Page:Memoir upon the formation of a deaf variety of the human race (microform) (IA cihm 08831).pdf/10

 Chapter I.

UPON THE MATERIALS FOR FORMATION OF A DEAF VARIETY OF THE HUMAN RACE AT PRESENT EXISTING IN AMERICA.

The first difficulty encountered in the inquiry is that the published reports of our institutions for the deaf and dumb contain very little information bearing upon the subject, but, judging from the questions that are asked of the parents or guardians of the pupils, there must be among the unpublished records of our institutions an immense collection of valuable facts relating to heredity at present inaccessible to the public. Many of the reports of the institutions contain little more of interest in this connection than a catalogue of the pupils. The mere lists of names, however, become of value by directing attention to the fact that among the pupils who have been admitted to many of our institutions, numerous groups of deaf-mutes are to be found who have the same surname.

No one would be surprised by the moderate recurrence of such common names as "Smith" or "Brown" or "Johnson" — as the recurrences might be accidental, and have no other significance than to indicate the prevalence of these names in the community at large. But can it be accidental that there should have been admitted into one institution eleven deaf-mutes of the name of "Lovejoy," seven of the name of "Derby," and six of the name of "Mayhew." What interpretation shall we place upon the fact that groups of deaf mutes are to be found having such names as "Blizzard," "Fahy," "Hulott," "Closson," "Brasher," "Gopher," "Gortschalg," &c.? Such names are by no means common in the community at large, and the inference is irresistible that in many cases the recurrences indicate blood-relationship among the pupils.

An examination of a number of institution reports shows that these recurrences are altogether too numerous to be entirely accidental, and we are forced to conclude, (1) that deafness runs in certain families, (2) that these families are very numerous, and (3) that they are to be found in all parts of the United States.

The following list of recurring surnames, taken from the 1877 report of the American Asylum for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb (Hartford, Conn.), will show how numerous these recurrences are among the pupils of our older institutions: