The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1881-05-12
THE GROWTH OF A CHILD.
Interesting observations I'm the Psy.
Geological Study Of Infants.

interesting observations I'm the Psy.
Geological study OF Infants.
The Medical Record reproduces the
leading features of the studies of Prof.
w. Preyer. of Jena, in a field as yet al.
most unbroken-t that is, in the psyche
logical study Of infants. This study be-
gins, the professor says, with the obser-
walton of the movements and sensations
of a child, and then proceeds to note the
development of the different senses, the
formation of speech, ETC., and the effect
of all these things in awakening the IN
telligence. The first manifestation OF
voluntary motion occurs about the four
teenth week, when the infant begins to
hold up it's head. After four months the
head is usually balanced well, and at ten
months the power to sit up is acquired.
Ability to stand was usually, in the
cases studied by the professor, gained
suddenly at the end of the first year.
The first grasping motion of the handin
the first quarter year is entirely reflex
and mechanical, the first voluntary at
tempt to take hold of an object not being
noticed before the seventeenth week. A
child does not show sef-consciousness,a
knowledge of it's independent existence,
until the second quarter of the second
year. The sensibility of the skin of q
newborn child is very low, and it will
give nosigns of discomfort if 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 bath. An increase
of sensibi]ity, however, appears in q day:
or two after birth.
All infants are deaf at birth, because
the outer ear is closed and there is as
yet no air in the middle ear. Aresponse
to a strong sound is observed at the
earliest in six hours, but often not
for day or two. The awakening of the
sense may be detected by the blinking
which loud noise occasions. No other
organ is thought to contribute to the in
tellectual development of the child SO
much as the ear. The first perceptions
are those of light. The infant shuts its
eyes as soon as light enters them; within
a week it turns its glance to the window,
but it is three weeks before the eyes
will follow light moved before them.
The stupid expression on the child's
face does not leave it 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 follows that
of intelligent 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
distance comes slowly. In the first
month the infant pays no attention tc
the swift approach Of the persons hand
to its face, and In the third year it will
show ignorance of size and no apprecia-
ton OF distance. The professor sci
down in writing every sound uttered BY
a child during its first two years, anc
which could be SO represented.
At first only vowels are heari 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 hunger; the continuous whine
cold, and the high, penetrating tone
pain. The consonant m was heard in thu
seventh week, and in the seventh month
b, d, n, v, and, rarely, 6, b and K were
distinguished. It's perfect limitations q
sound we're heard in the sixth month
and at this time voices began to be dis
tinguished by the child. Great progress.
is made in the imitation of sounds aftel
the third half year, and the power.
| of articulation become we'll developed by
! the fourth half wear.