Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 2, 1802).djvu/227

Rh , by deliberate duelling, is, by the law of this country, a species of murder; and consequently, it charges the crime and inflicts the punishment of homicide on the principals, and likewise, according to the nature of the case, on their seconds. It has also been enacted, that challenges to fight, whether by word or letter, as well as the carrying of such messages, are punishable by fine and imprisonment. And, if they airse from gambling, the offender, by the 9, c. 14, incurs the forfeiture of all his goods to the Crown, and an imprisonment for five years.

Such, however, has been the prevalence of fashion, that neither the terror of severe penalties, nor any other consideration, have been able to abolish a practice so unjustifiable, and, at the same time, so unbecoming every person who aspires to the character of a rational agent. It must, nevertheless, be acknowledged, that neither duelling with weapons, nor, is in such repute at present as if was a few years since; and we trust, that from the good sense of individuals, and the vigilance of the law, it will in a short time be completely abolished.  DUMBNESS, is the privation, or want, of the faculty of speech.

This unfortunate defect proceeds chiefly from total and native deafness; if it arise from a deficiency in the organs necessary for uttering sounds, it is always incurable. Several instances, however, have occurred of persons born deaf, who have been taught to speak distinctly; to read, write, understand arithmetic, &c.

The most eminent teachers of the dumb in this country, were,

1. Dr., who, in the 61st number of the Philosophical Transactions, gives an account of two persons he had taught to speak; and, in the 245th number of the same work, his method is explained.

2. Mr., late of Edinburgh, who is perhaps the first person that ever brought the surprizing art of imparting speech to dumb persons to any degree of perfection. He first commenced his useful labours in 1764, and, in the course of a few years, enabled many to speak, write, &c. We regret that we cannot communicate a clear idea of his method, which indeed will not admit of being so fully explained in writing, as to enable any person to teach it.—Mr. B. used to pronounce first the sound of a, slowly, at the same time pointing out the figure of that letter, and making his pupil watch the motion of his mouth and throat; he then put his finger into the pupil's mouth, depressing or elevating his tongue, and making him keep the parts in that position. Next, he laid hold of the outside of the wind-pipe, and squeezed it in a certain direction, which we confess ourselves utterly unable to describe. While he was pronotmcing the letter a, his pupil was anxiously imitating him, uncertain of, or rather not comprehending, the nature of the sound he was required to utter. In this manner, Mr. proceeded, till his tyro learned to pronounce the sounds of the different letters of the alphabet. Mr. B. then continued in the same order to join vowels and consonants, till at length his pupil was enabled both to speak and read.

It would be injustice to omit mentioning the labours of the very Rh