An historical account of the discovery and education of a savage man; or, the first developments, physical and moral, of the young savage caught in the woods near Aveyron in the year 1798

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1802 edition. Excerpt: ... most authentic sources. I shall here add, in connection with the same subject, some of my own most interesting and important observations. p Frequently, during the course of the winter, I have seen him, whilst he was amusing himself in the garden belonging to the asylum of the Deaf and Dumb, suddenly squat down, half naked, on the wet turf, and remain exposed in this way, for hours together, to wind and rain. It was not only to the cold, but also to the most violent heat, that his skin, and sense of touch, shewed no kind of sensibility. It frequently happened, when he was near the fire, and live coals have fallen out of the grate, that he snatched them up, and threw them back again with the most perfect indifference. We have more than once found him in the kitchen, taking away, in the same manner, potatoes out of the boiling.water, and I know that he had, at that time, a skin of very fine and delicate texture . I have often given him large quantities of snuff, without ex. citing any disposition to sneeze; which is a perfect proof, that in this case there did not exist between the organ Of smell, and those of respiration and sight, that kind of sympathy which is apt to induce either sneezing, or the secretion of tears. This last symptom.was still less liable than the other to be produced by painful affections of the mind; and in spite of numberless contradictions; in spite of the severe and apparently cruel measures made use of, especially during the first months of his new life, I never once caught him in the act of shedding tears. I gave him, said a person, who had seen hint at St. Sernin, a great quantity of potatoes; he seemed to be pleased at the sight, laid hold of theni with his hands, and threw them into the fire. He took...