DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70302#0331
HISTORY OF THE SAVAGE OF AVEYNON.
295
spirit. His paroxysms of rage became more frequent
and more violent, but his passion was directed less
against persons than things : when in this humour he
would gnaw not only his bed-clothes, but even the mantle-
piece; throw the fire-irons, the cinders, and the hot coals
about the room, and conclude the scene by falling into
convulsions, producing symptoms resembling those of
epilepsy. M. Itarcl was now obliged to yield, and this
conduct had no other effect than to increase the evil.
Finding that he had no reason to expect advantage from
gentleness, he resolved to adopt a different mode of treat-
ment, and to try what terror would effect. An opportu-
nity soon presented itself. During a most violent fit of
passion, caused by the repetition of the usual exercises,
he took advantage of the moment, before the functions
of Victor’s senses were suspended, and suddenly opening
the window of the chamber, which was on the fourth
story, and looking down on a rough pavement, he ap-
proached the youth with every appearance of anger, forci-
bly seized and held him out of the window, with his
face turned towards the ground. When he withdrew him
after a few seconds, from this situation, Victor appeared
pale and covered with a cold sweat; his eyes were moist-
ened with tears, and he was agitated with a slight tremb-
ling, which must doubtless be attributed to fear. M. Itard
then insisted on his resuming the employment he had left
and which he completed, without venturing to betray any
impatience. He then threw himself on his bed and burst
into a flood of tears.
This act of severity was attended with the most salutary
effects. His disgust of labour, though not entirely sur-
mounted, was, at least, greatly diminished ; and this fa-
vourable change encouraged his preceptor to makesome
new modifications, that appeared still better calculated to
fix his attention and to improve his judgment. He printed
the
295
spirit. His paroxysms of rage became more frequent
and more violent, but his passion was directed less
against persons than things : when in this humour he
would gnaw not only his bed-clothes, but even the mantle-
piece; throw the fire-irons, the cinders, and the hot coals
about the room, and conclude the scene by falling into
convulsions, producing symptoms resembling those of
epilepsy. M. Itarcl was now obliged to yield, and this
conduct had no other effect than to increase the evil.
Finding that he had no reason to expect advantage from
gentleness, he resolved to adopt a different mode of treat-
ment, and to try what terror would effect. An opportu-
nity soon presented itself. During a most violent fit of
passion, caused by the repetition of the usual exercises,
he took advantage of the moment, before the functions
of Victor’s senses were suspended, and suddenly opening
the window of the chamber, which was on the fourth
story, and looking down on a rough pavement, he ap-
proached the youth with every appearance of anger, forci-
bly seized and held him out of the window, with his
face turned towards the ground. When he withdrew him
after a few seconds, from this situation, Victor appeared
pale and covered with a cold sweat; his eyes were moist-
ened with tears, and he was agitated with a slight tremb-
ling, which must doubtless be attributed to fear. M. Itard
then insisted on his resuming the employment he had left
and which he completed, without venturing to betray any
impatience. He then threw himself on his bed and burst
into a flood of tears.
This act of severity was attended with the most salutary
effects. His disgust of labour, though not entirely sur-
mounted, was, at least, greatly diminished ; and this fa-
vourable change encouraged his preceptor to makesome
new modifications, that appeared still better calculated to
fix his attention and to improve his judgment. He printed
the