Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1845-01-09
-SW A u 81 IN Ns-
THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, Is4s.
THE RLIND

Pd''ihetH oi inc virginia institution, Tor copy
Of his report to the Board Of Visitors for the year
just closed. II represents the condition Of his
department as steadily improving, and as accom-
plishng successfully the great object for which it
was esiablished-that Of qualifying the Blind for
usefulness and independence.
The number Of Pupils in the school is twenty
four. -Four were discharged during the past year.
One of them, skilful workman in the ,nanufac-
ture Of brushes, has commenced business in
Wheeling with favorable prospect Of success
and another OF them intends to do the same, at
the residence Of his father in Nelson county,
The third was young man who, having become
blind since he grew up, was at the institution
only FOR few months, for the purpose Of bscom-
ing acquainted with the apparatus adapted 10 his
particular case.-And the last was female, who
had so far recovered he. sight as to be no longer
fit subject for che institution.
The health Of the pupils has been excellent
during che year. There was but case of se-
rous illness, and even that was not of long duta-
ton. Judicous diet, stric, regularity in their
mode of living, and exercise in the open air, are
The means employed TO promote the health Of the
pupils.
The domestic economy Of the department has
been conducted by its es.inable matron with sig-
nal ability, and strong testimony is borne to the
order, cleanliness and comfort which she has pre-
served throughout the buildings.
The moral education and religious instruction
of the pupils are strictly attended to.-Each of
the pupils Is expected to attend divine worship in
one of the churches Of the town, but the choice
of the church is left to them or their parents.
We are pleased 10 see that one OF tho greatest
difficulties with which the school has had to con-
tend-namely, want Of good school-books--i,
likely soon to be removed. A large Press has
been procured, adapted to the execution of print
ing for the Blind, and with the small founts of
type which they have had for some years past,
they arc enabled now to print their mos, indspen-
sible books. The means of procuring more types
are solicited, and We hope they will be granted.
Our readers are already informed of the system
OF instruction pursued in this department. The
lively descriptions which we published recently
of the exhibitions OF the Pupils at Richmond and
Raleigh, especially render it unnecessary now for
us to enter into that part of the report.
Dr. Merrillat presents some interesting Stats.
tics and facts in relation to the Blind.-He thinks
their number has always been much moderated.
The census (he says) does not give even faint
approximation to it. His own inv cations have
satisfied him that in acme counties in Virginia
the number is more than double that reported in
the census. He estimates the proportion of white
blind persons to the white population, at about
one to 1900. This ratio would make the whole
number in Virginia 600, and in the United States
upwards Of $4,000. The results of the Drs. in
designations, as regards our own State, are thus
summarily given in his report:
Of l42 blind persons in Virginia, whose sex |
have ascertained, there II males and 65 fe- /
males. or l49 whose age is mentioned in these |
tables, there are under years Of age SO be-
tween and 81 and IS over 81. was able TO
ascertain the age at which 81 Of these persons
became bsind-4O never saw, (congenital cases.
and Al lost their sight at various ages, raDong
from l 10 60 years of age. l ascer,aned the
cause OF blindness in rs cases-of these, rs are
hereditary IL the offspring of blind relations
generally hrst cousins;) 20 lost their sight by
diseases OF various kinds. and Is by accidents
vi ia, are wealthy, 36 in easy circumstances,
and II poor. Of SO cases of blindness. ca are
entirely blind, ID can see luminous objects. sncb
as the sun, and l6 can see large objects, bu, cam
not see the letters of book.
lhese tables, Limited though they be- appear TO
me 10 establish beyond any doubt, fact which
cannot but be of melancholy interest to every re-
fectlng mind. They shew, namely. thai in
large proportion Of cases, blindness was owino
10 causes which were controllabie by individuals.
and by society; alude to the large number of
hereditary cases, and also to those in which blind
ness was enaied upon the children by The pa-
rents or grandparents having been themselves
nearly related by blood.
i have heard of only two persons in yironi,
who labour under the double affection of being
deprived OF hearing and of sight. One of them
Is sPrightiy, intelligent little girl, about twelve
years OF age. She lost her hearing and SIGHT a.
bout TWO years ago, by an attack of nervous fe-
yer. Her health now appears 10 be excellent
one mas retained the power Of speech, and modn-
lates her voice remarkably well. Commupica-
tons are conveyed to her by means Of the '.dou-
oie'hand alphabet" used by deaf mntes. She
has learned 10 read books in raised letters she |
can also Knit and do other female work.
The other case is that of young deaf mute,
who was educated at the PHILADELPHIA institution. |
Shortly after his return home, about three wears
ago, his sight began to fail, and he has since be-
come entirely blind His mind has also suffered !
so much so that his friends have applied lately to
have him admitted into the lunatic asylum of this
place.
The number Of applicants for admission OR.
Merrillat !emarks,) has been steadily increasing,
and will doubtless continue to do so, as a know
ledge Of the advantages of the institution is more
widely difIused. Is it not melancholy reHec-
ton, in view of the incalculabe benefits which
are thus denied, that any of the afflicted children
OF the commonwealth should apply in vain f.
But we trust there is better spirit d(Tusino it,
self among The people in reference TO the benevo-
lent institutions of State, and that the day is
not distant when they will not only be cherished
as they ought to be, but priced by Virginia as a