"In extending the leg, the knee-pan usually " projects, but with Kaspar it lies in a consi"derable cavity. In ordinary cases, the four extending muscles of the lower thigh, the

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large exterior and interior, the straight and deep extending muscles of the lower thigh (musculus vastus externus et internus, m. femoris et cruralis,) join a common sinew, after it is "united with the knee-pan on the Protuberantia "of the shin-bone. In this case, however, the "sinew is separated, and the sinews of the “outer, and inner large extending muscles of "the thigh (musculus vastus externus et internus) pass below the outward and inner side of the Condylus of the shin-bone, join below it the "shin-bone, and between them lies the knee"pan. In this manner, and since these sinews "are formed with unusual strength, this cavity "is occasioned." "When he sits upon the

ground in an horizontal posture, and extends "his legs and thighs, his back forms a right "angle with the thighs, and the hams of the "knees lie straight, and so close to the ground, "that not the smallest cavity is to be perceived "under the hams, between which and the ground "it is hardly possible to pass a card." (10)

CHAPTER III.

THE surprise which the appearance of Kaspar Hauser in Nuremberg had at first excited, was soon afterwards converted into a dark and horrible mystery, the explanation of which was in vain sought by various conjectures. He was neither a madman, nor an idiot, but was so mild, so docile, and so well disposed, that no person could could be inclined to consider this stranger as a savage, or as one who had lived and grown to manhood amongst the beasts of the forest; and, with the exception of the phrases which he repeated like a parrot on the most dissimilar occasions, he exhibited such an absolute deficiency of words and notions as could be compared only to that of a Peschera, such an entire ignorance of the most common objects, and of the most ordinary occurrences of nature, such an indifference, such an aversion to all the customs, conveniences, and wants of life, and, at the same time, such extraordinary singularities in his whole intellectual, moral, and physical condition, that it might be doubted

whether he were a native of another planet, and had by a miracle appeared on this globe, or were the man mentioned by Plato, who, born and grown up under ground, had, in the age of maturity, raised himself to the upper regions and to the light of day.

the smell of our

Kaspar shewed constantly the strongest antipathy to all sorts of food and drink, except dry bread and water. Not only the taste, but even common food, excited in him disgust; and a single drop of wine, coffee, &c. mingled without his knowledge in the water which he drank, produced cold perspirations, vomiting, and headache.* On one occasion, an attempt was made to give him brandy, under the pretence of its being water, (11) but as he raised the glass to his mouth, he turned pale;

* It is a circumstance which must be lamented, that there was not at Nuremberg any person who felt such an interest in science as to make physiological observations upon this young man, who had been fed exclusively with bread and water. They might have led to many scientific and interesting results, and would have proved, and as it were rendered obvious the fact, which judicially was of importance, that such had really been his diet. When, however, the tribunal, after many fruitless attempts, was at length enabled to occupy itself with this affair, the opportunity of making such observations had long since passed away.

and, if he had not been held, would have fallen backwards on a glass door. The attendant on the prisoners having, on one occasion, required him to take some coffee, of which he hardly swallowed a single drop, but was affected with a continued diarrhea. A few drops of beer, brewed from wheat, and much diluted with water, gave him violent pains in the stomach, and occasioned such a heat in his whole body that he broke out into strong perspirations, which were followed by shiverings, headache, and repeated eructations. (12) Even milk, whether in its natural state or boiled, produced eructations, and was not relished by him. Some meat was once concealed in his bread, but he smelled it immediately; and being compelled to eat it, he became instantly very much indisposed.

During the night, which with him began regularly at the setting, and finished with the rising of the sun, (13) he lay upon straw, and during the day he sat upon the floor with his legs straightly extended.

When after a few days he saw before him for the first time a lighted candle, he was delighted with the brilliancy of the flame, and endeavoured to seize it with his fingers, which

he burned, and withdrew amidst tears and cries. In order to make a trial, drawn sabres were as a feint brandished around him, but he remained motionless, did not even wink, and appeared wholly unconscious that he could incur danger from such weapons. * A looking glass being held before him, he endeavoured to grasp his own image, and went to the other side of it to find the man who was concealed behind it. He endeavoured, like a little child, to take hold of every thing which was shining, and wept if he could not reach it, or if it was denied to him.

Some days after his arrival at Nuremberg, he was conducted by two policemen round the town, in order that he might perhaps recognize the gate through which he had entered it. As might have been foreseen, he was unable to distinguish one of them from the other, and appeared in general to take little interest in the objects which passed before his eyes. objects which came near to him he gazed stupidly, and cast upon them only occasionally looks of curiosity or surprise. For the description of the living beings which he saw, he had

On

* It is said, but I cannot, however, vouch for the truth of the assertion, that on one occasion, partly as a joke, and 'partly as a trial, a musket or pistol was fired at him.