218 INSUFFICIENT CERF.BRAL EXERCISE. 



from a full participation in the same sources of in, 

 terest as their more favoured brethren, irritability, 

 weakness of mind, and idiocy are known to be 

 much more prevalent than among other classes 

 of people. In the Dictionnaire de Medecine (vol. xx. 

 p. 87), Andral gives a description of the deaf and 

 dumb, every word of which bears a direct reference 

 to the above principle ; and a nearly similar account 

 has been lately given of the blind by an equally in- 

 telligent observer. "The deaf and dumb," says 

 Andral, " presents, in his intelligence, character, 

 and the development of his passions, certain modifi- 

 cations which depend on his state of isolation in 

 the midst of society. He remains habitually in a 

 state of half-childishness, is very credulous, but, 

 like the savage, remains free from many of the 

 prejudices acquired in society. In him the tender 

 feelings are not deep ; he appears susceptible neither 

 of strong attachment nor of lively gratitude ; pity 

 moves him feebly ; he has little emulation, few en- 

 joyments, and few desires. This is what is com- 

 monly observed in the deaf and dumb, but the 

 picture is far from being of universal application ; 

 some, more happily endowed, are remarkable for 

 the great development of their intellectual and 

 moral nature, but others, on the contrary, remain 

 immersed in complete idiocy." Andral adds, that 

 we must not infer from this that the deaf and dumb 

 are therefore constitutionally inferior in mind to 

 other men. " Their powers are not developed^ because 

 they live isolated from society : place them, by some 

 means or other, in relation with their fellow-men, and 

 they will become their equals. 11 This is the cause 

 of the rapid brightening up of both mind and fea- 

 tures, which is so often observed in blind or deaf 

 children, when transferred from home to public in- 

 stitutions, and there taught the means of converse 

 with their fellows. In these instructive instances, 

 the whole change is from a state of inactivity 



