44 ACCOUNT OF A BOY 



His condition, a field of study, of which, if it has ever occurred 

 before in the annals of our species, no scientific use appears to 

 have been made. How much the simultaneous exercise of our 

 different senses obstructs the perfection of each, may be infer- 

 red from the delicate touch, and acute hearing of the blind. 

 It remains to be ascertained, to what degrees of improvement, 

 the perceptions of Feeling, of Taste, and of Smell, may attain 

 in an individual possessed of these senses alone *. 



I 



* In one of the communications which I have received, it is said, that " Mit- 

 chell lias been known to follow the footsteps of another person for two miles, 

 guided merely by the sense of smelling." As this circumstance, however, is sta- 

 ted only on report, I have not introduced it into the text ; and mention it here 

 chiefly in the hope of obtaining more precise and authentic information upon the 

 subject. 



It would be desirable also to learn something more circumstantial and speci- 

 fic, both with respect to the discriminating powers of his palate, and his predi- 

 lections in the article of food. 



Neque inutile foret, neque ab honestissima sapientia alienum, novisse quo- 

 modo hie miserandus, jam puber factus, se habuerit quod ad res venereas ; hunc 

 appetitum an senserit necne ; qua forma, quibus indiciis se prodiderit ; foemina- 

 rum an virorum consortio adolescenti magis placeat ; socii sexum an olfactu dig- 

 noscere videatur. Haec et similia bene multa, dictu parum decora, scitu vero 

 non indigna, si modo observandi copia data fuerit, unicuique in mentem venient 

 cui Naturea Humanae scientia est cordi, quique infelicissimum et pene singularent 

 allius statum rite contemplabitur. 



