to restore the Deaf and Dumb to hearing. 309 



v 



- 



success might be hoped. Of the six cases of cure cited above, one 

 was spontaneous, and the remaining five were produced by extreme 

 irritation of certain parts of the head by means of the moxa, the 

 seton, a certain aqueous composition introduced into the ear, or a 

 blow on the head. 



* 



Although many of these remedies may properly be called cruel, 

 and are not unfrequently attended with danger, the object to be gained 

 was too important, while any probability existed that their use would 

 be followed by success, to suffer the experiment to be neglected. 

 Accordingly, they were all employed by M. ltard a sufficient num- 

 ber of times to test abundantly their efficacy ; but with how much 

 success the following account will show. 



The moxa was applied, under his direction to nine or ten deaf 

 mutes : and he affirms that several of the pupils of the Paris Insti- 

 tution, before their connexion with it, had been submitted to the 

 same treatment ; but the case mentioned by M. Varroine is the only 

 known instance in which its application has been attended with suc- 

 cess. The employment however of the actual cautery, a remedy 

 similar to the moxa, seems to have been accompanied with more 

 fortunate results. The patient was a child of the age of four and a 

 half years, possessing a good constitution, and in perfect health, but 

 completely destitute of hearing and speech. The application of a 

 cautery on each of the mastoid processes, w T ith an iron heated white, 

 was shortly followed by an abundant suppuration, and an eruption 

 of purulent matter. At this time, signs of the re-establishment of 

 hearing began to be observed. "The child turned his head, when- 

 ever a noise was made behind him, or any one spoke on an elevated 

 tone : and it was noticed that he took pleasure in striking on the 

 window with his hands and making the glass sound. As his resto- 

 ration to hearing became more apparent, the child began to repeat 

 a few words: though it was necessary to pronounce them very dis- 

 tinctly and in a loud tone of voice. Eighteen months after the op- 

 eration the child spoke, or rather pronounced words, with considera- 

 ble distinctness : for his deafness not having been completely dissi- 

 pated, his case would properly be classed among those of the semi 

 deaf." This restoration to hearing, although partial was sufficient 

 to inspire a hope that the same treatment on others would produce 

 similar results: but, as if to destroy all confidence in it as a means of 

 cure, in three other cases of congenital deafness in which it was em- 

 ployed, it was not attended with the least success. 



