DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70302#0322
286
HISTORY OF THE SAVAGE OF AVEYNON.
for hours together to wind and rain. He was equally
insensible to the most violent heat; for it frequently hap-
pened, that, when he was near the fire, and live coals
fell out of the grate, he snatched them up and threw
them back with the utmost indifference. He has more
than once been observed in the kitchen, taking potatoes
out of the boiling water with his hand. Snuff did not
produce in him any disposition to sneeze, and notwith-
standing the severe measures which it was at first found
necessary to adopt, he was never known to shed a tear.
Of all his senses, his ear appeared to be the most insen-
sible. The loudest noise, as the explosion of fire-arms
close by his ear, produced scarcely any emotion, and yet
the noise occasioned by the cracking of a walnut, a fruit
of which he was remarkably fond, never failed to attract
his attention. The same effect was invariably produced,
if a person touched the key of the door which held him
captive, when he would instantly turn round and run
towards the place from which the noise proceeded.
Heat was the medium by which M. Itard endeavoured
to develope the dormant sensibility of the young savage.
He did not think it sufficient to provide him with com-
fortable clothing, a warm bed and lodging, but directed
him to be put into the hot bath for two or three hours
every day. The effect answered his expectation. In a
short time the young savage appeared evidently sensible
to the action of cold; he ascertained with his hands the
temperature of the bath, and would not go into it if it
was not sufficiently warm. From the same cause he
soon learned to appreciate the utility of clothes, to which
he could before scarcely be induced to submit. When
he perceived their advantage, it was easy to oblige him
to dress himself. This end was in a few days obtained,
by leaving him exposed every morning within the reach of
his clothes, till he found out of himself how to put them on.
The
HISTORY OF THE SAVAGE OF AVEYNON.
for hours together to wind and rain. He was equally
insensible to the most violent heat; for it frequently hap-
pened, that, when he was near the fire, and live coals
fell out of the grate, he snatched them up and threw
them back with the utmost indifference. He has more
than once been observed in the kitchen, taking potatoes
out of the boiling water with his hand. Snuff did not
produce in him any disposition to sneeze, and notwith-
standing the severe measures which it was at first found
necessary to adopt, he was never known to shed a tear.
Of all his senses, his ear appeared to be the most insen-
sible. The loudest noise, as the explosion of fire-arms
close by his ear, produced scarcely any emotion, and yet
the noise occasioned by the cracking of a walnut, a fruit
of which he was remarkably fond, never failed to attract
his attention. The same effect was invariably produced,
if a person touched the key of the door which held him
captive, when he would instantly turn round and run
towards the place from which the noise proceeded.
Heat was the medium by which M. Itard endeavoured
to develope the dormant sensibility of the young savage.
He did not think it sufficient to provide him with com-
fortable clothing, a warm bed and lodging, but directed
him to be put into the hot bath for two or three hours
every day. The effect answered his expectation. In a
short time the young savage appeared evidently sensible
to the action of cold; he ascertained with his hands the
temperature of the bath, and would not go into it if it
was not sufficiently warm. From the same cause he
soon learned to appreciate the utility of clothes, to which
he could before scarcely be induced to submit. When
he perceived their advantage, it was easy to oblige him
to dress himself. This end was in a few days obtained,
by leaving him exposed every morning within the reach of
his clothes, till he found out of himself how to put them on.
The