Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1857-09-25

INTERESTING TO FArHERs or FAMILIES
CAN A CHILD LIVE WITHOUT CLOTHING p
The following account OF an extraordinary ex-
pertinent, recently made By a parent with his
infant child, for the purpose OF ascsrtaining
whether be can dispense with clothing, is taken
from the Dublin EUeniHy Mail:
The subject ofthe costume of the ancient Brit
ons has often been discussed; il has been asser-
ted that they were naked. Those who opposed
that view adduced as reasons the GOODNESS and
variable nature of the climate. The question
has been set at rest by an experiment which
has recently been made on a child at S.. Anne's,
Barney, near Cork. The child is Ia months,
and is the son of Mr. -, who determined
10 ascertain what the human frame could bear.
fhe child is perfectly naked night and day he
sleeps without any covering, in a room with
the theImsmeter at % degrees; from this be
goes into a bath 1IS degrees; be sometimes
goes 10 sleep 10 the bath be IL perfectly indif-
fereut to heat OF cold, is lively, active, cheer
fl aud intelligent ; his appearance constantly
reminds the observer OF The best efforts of our
best painters and s~culptOrs- Therein is The
bcaa ideal be ie the reality. His simple, nat
ural, easy. graceful and ever-varying postures
are charming He arrests the attention and
commands the admiration of all who see him.
The peculiar character Of this skin is very
striking; IL is eKquisitely healthy and beauti-
full. Il nay be compared to the rays Of the
sun streaming through a painted window.
During the progress Of the experiment be has
cut three teeth without msnifssting any Of the
disagreeable symptoms usual to children in
that condition. He appears to be quite insen-
sible to pain Occasionally be has an ugly
fall, but not a sound escapes from his lips.
HIS manners, demeapor and general behavior
are equally striking. His mode Of ~saluting a
person is to take the hand in a graceful man
ner and kiss It. He is under the complete con-
troll Of bis father, and is perfectly quiet during
meals, and alsJ whenever be is told to be so.
He goes about all day, amusing and occupying
himself in a quite way. No one accustomed
70 children would know there was a child 10
the house. So inc redible are these results, that
some of the resid ents at St. Anne's regard the
matter with mingl'd feelings Of horror,
smszsment and wonder.
He has two mesis-generslly boiled rice,
which is put on a napkin on the ground, and be
picks il mp to the last grain. After that,
wheaton dour cake, with butter, and a cup Of
milk. which be drinks. While eating bis rice
be looks like a different being there Is at once
a pride and an enjoyment Of performance
H has the air Of an orator addressing an su-
dience.
During the day be goes TO sleep when be
likes. merely lying down on the floor. The at
he assumes in sleeping is that OF The
Mussulman making prostrations-on has knees,
with his hands spread OUT o-tote Hltn, "hiSu
could not be If he suffered from fatigue; but
bis muscles are too bard for that. BY this
means be concentrates the caloFie in his stom-
ach. and so 1t is Indifferent to cold however
cold the limbs, land Trey get frightfully cold
10 the touch, and never dumb, being, on the
contrary, msttIed red,) the loias are always
warn. The problem be presents physiology
cslly is this: A development Of the nerves
producing nIeasursble sensations, and a cor
responding desdening OF those Of the contrary.
The intensity OF the enjoyment which ne derives
from contact with the skin is only eqnsled BY
the insensibility Of the flesh We have never
know him since his exposure TO extreme cold
10 cry from pain