The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1880-12-03
Psysl,c.srieal Study of Infants,

The Medical Record ~sproduces the
leading features of the studies OF Pro-
lessor w. Pryor, of Jena, In field as
yet almost unbroken, that Is, in the
psychological study of infants. This
study begins, the Professor says, with
the observation of the movements and
sensations of a child, and then proceeds
to note the development OF the different
senses, the formation of speech, &c, and
the effect of al these things in awaken
ing the intelligence. The first mani
hesitation of voluntary motion occurs
abous the fourteenth week, when the in
FAINT begins to hold up its head. After
four months the head is tsually balanced
well, and at ten months the power TO sit
up is acquired Ability to stand was
usually, in the cases studied by the Pro
lessor, gained suddenly at the end OF the
FIRST year. The first grasping motions OF
the hand in the first quarter year are
entirely reflex and mechanical, the 1irst
voluntary attempt to take hold OF an OBJ
ject not being noticed before the seven
tsenth week. The child does not show
self-conscioueness, knowledge of Its IN
dependent existence, uptl the second
quarter of the second year The sensi-
bility of the skin Of newborn child IS
very low, and it will give no signs of dis
comfort il it be pricked on the nose, or
lips, or hands. The eyes, too, close
slowly when touched, and do not close
at all In the beth. An increase of sensi-
bility, however, appears in day or two
after birth. ALI infants are deaf at birth,
because the outer ear is closed and there
1s as yet no air in the middle ear. A re-
Spouse TO d strong sound is observed, at
the earliest, in SIX hoGrs, but often not
for day or two. The awakening of the
sense may be detected by the blinking
which loud noise occasions. No othel
organ is thought to contribute to the in
tellectual development of the child SO
much as the eaf. The first perceptions
are those of light. The infant shuts its
eyes as soon as light enters them; within
o week it turns its glance to the window,
but it is three weeks before the eyes will
follow a light moved before them. The
stupid expression on the child's face
does not leave 1t until the second quarter
year, and the face grows more human
and spirited with the increase Of the
power Of seeing intelligently, The power
TO distinguish colors follow that of intel
ligent attention; and light and bright
colors are preferred; but the power to
distinguish them by name does not come
until the beginning of the third year.
The recognition of form, size, and dis
lance comes slowly. In the first month
the infant pays no attention to the swift
est approach of the persons hand to its
face, and in the third year it will show ig-
norance Of size and no appreciation of
distance. The Professor set down in
writing every sound uttered by child
during its first two years, and which
cGllld be so represented. At first only
vowels are heard, but even in the first
five weeks these sounds are so diversified
as to express different feelings. Thus,
the Professor says, the periodically
broken cry, with knit eyes, denotes hun
ger; the continuous whine, cold; and the
high, penetrating tone, pain. The con-
sonant M was heard in the seventh week,
and in the seventh month b, n, q, and
rarely q, h, and K were distinguished.
Imperfect limitations of sound were heard
in the sixth month, and at this time
voices began to be distinguished by the
child. Great progress is made in the
| imitation Of sounds after the third half
year, and the powers Of articulation
become well developed by the fourth half
| yraap