i 
a? 
809.] Mr. Thelwall on Impediments, and Cases of Amentia. 3 
not been called into action. I have 
thought it necessary, to preclude every 
case that appeared to have any approst- 
mation to the idiotic, the paralytic, or 
the insane. 
sons,” however, wnom the correspondent 
aliuded to in my former conimunications, 
and many others, I believe, are disposed 
to regard, as “ incurably dumb, (that is, 
who want, or are defective in the organs, 
that produce articulative sound,”) I have. 
no objection. [ reject altogether, as far 
as the organization of the mouth is con- 
cerned, ail distinction of curable and in- 
curable impediments: for I know how 
far human ingenuity can go, in supplying 
the deticiences of organic structure; and 
{ know also, by experience, how far one 
organ can be trained, to supply the defi- 
ciences, and perform the functions of 
another. Even without the application 
of artificial palates, those who are defici- 
ent in that organ, may obtain a distinct, 
and intelligible, though not a tunable, or 
agreeable utterance. In short, let there 
be but industry, intellect, sight, ‘and hear- 
ing in the pupil, and the professor, who 
really understands his science, need never 
dispair of superadding the power of fluent 
speech, Neither, in those cases, wherein 
apparent ineptitude, or early eccentrici- 
ty, give reason to apprehend a tendency 
to idiotism, or derangement, should the 
object be hastily abandoned. Observa- 
tion and experiment have sufliciently 
convinced me, that (notwithstanding the 
opinions of many physical enquirers), 
such early indications, as weil as the ca- 
Jamity of speechlessness, are fr ec p es as 
referable to educational, and moral, 
to physical and irresistible causes: In 
other words, that there is an erOrCys a 
derangement, and aspeechlessness, of ha- 
bit, non-developemeént and mistake; and 
whichare, therefore, capable of palliation, 
atleast,if not of absolute remedy: as well 
as of ore: anic malconformation, and consti- 
tutional infirmity. Perhaps i it would trot 
be saying too much, if I were to affirm, 
that imbecility, at least, if not absolute 
idiotcy, as well as some species of de-. 
rangement, are as frequently the result of 
meral causes, “early acting upon the in- 
fant organs, as of organic or constitutional 
causes acting upon the mind. 
With the indications of this distinetion,. 
TI have some reason to believe, that I am 
not entirely unacquainted ; ‘and it las 
been a part of my study, during several 
recent years, to devise and apply such 
modes of regulation, of stimulus, and re- 
striction, as may be likely, in cases of ihe 
— former description, to remedy, or rather 
a 
To “ those unhappy per 
to avert, the calamity: not indeed in my 
Tustitution, for that would be inconsis- 
tent with iny other arrangements. Cases 
of Amentia, where the. appearances of 
imbecility are marked, and conspicuous, 
are most conveniently superintend« din 
the private residence of the family: espe- 
cially where there is, in such family, any 
oe individual who can be depended 
on, to enforce the regulations of the pro- 
ee report to him the results of every 
experiine nt, and act implicitly by hus 
direction: ata under such circum. 
stances, I have seen enough cf the pre- » 
gress of developement, in faculties appa- 
rently the most inert, or most unpromi- 
sing, to be confident, that many a human 
being has been eGnemned to speechless 
inanity, that might have been trained, at 
least, to a respectable mediocrity of 
mind and faculty; and that, im many in- 
stances, what in early.childhood was only 
habitual ineptitude, or cherished eccen - 
tricity, has been suffered to mature itself 
into drivelling idiotism, and mental dis- 
organization. 
Upon this suhjeet, it is my intention, 
if ever I can find tine, to give my senti- 
ments to the world, at fitch greater €x- 
tent, and.in amore scientific form. In 
the mean time, I shall probably trouble 
you, (perhaps for your next Number,) 
with a few hints upon another subject, of 
more popular interest... “(ill when, I re- 
main, Your's, &c. 
Bedford. Place, J. THELWALL, 
July, 18th. 
y Sa 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. . 
dig ME 
ONSIDERING the nature and - 
aC tendency of the late Dr. Ander- 
son’s enlightened pursuits, it is very de- 
sirable that none of his ideas should be 
lost. At the conclusion of his last pub- 
lished performance, he announced his 
intention of employing his leisure, while 
heaith permitted, in collecting facts.on 
the subject of legislation ; ant sO atr- 
ranging then, that,in case of de: ath, some 
use ce be nade of them by Sues. 
His object was to discover, that system 
of legislation, or civil. polity, that should 
be best calculated ‘tv promote domestic 
felicity, among the great body of the 
people; 0) ouard against internal dis- 
contents, civil disturbances, and revo- 
lutions, and to avoid wars with foreign 
states, and the obtrusive interfereice 
with external politics:—not by means 
of revolutions, and destructive convul- 
sions, but by she ventle influence of re 
gulatious, that have a siient tenden*y ta 
operat€ 
