The Illustrious Providences in New England, Chapter 9
CHAP. IX.
A strange Relation of a Woman in Weymouth in New-England, that has been Dumb and Deaf ever since she was three years old, who nevertheless has a competent knowledge in the Mysteries of Religion, and is admitted to the Sacrament. Some parallel Instances of wayes to teach those that are naturally Deaf and Dumb to speak. Another Relation of a Man in Hull in New-England, under whose Tongue a Stone bred. Concerning that Petrification which humane Bodies are subject unto. That Plants and diverse sorts of Animals have sometimes bred in the Bodies of Men.
HAving dispatched the Digression, which the things related in some of the preceding Chapters did necessarily lead us into: I now proceed in commemorating some other Remarkables, which it is pity but that Posterity should have the knowledge of. I shall in this Chapter only take notice of two particulars amongst our selves, with some parallel Instances which have hapned in other parts of the World. I am informed that there is now at Weymouth in New-England a Man and his Wife who are both of them Deaf, and that the Woman had been so from her Infancy; and yet that she understands as much concerning the state of the Country, and of particular persons therein, and of observable occurrences, as almost any one of her Sex; and (which is more wonderful) though she is not able to speak a word, she has by sings made it appear that she is not ignorant of Adam's fall, nor of Man's misery by nature, nor of Redemption by Christ, and the great concernments of Eternity, and of another World, and that she her self has had experience of a work of Conversion in her own Soul. I have made enquiry about this matter of some that are fully acquainted therewith, and have from a good hand received this following account. Matthew Prat aged about fifty five years, was in his minority by his godly Parents educated religiously, and taught to read: When he was about twelve years old, he became totally Deaf by sickness, and so hath ever since continued; after the loss of his hearing he was taught to write: his Reading and Writing he retaineth perfectly, & makes much good improvement of both, but his Speech is very broken, and imperfect, not easily intelligible; he maketh use of it more seldom, only to some few that are wonted to it. He discourseth most by Signs, and by Writing. He is studious and judicious in matters of Religion, hath been in Churchfellowship, a partaker of all Ordinances near thirty years, hath approved himself unto good satisfaction therein, in all wayes of Church Communion, both in publick and private; and judged to be a well wrought Convert and real Christian. Sarah Prat his Wife, being about forty three years old, was also quite deprived of Hearing by sickness, when about the third year of her Age, after she could speak, and had begun to learn Letters, having quite lost Hearing, she lost all speech (doubtless all remembrance and understanding of Words and Language,) her Religious Parents being both dead, her godly Brother Ephraim Hunt (yet surviving) took a Fatherly care of her, she also happily fell under the Guardianship and Tuition of the Reverend Mr. Thomas Thacher, who laboured with design to teach her to understand Speech or Language by Writing, but it was never observed that any thing was really effected; she hath a notable accuracy and quickness of understanding by the Eye, she discourseth altogether by signs, they that are able to discourse with her in that way, will communicate any matter much more speedily (and as full) as can be by Speech, and she to them. Her Children sign from the Breast, and learn to speak by their eyes and fingers sooner than by their tongues. She was from her Child-hood naturally sober, and susceptible of good civil Education, but had no knowledge of a Deity, or of any thing that doth concern another life and world. Yet God hath of his infinite mercy, revealed Himself, his Son, and the great Mysteries of Salvation unto her by an Extraordinary and more immoderate working of his Spirit (as tis believed) in a saving work of Conversion. An account of her Experiences was taken from her in writing by her Husband; upon which she was Examined by the Elders of the Church, they improving her Husband and two of her Sisters, intelligent persons, and notably skill'd in her artificial Language; by whose help they attained good satisfaction, that she understandeth all the Principles of Religion: Those of the Unity of the Divine Essence, Trinity of Persons, the Personal Union, the Mystical Union, they made most diligent enquiry about, and were satisfied that her Knowledge and Experience was distinct and …ound, and they hoped saving. She was under great exercise of Spirit, and most affectionately concerned for and about her Soul, her Spiritual and Eternal estate. She imparted her self to her Friends, and expressed her desire of help. She made use of the Bible and other good Books, and remarkt such places and passages as suited her condition, and that with tears; she did once in her Exercise, write with a Pin upon a Trencher three times over, Ah poor S…ul! and therewithal burst forth into tears, before divers of her Friends. She hath been wont to enquire after the Text, and when it hath been shewed to her to look and muse upon it. She knoweth most, if not all persons Names that she hath acquaintance with. If Scripture Names, will readily turn and point to them in the Bible. It may be conceived, that although she understands neither Words, Letters, nor Language; yet she understands things Hieroglyphically. The Letters and Words are unto her but signs of the things, and as it were Hieroglyphicks. She was very desirous of Church-Communion in all Ordinances, and was admitted with general and good satisfaction, and hath approved her self to the best observation, a grave and gracious Woman. They both attend publick Worship with much reverence and constancy, and are very inoffensive (and in divers respects) exemplary in their Conversation. Thus far is that Narrative, written Iune 27. 1683.
I suppose no one that rightly consider the Circumstances of this Relation will make a scruple about the lawfulness of admitting such Persons to participate in the Holy Mysteries of Christ's Kingdom. All judicious Casuists determine, that those who were either born, or by any accident made Deaf and Dumb, if their Conversation be blameless, and they able by signs (which are Analogous to verbal expressions) to declare their knowledge and faith; may as freely be received to the Lords Supper, as any that shall orally make the like Profession. Of this judgement was Luther. And Melancthon (in consil. part 1. Page 268.) Gerhad Loc. Com. Tom. 5. Thes. 226. Alting Loc. Gom. part 1. Page 90. Voetius Disp. Select. part 2. In appendice de surdis. Balduinus in his Cases of Conscience (Lib. 2. C. 12.) does confirm this by producing several Instances of Dump… persons admitted to the Communion. Its certain that some such have been made to understand the Mysteries of the Gospel, so as to suffer Martyrdome on that account.
In the Year 1620, one that was Deaf and Dumb, being solicited by the Papists to be present at Masse, chose rather to suffer death. It is also a thing known, that Men are able by signs to discourse, and to communicate their sentiments one to another. There are above thirty Mutes kept in the Ottoman Court for the Grand Seignior to sport with: Concerning whom Mr. Ricaut in his History of the present State of the Ottoman Empire (P. 62.) reports, that they are able by signs not only to signifie their sence in familiar Questions, but to recount Stories, and understand the Fables of the Turkish Religion, the Laws and Precepts of the Alcoran, the name of Mahomet, and what else may be capable of being expressed by the tongue. This Language of the Mutes is so much in fashion in the Ottoman Court, that almost every one can deliver his sense in it. And that Deaf persons have been sometimes able to write, and to understand what others say to them by the very motion of their Lips is most certain. Camerarius tells us of a young Man and a Maid then living at Noremberg, who though Deaf and Dumb, could Read and Write, and Cypher, and by the motion of a mans Lips, knew his meaning. Platerus speaketh of one Deaf and Dumb born, that yet could express his mind in a Table-book, and understood what others wrote therein, and was wont to attend upon the Ministry of O…colampadius, understanding many things by the motion of the lips of the Preacher. Mr. Clark in his Examples (Vol. 1. Chap. 33.) saith, that there was a Woman in Edinburg in Scotland (her Name was …nnet Lowes) who being naturally Deaf and Dumb, could understand what People said meerly by the moving of their Lips. It is famously known that Mr. Crisp of London, could do the like. Borellus giveth an account of one that lost his Hearing by a violent Disease when he was five years old, yet if they did but whisper to him, he could by their Lips perceive what they said. There is one now living (or that not many years since was so) in Silesia in whom that Disease of the Small Pox caused a total Deafness; who nevertheless, by exact observing the motion of Mens Lips, can understand what they say; and if they do but Whisper he perceives what they say better than if they vociferate never so loudly. He attends upon publick Sermons, being able to give an account of what is delivered, provided he may but see the Preacher speaking, though he cannot hear a word. It is consistent with reason that Mutes should understand what others say by the motion of their Lips, since it is evident that the lips are of great use in framing Speech. Hence Iob calls his speech, the moving of his lips, Chap. 16. Ver. 5, and we know that tongueless persons by the help of their lips and other Organs of speech have been able to speak. Ecclesiastical story informs us of several Confessors of the truth, who after their Tongues were cut out by bloody Persecutors could still bear witness to the truth. Honorichius (that cruel King of the Vandals) caused the Tongues of many to be violently pluckt out of their mouths; Who after that could speak as formerly: Only two of them when they became guilty of the sin of Uncleanness were able to speak no more; this has been attested by three credible Witnesses who knew the persons: See Mr. Baxter's Church History, P. 130. There is lately Published (in Latin) a very strange Relation of a Child in France (his Name was Peter Durand) who being visited with the Small Pox when he was about six years old, his Tongue putrified, and was quite consumed. After which (the Uvula in his Mouth being longer than it was before) he could by the help of the other Organs of Speech discourse as plainly as if he had never lost his Tongue. These things are marveilous. And yet I have lately met with a passage more strange than any of these related. There is (or was in the Year 1679.) living near Kerchem in Germany, a Man (his name is Iohn Algair) who suddenly lost the use of his Speech: the case has been so with him, that fourteen years together, he can never speak but at one hour of the Day, just as the Sun cometh to the Meridian he has the liberty of his Speech for an hour and no more; so that he knoweth exactly when it is twelve a Clock, because then he can speak, and not a minute before that, nor a minute after one. This is related in the Germanic Ephemerides of Miscellaneous Curiosities, for the Year 1679. Observat. 188. It is evident that the Sun has a marvelous influence as to some Diseases, which the bodies of Men are subject unto. For in Egypt though the Plague rage the day before, on that very day when the Sun enters into Leo, it ceaseth, when also the Floods of Nilus abate, as Geographers inform us.
Moreover, it is possible by Art to teach those that are by nature Deaf and Dumb to speak. The Dectylogy of Beda is pretty, whereby Men speak as nimbly with the fingers as with the tongue; taking five fingers of the one hand for Vowels, and the several positions of the other for Consonants. But that Deaf persons may learn to speak, happy experience hath proved, and that by many Instances. A Castro has given an account of the method by him successfully observed in teaching a Boy to speak that was born Deaf. After the use of some purgative medicines, he caused the Hair to be shaved off from his head, over the Coronal …uture; and then frequently anointed the shaven place with a mixture of Aqua vitae, Salt peter, Oyl of Butter, Almonds, &c. Having done this, he began to speak to the deaf person (not at his Ear, but) at his Coronal …uture; and there after the use of Unctions and Emunctions the sound would pierce, when at his Ears it could not enter, so did he by degrees teach him to speak (vide Ephem. German. Anno 1670. Observat. 35.) But others have with good effect, followed another kind of method. There was a Spanish Noble Man (Brother to the Constable of Castile) who being born Deaf and consequently Dumb from his Infancy, Physitians had long in vain tried Experiments for his Relief. At last a certain Priest undertook to teach him to speak. His attempt was at first laughed at, but within a while the Gentleman was able (notwithstanding his Deafness still remained) to converse and discourse with any Friend. he was taught to speak by putting a cord about his Neck, and straitning or losening the same, to advertise him when to open or shut his Mouth, by the Example of his Teacher. Nor was there any difference found between his Speech and that of other Men, only that he did not regulate his voice, speaking commonly too high (vid. Conferences of Virtuosi P. 215.) Not long since Fran. Mercur. Helmont, designing to teach a Deaf man to speak, concluded it would be more easily practicable if the experiment were made with an Eastern wide-mouthed Language, which does remarkably expose to the Eye the motions of the Lips, Tongue and Throat. Accordingly he tried with the Hebrew Tongue; & in a short time his Dumb Schollar became an excellent Hebrician. Others have lately been as successful in their attempts to cause Deaf persons to speak and understand the Europaean Languages. We need not go out of our own Nation, for there we find living Instances. In the Philosophical Transactions for the Year 1670. Numb. 61. an account is given concerning Mr. Daniel Whaley of North-Hampton in England; who by an accident lost his Hearing when he was about five years of age; and so his Speech, not at once, but by degrees in about half a years time. In the Year 1661. The Learned and Ingenious Dr. Wallis of Oxford, undertook to teach the Deaf Gentleman to speak and write. Nor did the Doctor fail in attaining his end. For in the space of one year, the Dumb man had read over great part of the English Bible, and had attained so much skill as to express himself intelligibly in ordinary affairs, to understand Letters written to him, and to write Answers to them. And when Forreigners out of curiosity came to visit him, he was able to pronounce the most difficult words of their Language (even polish it self) which any could propose unto him. Nor was this the only person on whom the Doctor shewed his skill, but he has since done the like for another (a Gentleman of a very good Family) who did from his Birth want his Hearing. Likewise Dr. Holder in his late Book about the natural production of Letters, giveth Rules for the teaching of the Deaf and Dumb to speak.
I have the rather mentioned these things; for that there are several others in this Countrey who are Deaf and Dumb; whenas if they had an ingenious Instructor; I am abundantly satisfied that they might be taught to speak, their Deafness notwithstanding. Nor is this more difficult than it is to learn those that are blind to write; which though some may think it impossible and incredible, there is (or at least three years ago there was) a living Instance to convince them. For in the Weekly Memorials for the Ingenious, lately published at London (in Page 80.) I find an observable passage which I shall here cause to be transc…ibed and inserted. From the Journal des Scavans, set forth March 25. 1680.
An Extract of a Letter written from Lyons, by M. Spon. M. D. &c. concerning a Remarkable Particular.
Esther Elizabeth van Waldkirk, Daughter of a Merchant of Shaffhausen, residing at Geneva, aged at present nineteen years, having been blind from two Moneths old, by a Distemper falling on her Eyes, nevertheless hath been put on to the study of Learning by her Father, so that she understands perfectly French, High-Dutch and Latin; she speaks ordinarily Latin with her Father, French with her Mother, and HighDutch with the People of that Nation; she hath almost the whole Bible by heart; is well skill'd in Philosophy; plays on the Organs and Violin; and which is wonderful in this condition, she hath learned to write, by an invention of her Fathers, after this manner:
There was cut for her upon a Board, all the Letters of the Alphabet, so deep as to feel the figures with her fingers, and to follow the traces with a Pencil, till that she had accustomed her self to make the Characters. Afterwards they made for her a Frame, which holds fast her Paper when she will write, and which guids her hand to make straight Lines; she writes with a Pencil rather than with Ink, which might either foul her Paper, or by failing, might cause her to leave words imperfect. 'Tis after this manner that she writes often in Latin to her Friends, as well as in the other two Languages.
But thus much may suffice to be spoken about Mutes, and the possibility of their being taught intelligibly to express themselves, though their deafness should still remain. I now proceed unto things of another nature: And the next Remarkable which we shall take notice of, is, concerning one now in Hull in New-England (viz. Lieutenant Collier) who about sixteen years ago, being sensible of pain in his throat, made use of the common Remedies in that case, but to little effect. At last the pain about those parts became very extream, especially when he drank any Beer, nor was he able to swallow without much difficulty, so that he lived upon Water and liquid Substances. After he had been for some time in this misery, a Stone appeared under his Tongue, which though visible to the Eye, continued there for some dayes before it was taken out; and at last of it self fell into his mouth, (and so into his hands) leaving an hose behind it at the Roof of his Tongue. This Stone I have by me, whilest I w…ite this, only some part of it is broken away; that which remains, weighs twelve Grains. The person concerned, affirms, that it was first of a yellowish Colour, but now it is white, not being an inch in length, in shape somewhat resembling a Mans Tongue. But that which made the matter the more strange, was, that when he had occasion to void Urin, he was in as much pain as if the Stone had been in his Bladder or Kidney; for when his Urin passed from him, he was usually put into a Sweat with pain and anguish; the reason whereof I shall leave unto the more curious Inquisitors into Nature to determine. There are Lapideous Humors in the Bodies of men, occasioned sometimes by Colds, sometimes by ill Diet which are apt to become Stones. It is related by the late German Curiesi, that in the year 1655. a Person of quality in… Dantzick was much afflicted with a painful Tumor in his Tongue, a skilful Chirurgeon perceiving a Stone there, cut it out, upon which the Patient recovered, the Stone being as big as a small Olive. The like hapned to another in the Year 1662. Again in the Year 1678. a Gentlewoman in Gr…nberg, having been for several Years in the Spring and in the Fall aff…icted with a pain in her tongue, at last the pain became intollerable, untill a Stone as big as a a Filberd… Nut came out of her Tongue, upon which she had ease. In the Philosophical Transactions, for the Year 1672. Page 4062. an account is given of a Man in England who had a Stone breeding under his Tongue, occasioned by his suffering much cold in a Winter Sea-Voyage. Not long after his Landing, he found an hard lump in the place where the Stone was generated. There were eight years between the time of the Stones first breeding and its being taken away. Upon a fresh cold-taking he suffered much pain, but when his cold was over his pain ceased. At last it caused a swelling about his throat, especially at the first draught of Beer at Meals. The last Summer of his af…iction, the Stone caused him to be vertiginous; and some dayes before its excision, such an abundance of Rheume and Spittle f…owed out of his his Mouth, as would presently wet all the Bed about him. The Stone weiged but seven Grains, being much of the shape of our ordinary Horse-beans. This Stone was by judicious Observators judged to be one of those Tumors called Atheroma, and therefore the Name they would have it called by, is Lapis Atheromatis. Stones have been taken out of the Jovnts of many Gouty persons, some cold Imposthume arising in their joynts before. Senner…us, Flat…rus, Barth…linus, Skenckius, and other learned Men have observed that Humane Bodies are subject to p…trification in every part of them, and many notable Instances to this purpose are mentioned in the Philosophical Transactions at London; and by the Curiesi in forreign Countries. I presume it will not be unacceptable unto such as have not those Books, for me to relate some Examples out of them to our present purpose. There was then, a Man who being troubled with a Catarrh and obstruction of Urin, when a Vein was opened there came four Stones out of it. Again a person that was much afflicted with a Distillation of Rhume. And another that was continually imployed in preparing Lime. Small stones bred in their Lungs, many of which (as big as Peas) were Coughed up. A Stone as big as a Gooses Egg was found adhaering to the Liver of the Countess of Nadasti. One that died by a violent pain in his head, there was found a Stone therein between the Dura and the Pia Mater. A Woman that died by Nephretick Pains, the Physitian found her left Kidney to be filled with large Stones, as for the right Kidney the substance of it was converted into a perfect Stone. In the same year there was an Ox near Padua, in Italy, which could by no means be made fat; but was observed to be strangely stupid, and to hold down his head after an unusual manner; they that killed him, found that his Brains were petrified, being as hard as Marble. The like hapned to another Ox in Suecia. Nor are Humane Bodies wholly free from the like Petrification; for Anatomists of good credit, affirm that they have known several dissected by them, whose Brains were in part petrified. Nay the heart it self is not exempted from this Misery. There were three Stones found in the Heart of the Emperour Maximilian II. It is no less strange that Bones should be generated in the Lungs, Heart, and other Bowels. Nothing in nature seems more mysterious than that which hapned to the Brother of the illustrious Caspar Horwath, a Baron in the Kingdom of Hungaria, who having been for some … Consumptive, after his Death the … opened him, and found in the midst of … heart (which was very much dried) a Bone like an Almond, perfectly expressing the genuine Effigies of the dead Gentleman, representing his very Beard, and all the feature… of his face so exactly, as that it was not possible for any Artist to have drawn a Pic…e more like the Person, than Nature had performed in this Bone (vide Germ. Ethem. …n. 1671. O…serv. 40. P. 72.) Moreover, credible Hi…tories Report, that in Africa, the Bo…s of Men (and of other Animals) have been turned into perfect Stones. Nor is that much less prodigious which … reports concerning a Tailors Wife (her … was C…lu…ba Chatry) who having … with Child, the usual time for Deliver being come, was in great pain, and other … of Birth appeared, yet she was never Delivered, but lived twenty eight yea…s in much mis…ry, still retaining her Burden. … Death, the Physitians foun… … Child within her was turned into … Med. Lib. 4. Part 2. C…p. 8. … hath … this. And within a … a thing as prodigious and aston…ng (though without any Lapidification) as any of the fo…mer Relations. For in the Year 1652. the Wife of Iohn … get at T…louse in France, being with Child and come to her f…ll time, was in travailing pains, but no Child followed. For the space of twenty years she perceived the Child to stir, with many t…oublesome symptoms accompanying; but for the six last years of her life, she perceived it not to move; falling sick she requested a Chirurgeon to open her after she was dead; that being done, a Child was found in her Body, neither Putrifi…d nor yet petrified. All the inward parts of the Child were discoloured with a blackishness, except the heart, which was red, and without any issuing blood. This Infant weighed eight pound Averdupoise. The Mother died, Iune 18. 1678. being about the sixty fourth year of her Age. I should hardly give credit to a Story so stupendous and incredible, were it not mentioned in the Philosophical transactions (No. 139. P. 979. as a thing most undoubtedly true. But to conclude the Discourse we are upon, I shall only add here, that it is not so strange for Stones to breed in all parts of the Bodies of Men, as for Plants, and diverse sorts of Animals to be formed therein: Yet many Authors have attested to this. And a late Writer affirms that there was not long since a Woman who having drunk Stagnating Water out of a Pond where Frogs used to keep, grew Cachectical, and swelled so as that she was thought to be Hydropical. One Evening walking near the Ponds where the Frogs croked, she perceived Frogs to croke in her Belly. Acquainting a Physitian, he gave her a strong Cathartick, whereupon she cast up two living Frogs pretty large, green on their back and yellow under their bellies, and voided three dead by siege, with a great deal of greenish Serum, after which she was well disposed. Again in the Year 1680. A Man living near Lyons in France, voided a Worm seven Ells long, scaly like a Serpent, and hairy. See the Weekly Memorials for the Ingenious, P. 67, 82, 100.