The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-08-30

AMAS LIVES Thirty YEARS on MILK.-A
letter from KilIingley, Conn.,, to the Hart
ford Times narrates the following:
On a drive with some friends over Pom
fret hills the other day we called on sing,i-
lar cIlaractcr-a man thirty years old, who is
deaf, dumb, and blind. He WAS born deaf
and blind. Whether he would have been
dumb or not if he had been blessed with the
sense of hearing, it is impossible TO tell, but
his glimmcrings of intellect are evidently
feeble. Where all the avenues Of commune
cation hut The srllSc Of touch are closed, if
intellect exists it will manifest itself, rs in the
case of Julia Brace.
This man is well developed, physically; is
Of ordinary height, has Il stout, thick neck.
and looks strong and robust and here comes
in al Interesting fact for psychologists and
those who make Il study Of health III connec-
ton with diet. This man has never eaten
ANYTHING but milk has never tasted water,
nor a particle OF any food but milk. Thirty
years on clear milk, and with II neck like an
on. and apparently Il muscular system TO cor
respond. Can we say now That milk Is for
babes and calves only, and not for sLron.
mcnY
This man had Il full sci Of strong, double
teeth clear round. and every one of them had
to he pulled out, rs lie tore his clothes to
pieces with them. AS he didn't need them
to chew his milk with, he probably thought
he must make some use of them, as they Were
evidently made for something, and his clothes
furnished excellent material on which to ca
erciSe them.
Another popularity of this strange being
i that through all his long life he has chewed
a rag, or rather, should say, has gummcd
it since his strong teeth were taken from
him. From infancy his mother has had to
place rag in his mouth us soon as lie has
taken his food. | asked her what he would
do if she omitted it. She said he would give
her no peace I'LL she put it back. He dis
tInguisbes strangers from the neighbors and
those who have visited him before.
took hold Of his hand, and he took it in
both his and seemed to be considering, then
passed his hand up the length of my arm.
| and then patted his head and chest. and made
Il singular cultural noise. l asked his mother
what these manifestations indicated. She
said that was his way Of expressing joy, of
showing that he was pleased. His principal
enjoyment seems TO consist in having his
mother get through with her work and sit
down by his side.
He has 4 swing in the room, in which he
spends good part OF the time swinging.
Sometimes when his mother steps ont he will
lock the door so that she can't get back
again, which shows that he has some wit
about him, or trickcry ut least. He is always
very wakefuI at night, and rouses his mother
out of bed many times a night. She says
she has lived thus, without u good nights
rest, for thirty years, with the exception OF
Saturday and Sunday nights.
Every Saturday night he calms down like
lamb, and keeps that night and all the Sun.
day after the strict letter of the old "Blue
Laws" of Connecticut. | don't suppose he
would venture to kiss his mother on that
day. Evidently the spirit of Cotton Mather
takes possession Of him then, and rules tri.
umphantly till Monday morning.