kl8 ERECT ATTITUDE 



try, is one of the most authentic cases ; and his biography 

 will answer the purpose very well *. In July 17^4, Jiirgen 

 Meyer, a townsman of Hameln, met in his field with a 

 naked, brownish, black-haired boy, apparently about twelve 

 years old, who uttered no sound, was enticed, by shewing him 

 two apples, into the town, and placed for safe custody in an 

 hospital, by order of the burgomaster Severin. Peter — 

 thus he was christened by the children on his first appearance 

 in the town, and he went by the same name to his death — 

 behaved rather brutish at first ; seeking to get out at doors 

 and windows, resting now and then on his knees and elbows, 

 and rolling himself from side to side till he fell asleep. He 

 did not like bread; but he eagerly peeled green sticks, and 

 chewed the peel for the juice, as he also did vegetables, 

 grass, and bean-shells. He soon learned to conduct himself 

 more properly, and was allowed to go about the town. 

 When any thing was offered him to eat, he first smelt it, and 

 then put it in his mouth, or laid it aside, shaking his head. 

 In the same way he would smell people's hands, and then 

 strike his breast if pleased, or otherwise shake his head. 

 When he particularly liked any thing, as beans, peas, mul- 

 berries, fruit, and particularly onions and nuts, he indicated 

 his satisfaction by striking repeatedly on his chest. 



W'hen shoes were first given to him, he could not walk 

 in them, and appeared happy in getting rid of them, and 

 running about again barefooted. Covering the head was 

 equally unpleasant to him ; and he enjoyed greatly throw- 

 ing his hat or cap into the Weser, and seeing it swim down. 

 But he soon became accustomed to clothing. 



His hearing and smell were acute. 



In October 1725 he was sent for by George I. to Hano- 

 ver; whence he was transmitted to London in the beginning 

 of the following year, under the care of a king's messenger ; 

 and this was the foundation of his fame and fortune. 



Just at this time the controversy about the existence of 



* The following account is derived from Slumenbach's Bcr/trdge sur 

 Natiirgcschichic, 2. theil; He lias taken great pains to make out, from ori- 

 ginal and cotemporary documents, the true history of this hotno sapiens f cms. 



