Some account of cretinism, and the institution for its cure, on the Abendberg, near Interlachen, in Switzerland / by William Twining.

  • William Twining
Date:
1843
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Some account of cretinism, and the institution for its cure, on the Abendberg, near Interlachen, in Switzerland / by William Twining. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    on the walls of the room, and then the instruction begins, in winter, after sunset, or in summer, in a darkened room. And this method often proves effec- tual, when others fail. Smell and taste also need development, as many would swallow whatever was placed in the mouth, and would pay no attention to any odour. When the hour of instruction closed, came that of amusement, and here the Doctor's kind manner was equally conspicuous, whether the child was swinging, playing with a doll, or beating a drum, or still sitting unconscious of all around it. Day and night the sole thought of this zealous and benevolent man is the happiness and improvement of these poor creatures; in him they have at once a father, teacher, and physician, well qualified by natural disposition and acquired attainments to act in all those characters. As this malady affects the body as well as the mind, Dr. Guggenbiihl devotes all the earlier part of the time that the Cretin is in the establishment to strengthening the body, knowing how much the mind is dependent on it. The pure, invigorating air, judi- cious food, and cold baths, or frictions to strengthen the limbs, soon induce an entire change in the whole being. As soon as the organs begin to assume the normal state, the development of the intellectual faculties commences, and here is the greatest difficulty, but still the most important part of the task. Mr. Ober, who had accompanied us, had seen the poor sufferers at the time of their admission, and was therefore able to make us duly appreciate the vast change that had taken place; so great, indeed, that
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