BORN BLIND AND DEAF. OO 



chell is of opinion, that he rather dislikes darkness ; for she 

 has observed, that in moving from one part of the house to 

 another after night has come on, his step is hurried ; and 

 that he seems happy in reaching an apartment where there is 

 a candle or a fire. 



I observed, that he judges of the direction of a body by 

 sight, with invariable accuracy ; but when an object whose real 

 magnitude is not known to him, is placed before his eyes, he 

 does not seem capable of estimating its distance, for the first 

 time, with any degree of correctness. When I held a silver 

 snuff-box about two feet from his face, he put out his hand 

 exactly in the direction of the box, but moved it forwards very 

 gradually until it came in contact with it. These circum- 

 stances are just what we should before-hand have expected to 

 find ; and such also, I imagine, as may be remarked of all per- 

 sons who are nearly blind, from a similar cause. The per- 

 ception of the direction of bodies, which obviously depends on 

 the particular part of the retina which is affected by the rays 

 they emit, may be obtained equally (if the bodies be seen at 

 all) from the weakest as from the most perfect vision. But 

 Mitchell's vision is too obscure to enable him to perceive 

 those minute differences in the colour and intensity of light , by 

 which persons having perfect sight, judge of the relative dis- 

 tance of luminous bodies. 



On the whole, it appears obvious, that his sight, although 

 yet far too imperfect for any attempt to address him in a visi- 

 ble language, is considerably improved within these last twelve 

 months. Did the boy's dispositions admit of it, I should now 

 be inclined to recommend still more earnestly than before, 

 that another attempt should be made, to remove the cataracts 

 from his eyes, and I am much less disposed than formerly to 

 fear, that there is any radical imperfection in the optic nerves. 



I Here 



