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"Blind.

For what is human existence, in its prefent ftate, if you deprive it of action and contemplation? Nothing then remains but the diftinction which we derive from form or from fenfitive and locomotive powers. But for thefe, unless directed to happier ends by fuperior faculties, few rational beings would, in our opinion, be grateful. The most important view, therefore, which we can entertain in the education of a perfon deprived of fight, is to redrefs as effectually as poffible the natural difadvantages with which he is encumbered; or, in other words, to enlarge as far as poffible the sphere of his knowledge and activity. This can only be done by the improvement of his intellectual, imaginative, or mechanical, powers; and which of these ought to be most affiduously cultivated, the genius of every indiviToo much dual alone can determine. Were men to judge of things often expec- by their intrinfic natures, lefs would be expected from the blind than others. But, by fome pernicious and unaccountable prejudice, people generally hope to find them either poffeffed of preternatural talents, or more attentive to thofe which they have than others: For it was not Rochester's opinion alone,

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22 The ele ments of education for the

nor too

eafy.

That if one fenfe fhould be fupprefs'd,
It but retires into the reft.

Hence it unluckily happens, that blind men, who in common life are too often regarded as rareshows, when they do not gratify the extravagant expectations of their spectators, too frequently fink in the general opinion, and appear much less confiderable and merito rious than they really are. This general diffidence of their powers at once deprives them both of opportunity and spirit to exert themfelves; and they defcend, at laft, to that degree of infignificance in which the public eftimate has fixed them. From the original dawning, therefore, of reafon and spirit, the parents and tutors of the blind ought to inculcate this maxim, That it is their indifpenfable duty to excel, and that it is abfolutely in their power to attain a high degree of emiblind thould nence. To imprefs this notion on their minds, the first neither be objects presented to their observation, and the firft metoo difficult thods of improvement applied to their understanding, ought, with no great difficulty, to be comprehenfible by those internal powers and external fenfes which they poffefs. Not that improvement fhould be rendered quite eafy to them, if fuch a plan were poffible: For all difficulties, which are not really or apparently infuperable, heighten the charms and enhance the value of thofe acquifitions which they feem to retard. But care should be taken that these difficulties be not magnified or exaggerated by imagination; for it has before been mentioned, that the blind have a painful sense of their own incapacity, and confequently a ftrong propenfity to despair continually awake in their minds. The powers For this reafon, parents and relations ought never to of action be too ready in offering their affiftance to the blind poffeffed by in any office which they can perform, or in any acthe blind quifition which they can procure for themselves, whever be fu- ther they are prompted by amusement or neceffity. perfeded. Let a blind boy be permitted to walk through the neighbourhood without a guide, not only though he fhould run fome hazard, but even though he fhould fuffer fome pain.

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fhould ne

If he has a mechanical turn, let him not be denied the ufe of edge-tools; for it is better that he should

lofe a little blood, or even break a bone, than be perpetually confined to the fame place, debilitated in his frame, and depreffed in his mind. Such a being can have no employment but to feel his own weakness, and become his own tormentor; or to transfer to others all the malignity and peevishnefs arifing from the natural, adventitions, or imaginary evils which he feels. Scars, fractures, and dislocations in his body, are trivial misfortunes compared with imbecility, timidity, or fretfulness of mind. Befides the fenfible and dreadful effects which inactivity muft have in relaxing the nerves and confequently in depreffing the fpirits, nothing can be more productive of jealoufy, envy, peevishinefs, and every paffion that corrodes the foul to agony, than a painful impreffion of dependence on others, and of our infufficiency for our own happiness. This impreffion, which, even in his moft improved ftate, will be too deeply felt by every blind man, is redoubled by that utter incapacity of action which must refult from the officious humanity of thofe who would anticipate or supply all his wants, who would prevent all his motions, who would do or procure every thing for him without his own interpofition. It is the courfe of nature, that blind people, as well as others, fhould furvive their pa rents; or, it may happen, that they fhould likewise furvive thofe who, by the ties of blood and nature, are more immediately interested in their happiness than the reft of mankind. When, therefore, they fall into the hands of the world in general, fuch exigences as they themfelves cannot redrefs will be but coldly and languidly fupplied by others. Their expectations will be high and frequent, their disappointments many and fenfible; their petitions will often be refufed, feldom fully gratified; and, even when granted, the conceffion will be fo ungraceful, as to render its want infinitely more tolerable than its fruition. For all these reasons, we repeat it once more (because it can never be too frequently reiterated), that, in the formation of a blind man, it is infinitely better to direct than fuperfede his own exertions. From the time that he can move and feel, let him be taught to fupply his own exigences; to drefs and feed himself; to run from place to place, either for exercife, or in pursuit of his own toys or neceffaries.

In these excursions, however, it will be highly proper for his parent or tutor to fuperintend his motions at a diftance, without feeming to watch over him. A vigilance too apparent, may imprefs him with a notion that malignity or fome other felfifh motive may have produced it. When dangers are obvious and great, fuch as we incur by rivers, precipices, &c. thofe who are entrusted with the blind will find it neither neceffary nor expedient to make their vigilance a fecret. They ought then to acquaint their pupil, that they are prefent with him; and to interpofe for his prefervation, whenever his temerity renders it neceffary. But ob jects of a nature lefs noxious, which may give him fome pain without any permanent injury or mutilation, may with defign be thrown in his way; providing, however, that this defign be always induftriously concealed. For his own experience of their bad effects will be an infinitely more eloquent and fenfible moni-. tor, than the abstract and frigid counfels of any advifer whatever.

When the volatile feafon of puerile amufement is expired,

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24 Exercises fuitable to

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lerable.

boards; not with nails, but ftaples, and curved in a fpiral or ferpentine form, each confifting of seven spires or volumina. The volumina are formed in such a manner, that one of them can pass through another, and thus give the springs full play in rifing or defcending. The loweft bottom or bafis of the whole is protended about four inches; which affifts you to mount the feat with more facility, and ferves as a fupport for your feet when you ride. This operation is performed by alternately depreffing or raifing yourself upon the feat, fo that the fprings yielding to your weight as you defcend, and refifting as you defcend, and refifting as you rife, may give you a motion like that of the deal above defcribed, but more violent, more rapid, and confequently more falutary. The whole frame of the feat is furrounded with leather, having different apertures to admit or eject the air occafioned by the motion. Thefe general hints are fufficient to give any ingenious artisan an idea of the nature and ftructure of the machine, which he may alter or improve as conveniency fhall dictate.

To thefe modes of domestic exercise may be added that of a fwing, which is formed by a rope fufpended from two fcrews, which ought to be ftrongly fixed, at proper diftances, in the joifts of a capacious chamber, with a board and a cushion for a feat, and cords faftened behind and before, left the impetuofity of the motion fhould shake the patient out of his pofition. But this inftrument of health is fo often formed by children for their amufement, and depends fo much upon the form and extent of the area where it vibrates, that a more minute detail of its nature and office would here be unneceffary.

Blind. expired, and the impetuous hurry of animal-fpirits fubfides, through the whole demeanour of his pupil the tutor will probably obferve a more fenfible degree of timidity and precaution, and his activity will then rethe blind. quire to be ftimulated more than reftrained. In this crifis, exercife will be found requifite, rather to preferve health, and facilitate the vital functions, than Riding on merely for recreation. Of all the different kinds of horfeback. exercife, riding, not in a machine, but on horfeback, is by far the most eligible, and most productive of its end. On thefe occafions, however, care must be taken that the horfes employed may neither be capricious nor unmanagable; for on the manfuetude of the creature which he rides, not only his fafety, but his confidence, will entirely depend. In thefe expeditions, whether long or fhort, his companion or attendant ought conftantly to be with him; and the horse fhould always either be taught implicitly to follow its guide, or be conducted by a leading rein befides the bridle which he himself holds. Next to this mode of exercife, is Walking in walking. If the conftitution of the blind boy be tolerably all weathers robuft, let him be taught to endure every viciffitude of that are to weather which the human species can bear with impunity. For if he has been bred with too much delicacy,particular accidents may fuperfede all his former fcruples, and fubject him to the neceffity of fuffering what will not only be fevere in its immediate fenfation, but dangerous in its future confequences. Yet, when the cold is fo intense, or the elements fo tempeftuous, as to render air and exercife abroad impracticable, there are methods of domestic exercife, which, though not equally falutary, may fill be eligible; fuch as dumb-bells, or the bathDumb-bells chair. The firft of thefe are made of lead, confitting of a cylinder, the middle of which may either be rectilineal or arcuated for the conveniency of holding, and terminates at each end in a femiglobular mafs. Their weight should be conformed to the ftrength and age of the person who uses them. The method of employing them is to take one in each hand, and swing them backwards and forwards over his head, defcribing a figure fomewhat like a parabola. This not only itrengthens the arms, and opens the cheft, but proBath-chair, motes the circulation of the fluids. The bath-chair is a deal of 12 feet in length, as free from knots and as elaftic as poffible, fupported by a fulcrum at each end, upon which may be placed two rolling cylinders to give it greater play; when feated upon this, by alternately depreffing it with his own weight, and fuffering it to return to its natural fituation, he gives himself a motion, though not equal in its energy, yet fomewhat refembling the trot of a horfe. There are other elaftic feats of the fame kind conftructed with steel springs, but one of this fimple fabrication may answer the purpofe.

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The spring deal here recommended by the author, was preferred, as being fuitable to the blind in all fpheres or conditions of life; but he has fince been taught by experience, in a valetudinary ftate, that the elaftic chair is of infinitely greater utility. It confifts of three falle bottoms, and one real, which is the bafis of the whole. The lowest is by far the most extenfive. The highest is stuffed to render it an eafy feat, and covered with plash, baize, or duffle. Between each of the falle bottoms, at either end, behind and before, are placed steel springs, fixed above and below to the

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His meals fhould be temperate, his diet light and Diet. of eafy digeftion. If the tone of his ftomach be vigorous, vegetables fhould be preferred to animal-food, particularly those vegetables which are most farinaceous and leaft acefcent. Fermented liquors and ardent fpirits fhould never be given him but to gratify the real demands of exhaufted nature: for though they exhi larate the fpirits, they at the fame time corrode the veffels and relax the nerves; a misfortune doubly pernicious to fedentary life. The fafeft and molt wholefome beverages are milk and water. If he fhould be tired with thefe, he may be indulged with the variety of chocolate, balm, fage, or ground-ivy. Coffee may fometimes be taken with impunity: but tea fhould be interdicted with inflexible feverity; for no vegetable juice under heaven is more noxious to fedentary people. Let him also, for fimilar reasons, be prohibited the ufe of tobacco in all its forms. In the obfervations of diet and exercife, let him neither be mechanically regular, nor entirely excentric. In the one cafe, he will be a flave to habit, which may create fome inconvenience; in the other, he will form no habits at all, which may ftill be productive of greater.

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We have more than once hinted, during the course Low spirits. of this article, that the blind, as liable to all the inconveniences of fedentary life, are peculiarly subjected to that disorder which may be called tadium vitæ or low fpirits. This indifpofition may be faid to comprehend in it all the other difeafes and evils of human life; because, by its immediate influence on the mind, it aggravates the weight and bitterness of every calamity to which we are obnoxious. In a private letter, 002

we

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mind ftrongly and naturally revolts. She fhould therefore be rather allured to wisdom and virtue, by rational motives and gentle methods, than by cruel menaces and ftern commands. Thofe who are afflicted with low fpirits may be faid to be doubly unfortunate; for they have not only their own internal fufferings to fuftain, but the contempt and ridicule of a thoughtless and unfeeling world, by whom their complaints are thought to be imaginary, and their depreffion affected. Should the farcattic or fceptical reader apologize for his want of humanity, by afking in what thefe internal fufferings confift, it will be easy to give him a clear and folid anfwer: They arife from a fevere and acute feeling of nature's incapacity to difcharge the vital functions with tolerable eafe; from the fharp and conftant irritation inflicted on the ftomach and lower inteftines by every thing not sweet or infipid that paffes through them; and from a degree of fenfibility too exquilite for the precarious and fluctuating state of our nature: thefe are the vindictive, inexorable demons that arm every thought with the ftings of fcorpions, and render the fenfe of existence itself infupportable. We have heard of hypochondriacs who thought themselves made of glass; and of others who believed their perfons grown to a fize fo enormous, that they could not enter into any door: but it has never been our fortune to be perfonally acquainted with any of thefe fantaftics. Thofe with whom we have converfed were rather inclined to exaggerate real, than to create imaginary, evils; rather to anticipate gloomy poffibili ties, than to dwell upon improbable or chimerical ca taftrophies: the tender parent, therefore, or the faithful guardian, will beware of treating them with neglect or levity. He will fuit his converfation, as much as poflible, to the prefent tone of their feelings; he will avoid all innovations in their management, except fuch as are abfolutely neceffary for their cure.

we have heard it defcribed as a formidable precipice, in the regions of mifery, between the awful gulfs of fuicide on the one hand and phrenzy on the other; into either of which, a gentle breeze, according to the force of its impulfe and the line of its direction, may irrecoverably plunge the unhappy victim; yet from both of which he may providentially efcape. Though the fhades of the metaphor may, perhaps, be unnaturally deepened, yet thofe who have felt the force of the malady will not fail to reprefent it by the most dreadful images which its own feelings can fuggeft. Parents and tutors therefore, if they have the leaft pretence to confcience or humanity, cannot be too careful in obferving and obviating the first fymptoms of this impending plague. If the limbs of your blind child or pupil be tremulous; if he is apt to ftart, and eafily fufceptible of furprise; if he finds it difficult to fleep; if his flumbers, when commenced, are frequent ly interrupted, and attended with perturbation; if his ordinary exercifes appear to him more terrible and more infuperable than ufual; if his appetites become languid and his digeftion flow; if agreeable occur rences give him lefs pleasure, and adverfe events more pain than they ought to infpire;-this is the crifis of vigorous interpofition. The regimen and exercise a bove prescribed are the beft preventatives of this evil, and perhaps its beft remedies when unhappily incurred. But if the fymptoms fhould efcape your attention till the patient is actually feized with the diftemper, you may then, according to its depth and permanency, apply the cold bath, vitriolic acid, and Peruvian bark. Magnefia alba will, from time to time, be found ufeful to lenify the fevere and corrofive acid generated in the ftomach; it is preferable to chalk, to crab's eyes, or to any of the other abforbents, becaufe of its laxative tendency. The tincture or infufion of wild valerian, pills of afafoetida, and white mustardfeed, are likewife preferibed. Care fhould be taken that the patient may never be fuffered to remain coftive, otherwife the function of digeftion will be impeded. Gentle cathartics fhould therefore be adminittered; but with caution, that their operation may clear the bowels without weakening nature. Emetics may fometimes give the patient a temporary relief, by exerting and bracing the fibres of the ftomach; but if ufed too frequently, they will have a contrary effect: previous to the ufe of bark, however, they fhould always be taken to prepare the veffel for its reception. The fymptoms above enumerated would feem to indicate the origin of the distemper from extreme weaknefs or relaxation of nerves: that relaxation may be caused by fevere and intemperate thought; by fupine indolence; by exceffive or habitual drinking; and above all, by venereal gratifications prematurely and frequently indulged, by which the approaches of this evil are accelerated, its continuance infured, and its poignancy augmented. Parents and tutors, therefore, as they value the welfare of their charge, and would anfwer to God for their conduct, fhould be fcrupulously careful to obferve when any of thefe illegitimate propenfities inflame the youthful mind, to check, or rather elude them; not fo much by fevere reprehenfion and folemn interdict, as by endeavouring to preoccupy the foul, and engage the intention with other favourite amufements. Against every act of arbitrary power, the

Be careful never to reafon nor expoftulate with your patient on the nature of his malady. Tell him not that his uneafy feelings, far from being real, are the fictitious impolitions of a depraved fancy. His difagreeable fenfations will be more than fufficient to demonitrate the falfehood of your affertions: thus your argumentative and perfuafive powers will not only be exerted in vain, but may confiderably retard, if not finally prevent, his recovery; and may leave such indelible prepoffeffions against you, in his mind, as no length of time, no viciffitudes of life, will ever be able to efface. Opium has also been recommended; but excepting defperate cafes, it will be found a fallacious and dangerous remedy:-fallacious, because the ease it gives is only temporary, and infallibly fucceeded by fharper paroxifms:-dangerous, because it may be rendered habitual, and fubject the patient to unmixed. torment when omitted. Though we have already inculcated a regimen and exercife which appeared proper for the blind in general, and not incompatible with peculiar fituations, it ftill feems neceffary to add a. few refults of painful experience upon thefe fubjects,. as being particularly conducive to the prefent eafe and. future amendment of fuch as labour under the diseases now in queftion. And firft, let it be obferved, that animal food is their proper nutriment, as being of cafieft digeftion; better too, if well done upon the fpit or gridiron: for inftead of being allowed to imbibe

adventitious

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