The dependency of the individual on the
sense of touch for his knowledge of the external
world is dramatically illustrated by the
case of the young English woman, Sheila
Hocken”5y”fi who, for nearly 30 years from
birth, lived as a blind person. After recovering
her sight she had to learn what everything
was. As she explained, “The eye picks
up a visual picture, but translates it and
sends impulses to the brain. And I am afraid
my brain did not know what to do with them.
So everything I saw I had to touch.“Information
about things that could not be obtained
by touch she would either smell or taste.
Individuals who have become blind after
having led a sighted life also become, as is
well known, dependent upon touch for the
recognition of objects in the external world.