MEMOIR OF CAMPER. 



and yet we are guilty of a far greater folly in the 

 treatment of our own. The subjects of squinting 

 and stammering are aiso brought under review, and 

 curious facts are stated with regard to them. The 

 questions regarding the phenomena of the early vi- 

 sion of children are puzzling, and do not seem even 

 yet to be determined. It cannot be denied, he re- 

 marks, that, with many animals, no sooner are they 

 born than they enjoy the faculty of distinguishing 

 objects with the utmost precision. Thus, ducklings, 

 for example, not only swim from the first, but they 

 dart upon the flies and other insects for food, the 

 moment they are hatched. They therefore judge of 

 the form and distance of objects without any assist- 

 ance from the sense of touch ; whilst the theories of 

 Molineux, Locke, and Cheselden, concerning the 

 vision of infants* would lead to very different con- 

 clusions as respects their visual powers. For this 

 essay the Society of Haarlem voted him their ho- 

 norary medal. 



Camper had spent two years in the retirement of 

 the country, when he was again called to the ardu- 

 ous duties of an academical life, by the appointment 

 which was conferred upon him of Professor of Me- 

 dicine, Surgery, and Anatomy, in the University of 

 Groningen. The proximity of this city to his pre- 

 sent habitation, the natural activity of his mind, and 

 a desire to be useful to the community, concurred 

 with a love of fame, which retirement had not ex- 

 tinguished, in inducing him to undertake the office 



