Anatomical observations on the brain and several sense-organs of the blind deaf-mute, Laura Dewey Bridgman ...

  • Donaldson, Henry Herbert, 1857-1938.
Date:
[1891]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Anatomical observations on the brain and several sense-organs of the blind deaf-mute, Laura Dewey Bridgman ... Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library at Columbia University and Columbia University Libraries/Information Services, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the the Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library at Columbia University and Columbia University.

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    relations in space, and became confused if she lost what might be called the points of the compass. She was much afraid of animals, and when more than fifteen years of age could hardly be induced to touch a docile house-dog. When about sixteen she is described as more thought- ful and sedate, though cheerful — a condition which Dr. Howe regards as showing that her age was to be measured by the degree of her mental development rather than by the number of years she had lived. When she was twenty years of age her regular education ceased, and the special reports by Dr. Howe stop at this time. In 1878, President G. Stanley Hall(6) made a valuable series of tests upon her. At this time she was found completely blind and deaf, though the sense of jar was well enough developed to enable her to recognize the footsteps and some- times even the voices of her acquaintances, her common statement being that she heard {' through her feet.'' At this time her sense of smell was such that she could distinguish the odors of some more fragrant flowers, but eau-de-Cologne, ammonia and onions were thus recognized only when quite strong. Contrary to what was stated for an earlier period, she was found least sensitive to bitter and acid tastes, and most sensitive to sweet and salt. It was concluded that out of the four defective senses, taste alone was well enough preserved to materially aid in developing her notion of the external world. A study of discriminative sensibility for two compass points showed a discrimination in her case, from two to three times as acute as that of a seeing person. To temperature, her sensitiveness was not remark- able, and hence the facial sense, as it is sometimes called in the blind, was not well-developed in her, though she was said to recognize the approach of persons by the undulations of the air. She was found sensitive to rotation, which made her dizzy and gave her a feeling of nausea. In the course of her life Laura was the author of a Journal, three Autobiographical Sketches, several so-called poems and numerous letters. The Journal covers a period of about ten years. Dr. E. C. Sanford(7), who has made a