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Description

Martin describes the case of a man in Straharig [Scotland] who was deaf and mute until the age of 17, when he sufferent from a violent fever. He was bled and recovered, but then had a similar episode a few months later. After recovering from the second fever, he gradually began to hear, understand speech, and then speak. Martin then describes treatments in the Scottish Highlands for smallpox, pain relief, and dystentery.

Subject: Medicine

Published in Philosophical Transactions as 'A relation of a deaf and dumb person, who recover'd his speech and hearing after a violent fever: with some other medicinal and chirurgical observations'.

Read to the Royal Society on 12 November 1707.

Reference number
CLP/14i/61
Earliest possible date
1707
Physical description
Ink on paper
Page extent
1 page
Format
Manuscript

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Citation

Paper, regarding a deaf and mute man who was cured after a fever by Martin Martin, 1707, CLP/14i/61, The Royal Society Archives, London, https://makingscience.royalsociety.org/items/clp_14i_61/paper-regarding-a-deaf-and-mute-man-who-was-cured-after-a-fever-by-martin-martin, accessed on 17 July 2026

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  • Classified Papers

    The 'Classified Papers' of the Royal Society are papers from British and international natural philosophers and scholars categorised according to subject areas.

    Dates: 1592 - 1741

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