Didascalocophus, or, The deaf and dumb mans tutor to which is added a discourse of the nature and number of double consonants, both which tracts being the first (for what the author knows) that have been published upon either of the subjects / by Geo. Dalgarno.

CHAP. III. Of a Deaf mans Capacity to speak. (Book 3)

THAT a Deaf man may be taught to speak, is no more a doubt to me, then that a Blind man may be taught to write: Both which I think not only possi∣ble, but also not very difficult; I will carry on the comparison in several parti∣culars. First, both have the respective Organs, the Tongue, and the Hand, e∣qually entire, and in a capacity to act. 2. Both are equally destitute of their proper guids, the Ey, and the Ear, to di∣rect them in acting: and therefore, 3. both must be equally obliged to the sense of of Feeling for direction.

And yet so Magisterial are the Senses of Hearing, and Seeing; that tho the Sense of Feeling alone may guide the Tongue, and Hand, in speaking, and writing, af∣ter a habit is acquired yet for introducing this habit, directions from the Eye, and Ear are necessary. And which is observ∣able

in this point of discipline: The eye and ear seem to act out of their own Sphere, and to exchange their stations, and powers; for the Blind man learns to write by the Ear, and the Deaf man to speak by the Eye: From which to infer that community of Senses, which some Philosophers, and Physicians speak of, I think would be absurd; the external ob∣jects still remaining distinct: But the true inference from this will be. That the soul can exert her powers, by the ministry of any of the Senses. And therefore when she is deprived of her principal Secreta∣ries, the eye, and the ear; then she must be contented with the service of her Lac∣queys, and Scullions, the other Senses; which are no less true and faithful to their Mistress, then the eye, and the ear; but not so quick for dispatch.

But to go on with the comparison. 4. It will be hard to teach the deaf man to ob∣serve tone, accent, and Emphasis in speak∣ing; so will it be as hard to bring the blind man to write a fair hand, or diverse hands, yet the one may speak so as to be under∣stood, and the other write so as what he

writes may be read. 5. As there may be more simple, and therefore more easy Characters to be written, contrived for the use of the blind man; So may there sounds of an easier pronounciation than any in common use, be invented for the use of the Deaf, 6. They are equally un∣capable the one of singing, the other of flourishing and painting. 7. As the Deaf man has this advantage above the Blind, that speaking in common commerce, and business is of more frequent and greater use than writing: So the Blind man comes even again with him in this. That there is one way of writing, and that of great use too, to the Deaf man; which the blind can learn both assoon and to as great a degree of perfection, as the deaf; whereas the deaf man cannot learn to speak without much time, and pains; and yet can never come to perfection in speak∣ing. This way of writing is, by an Alpha∣bet upon the fingers. 8. As to any direct tendency of improving either of them with knowledg, or dispatch of business and converse in vita communi, I judge them both equally useless, or at least of

no very great use; because I think scarce attainable to that degree of perfection, as to be ready for use upon all occasions. That there may be cases wherein they may be of great use I do not deny.

And of several that offer themselves, I will single out that of a blind Master, and deaf Servant, for stating of which the more clearly; I will premise. 1. That to read and write is a commendation in a ser∣vant. 2. It recommends him the more if he be to serve a blind Master. And 3. if his blind Master be a man of much busi∣ness or learning, this enhanses his service yet the more. These things premised; let our case be this.

Blind Homer hearing of an ingenious, but Deaf slave, called Aesop, who was train∣ed up in all the forementioned waies of Sematology, and he himself being expert in Dactylology, he resolved to purchase Aesop at any rate. The first service he puts him upon, was to write out his Ilias fair, from his own blotted Copy: And because Aesop could scarce read his hand, he was alwaies present himself, correcting the faults of his Pen, upon his fingers. And

here I leave them for a while till I have resolved another material doubt:

That which is my main design in this Treatise (to teach how to come to un∣derstand a language by reading and writ∣ing) suggests to me here to resolve this question. How a blind person might com∣municate with a dumb? The cause of doubting being upon the dumb mans part. I answer. The defect of his Tongue must be supplied with a musical Instru∣ment, having the letters equally distin∣guished upon the Keys, or Strings, both to the Eye of the Dumb, and in the sounds to the Ear of the Blind; which I take for granted might produce the same effects with Oral speech. And here it is observ∣able that that same action would very pro∣perly be, both Writing and Speaking; writing from the hand of the dumb touch∣ing the Keys, or Strings; speaking to the Ears of the Blind man from the sound of the Instrument.

After this short enterlude, let us bring Homer and Aesop upon the stage again. The old man was mightily pleased with Aesop, till unfortunately on a certain

time, the stuttering of his Tongue gave Homer occasion to suspect him of a ly: for which, in a sudden passion, he cuts out his Tongue: But afterwards repenting what he had done, resolved not to put him away; for he considered that he was yet as capable of serving him as ever; and perhaps more, the other waies of inter∣pretation that he was skilled in, being more distinct than Glossology could be in a Deaf man. It happened soon after that Homer had invited some friends to din∣ner, commanding Aesop to provide the greatest rarities the Market did afford. Aesop made a show of great preparation; but set nothing upon the Table, beside the tip of his own Tongue, in a large dish; upbraiding his Master with his pipe, that he did not tear his blotted papers when he could not read them; but had pati∣ence till he himself corrected them upon his fingers. Homer not enduring this af∣front before strangers throws Aesops pype in the fire. Aesop fearing worse to follow, throws himself at his Masters feet taking him by the hand, and by the rules of Hap∣tology begs his pardon, promising if he

would have patience, to make amends for his fault. Homer startled at this, to find both a Tongue, and a Pype, in Aesops fingers; was transported from wrath to fear, and admiration, concluding for cer∣tain, That Aesop was a conjurer, and that he deserved to be thrown in the fire after his pype. Yet resolving once more to try his wit and honesty: and for making sa∣tisfaction to his friends who had lost their dinner, he invites them to return to mor∣row, charging Aesop to provide the oldest, and leanest carrion, he could find. The night following, Aesop serves his blind Master with lex talionis tongue for tongue, and repeated the same dinner to his friends the next day; excusing the mat∣ter, that he had from first to last obeyed his Masters commands, to the best of his judgment. Homer taking it ill, to be so o∣ften outwitted by a slave, by Dactylology begs of his provoked friends, to revenge him upon Aesop, by plucking out his Eyes; that his condition might not be more comfortable than his own. After this old age and a fit of sickness deprived Homer of his Hearing. This reconciled him again to

Aesop; for he judged him the fittest com∣panion he could find, with whom to be∣moan his folly, and misery. After this, they lived good friends, passing the time in telling old stories; some times upon their fingers ends, and sometimes with hand in hand, traversing the Alphabeti∣cal Ilias.

This Drama being acted according to the Rules of Art, if there be any certain∣ty in Art, that the promised effects will follow, is no less true than it seems to be strange. And from this we may learn two things. 1. That tho hearing and seeing be the Principal, yet are they not the only Senses of Knowledg. 2. That the Hand is, (or at least is capable of being made) a more serviceable organ of in∣terpretation to the Soul than the tongue. For it has access to its Mistress's presence, by the door of 3 Senses. 1. Of hearing by Aulology. 2. Of seeing, by both Species of Schematology, to wit, Typology and Dactylology. 3. Of Feeling, by Haptolo∣gy. Whereas the Tongue can only enter by the door of one Sense, and do its mes∣sage only by one kind of interpretation, Glossology.