410 
Scientific Intelligence. 
have been easily removed, increase by habit to such a degree, 
as to induce imbecility of intellect ; — that they are the means 
of preventing the acquisition of the most important branches of 
education, and, of course, the improvement of the mind ; — that 
they operate as a complete exclusion from those useful and emi- 
nent situations, offices and professions, for which the person af- 
flicted with impediments of speech, is, in every other respect, 
peculiarly qualified ; — that they exclude from society, or render 
silent when in it, those who might hold a conspicuous rank in 
the most learned and intellectual circles ; — that their attempts 
at conversation, even on the most trivial subjects, and in the 
bosom of their own family, never fail to put their most intimate 
friends to the blush ; and their violent contortions, and nervous 
affections, are painful in the extreme to themselves, and exces- 
sively disagreeable to all with whom they converse. — When 
such consequences follow the generality of artificial impedi- 
ments of speech, is it not highly culpable for those parents and 
guardians, who are responsible for the education of the young 
people placed under their care, to neglect the most early and 
favourable means of having all impediments of speech and de- 
fects of utterance eradicated, before they grow into habits, which 
no scientific knowledge can overcome, and which baffle every 
attempt, even at any degree of amelioration ? To develope or- 
gans of speech previously inactive, to give distinctness of arti- 
culation to unintelligible muttering, musical enunciation to 
minced and harsh sounds, to give speech to the mute, and fluen- 
cy of utterance to the convulsive stammerer, are objects, we 
think, of no ordinary degree of importance. — The time neces- 
sary to accomplish these great ends, must depend on the know- 
ledge of the professor of the art, and his mode of tuition ; it 
must greatly depend on the extent of the perfection required 
by the pupil ; the nature and degree of the impediment, or ha- 
bit to be encountered ; and the susceptibility, diligence, previous 
attainments, and dispositions of the pupil. — Edinburgh has been 
long in want of a professional gentleman, whose experience, edu- 
cation and success entitle him to public confidence ; and we are 
fully aware, that many inquiries, by anxious and affectionate pa- 
rents, are frequently made for a person who is qualified for the 
important task of removing impediments of speech. We are 
