Facts and opinions relating to the deaf from America.

Date:
1888
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Facts and opinions relating to the deaf from America. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    99/212 (page 87)
    referred you to some printed reports, copies oi which I send you. In addition thereto I may say that, in Sept. 1885, we admitted a small boy named Gregg, whose mother is deaf and dumb— the only one that has ever been received. Up to this time I have not learned of any of the children of deaf-mute couples in Ontario being mutes.' (Uxtradfrom 1883-4 Beport.) ' Much has been said and written during the last three months about a deaf-mute variety of the human race, and fears were expressed by the writers that the intermarriage of deaf- mutes perpetuated a race of deaf-mutes, and was strongly dis- approved of. A great many statistics were collected from various sources to prove the theory. Of course, I cannot tell what the facts are in connection with other institutions, but, from the information we have here, I am led to believe that the conclusions drawn are erroneous. Six hundred and sixty-one children have attended, or are in attendance, at this institution, and from the records I learn that not a single parent of these children is deaf and dumb. A few of their grandparents were mutes and some of their great-great-grandparents. Of those who have been here and have intermarried, I have been unable to find that one of their offspring is deaf and dumb. The facts would seem to indicate that the intermarriage amongst the deaf and dumb is not the means of bringing into the world children similarly afflicted, and that deaf and dumb children are usually the offspring of hearing and speaking persons. ' E. Mathison, Superintendent.' Under date May 16, 1888, Mr. Mathison forwards the following particulars concerning an apparently deaf child in Ontario, both of whose parents are deaf:— ' I forward you extended history of the Terrell family. ' William Terrell, Maria Terrell, parents of 8 children noted below :— ' Both hearing persons, not related in the slightest degree;