_ 



302 On the late efforts in France and other parts of Europe 



learning the truths which have been wrought out by the study of 

 ages, and of becoming acquainted with those higher and more im- 

 portant truths revealed from God. He might mingle on equal terms 

 with the community about him, and be urged onward in improve- 

 ment by that ceaseless activity of the minds of men, which their 

 union in society produces. He might take his place in the social 

 and family circle, and participate in those kindly thoughts and feel- 

 ings which do so much to refine the disposition and soften the heart. 

 He might learn the way of life and truth, and be prepared for an 

 " inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away." 



With these facts in view, the attention of a number of skillful and 

 distinguished European physicians, who were under the most favora- 

 ble circumstances for making experiments, was directed, a few years 

 since, to the possibility of restoring the deaf and dumb to hearing. 

 Among others are found the names of Sir Ast ley Cooper , Curtis, Itard, 

 Deleau, and Guyot, — men who to acknowledged surgical and med- 

 ical skill, united a degree of enthusiasm and perseverance, which 

 afforded the surest pledge, that the obstacles in their way, if vinci- 

 ble, would certainly be overcome. Now that the excitement which 

 then existed in relation to the subject has passed away, we propose 

 to make an impartial examination of the results of their labors, with 

 the view of ascertaining to what extent, and in what cases, if any, 

 deafness when so great as to prevent the acquirement of language, 

 may, in the present state of medical science, be cured. 



The first object was to ascertain, if possible, the causes of deaf- 

 ness, by post mortem examination. The anatomical observations 

 which had previously been made in this department, were too few' 

 and incomplete to render any conclusions which might be founded 

 upon them, of any great value. In view of the necessity of more 

 accurate and extensive observations, the institution for the deaf and 

 dumb at Copenhagen announced to the world, a few years since, 

 their intention of requesting the bodies of their deceased pupils from 

 their friends, for the purpose of dissection. What were the results of 

 the examination, or how far they succeeded in obtaining their consent 

 to this request, we are not able to state, as nothing has since been pub- 

 lished in relation to the matter. The able physician, however, of the 

 Paris Institution, M. Itard, has materially added to the knowledge 

 which formerly existed in this obscure region of physiology. For sev- 

 eral years he entertained the opinion, from the total absence of any 

 perceptible defect in the organ of hearing, that deafness, when so 



