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She presented a very vigorous but unfavorable organization; for though she had the indications of uncommon intellectual capacity, she had evident marks of very strong and active propensities.

She still retained the power of speech, and had vision enough to guide herself about, and to distinguish the position of the fingers. As there was danger that her eyesight might he lost entirely, it was thought best to take advantage immediately of what was left, and to teach her the manual alphabet of the deaf mutes.

But even though there had been no such danger, it would have been proper to give her the manual alphabet, because it is not unlikely that she may lose the power of articulation entirely in a few years. When persons become deaf at her age, it is often seen that they begin after a while to mispronounce certain words, because, not being able to hear the sound they make, they cannot correct their pronunciation, and it grows worse and worse, until at last they utter one word when they think they utter another, become discouraged, and give up all attempts at talking. This is not always the case, but it is sometimes so.

This girl manifested a violence of temper and strength of will far beyond her years. Sometimes, when her temper was roused by any trifle which displeased her, she was the terror of the little girls in the school, striking and fighting like a little fury. Sometimes she was their torment by her rude and boisterous mirth, which nothing could repress, and which showed itself in mischievous pranks.

I had given directions that her violence should never be met by violence, and it often happened that her teachers, unable to enforce obedience, or to control her in any way, were obliged to bring her to my office. She dreaded this very much, for, although I had been careful not to treat her harshly, or even to use a threatening gesture, she had the wit to perceive that I had the power and needed only to exercise the will, in order to have her punished severely.

This case seems to confirm the opinion formed by observing other blind mutes, that the occlusion of two great avenues of sense is apt to prevent the harmonious development of the mental and moral powers, by perverting the energies of the system to the undue development of the animal nature.

It is very probable that this child had not been wisely treated at home; but as her parents are intelligent and respectable people, it is impossible to suppose that she learned by example the tricks and pranks which she displays when excited by passion. Her conduct has at times been so violent and unseemly, that it appeared to call at once for a resort to the easy, summary, and certain mode of subduing her by some kind of corporal punishment; but as there was danger of driving her into cunning and deceit, and as we could not tell whether her violence did not proceed from physical causes over which she had no control, I was unwilling to have it used. It begins to be evident already that she is somewhat improved, and her teachers will persevere in the use of kind and gentle persuasion, unless it should become obvious that punishment must be used, when it will be resorted to in such a way as to prevent the necessity of its repetition.

It would be wrong to refrain from using corporal punishment in such cases merely through the desire to carry out a theory, nor do we do so; the principle in our school is, to use it only after all other means have failed; but the other means have not failed for many years. There were cases, in the early history of the school, in which corporal punishment seemed to work like a charm, and its success apparently demonstrated the wisdom and necessity of its use; but more mature experience and reflection have led me to doubt whether the object which it effected could not have been gained by less objectionable means. I will mention the most remarkable case that ever occurred with us.

Soon after the Institution was opened, a man about twenty-five years old was brought to us, who became quite deaf at the age of eighteen, and gradually lost the power of speech, until he was altogether dumb at twenty-four. He was nearly blind, but not entirely so. He was generally tractable and obedient, but occasionally refractory. One day, he refused to go to work upon a basket which he was learning to make. He was encouraged and urged, but remained obstinate, and upon his teacher persevering still more, he suddenly seized an axe and struck a violent blow at him; the teacher fortunately escaped the blow, and the man put himself on the defensive. I was summoned, and as soon as the man ascertained who it was, he fled and took refuge in the coal cellar, and defended himself by throwing large lumps of coal at those who attempted to go in and seize him. He was subdued at last by severe corporal punishment, and from that day forward he never gave us the slightest trouble.

This was our first experience in such cases, and though it was successful, I have always looked back upon the cruel scene with pain. It is true, that, after the struggle was once begun, it seemed necessary to decide it by force, but I cannot help thinking the issue might have been avoided.