Some account of cretinism, and the institution for its cure, on the Abendberg, near Interlachen. In Switzerland / by William Twining.

  • Twining, William, 1934-
Date:
1843
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0)

Credit: Some account of cretinism, and the institution for its cure, on the Abendberg, near Interlachen. In Switzerland / by William Twining. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Cretins are numerous, will have its hospital for their cure. And what brighter or more glorious page can there be in the history of that land, if a century hence, it should be recorded, that all Europe helped to exterminate Cretinism? May it never be there said, that England had no share in that noble deed. When it is remembered how liberally aid is given not only where true charity is the moving principle, but where the ascertainment of physical truths is the sole object, surely this cause, where both motives combine, should receive the help it so greatly needs, that the truly benevolent author of this experiment may realize his hope, that this misfortune of his country may be removed. He, almost unaided, but confident in his cause, began his experiment at his own expense, and long received but little aid. Now, however, his prospects are brighter, as all Europe is beginning to sympathize in the cause, and there is every reason for hoping that this year sufficient means will be obtained to erect a hospital, which will have the advantages which the present chalet has not. Then will the sounds of the chimes, re-echoed from mountain to mountain tell to the distant valleys, that the dreadful malady which has long there raged, no longer has its victims unopposed, but that at last one has arisen to stop the course of that flood, which for centuries has devastated the valleys of Switzerland,