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Story October 9, 1834

Martinsburg Gazette

Martinsburg, Berkeley County, West Virginia

What is this article about?

In Paris's Salpêtrière, an extremely idiotic girl who cannot speak or dress herself displays extraordinary musical aptitude, accurately repeating tunes after one hearing and reacting with frenzy to piano performances, though phrenology shows no musical brain bump.

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OCR Quality

98% Excellent

Full Text

The Musical Idiot—There is at present in the Salpetriere (at Paris) a girl idiotic to an extreme degree, who does not speak, and cannot even dress herself. However her keeper has recently discovered in her a decided taste for music, and a more than ordinary aptitude for retaining and repeating airs. She often can repeat faithfully a whole passage of music played or sung to her only once; more than this, even if the passage be left incomplete, in repeating it she will terminate it in the right key and tone. A first rate performer on the piano was brought to play to her, and her transports almost amounted to frenzy. At certain passages of rapid transitions from flats to sharps, she uttered cries of transport, and commenced eating her fingers to calm her emotions. She is an immense eater, and greedily snatches at fruit if presented to her; but if, at the moment when she is about to put them into her mouth, she hears the sound of the instrument, she suddenly stops, and does not commence eating until the music has ceased. An able phrenologist, who has examined her head, has not found the corresponding bump of music developed.

What sub-type of article is it?

Medical Curiosity Curiosity Prodigy

What themes does it cover?

Madness Misfortune

What keywords are associated?

Musical Idiot Idiocy Music Aptitude Phrenology Salpetriere Frenzy Savant Like Talent

What entities or persons were involved?

The Girl Her Keeper First Rate Performer Able Phrenologist

Where did it happen?

Salpetriere (At Paris)

Story Details

Key Persons

The Girl Her Keeper First Rate Performer Able Phrenologist

Location

Salpetriere (At Paris)

Story Details

An extremely idiotic girl in Paris's Salpêtrière cannot speak or dress herself but shows exceptional musical talent, repeating full or incomplete passages accurately after one exposure, reacting with frenzied excitement to piano music, prioritizing it over eating, though phrenology reveals no musical brain development.

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