may be applied to 
purpofes wonderfully extenfive. 
By the nice diftinftion of touch and found, 
the blind man not only acquires knowledge 
with refpeCt to perfons and fituations j is not 
only warned from danger, and excited to plea- 
fure but by means of thefe delicate faculties, 
he is enabled to conceive many of the vifual 
qualities of bodies, and to diftinguifh them with 
certain precifion. I do not mean to infer, that 
a blind man annexes the fame ideas to vifual 
qualities, as are excited in the minds of thofe 
who are pofTefled of the perfect faculty of fight. 
I only wifh to obferve, that he forms a general 
conception of their characters, by the analogy 
which he finds they bear to qualities he is ac- 
i 
different foils, through which it was conduced. Having 
mentioned to him a boggy piece of ground it palled through, 
he obferved, that “ that was the only place he had doubts 
“ concerning; and that he was apprehenfive they had, 
“ contrary to hi* dire&ions, been too fparing of their 
“ materials.” 
quainted 
