Excerpt from A Narrative of the Case of Miss. Margaret McAvoy: With an Account of Some Optical Experiments Connected With It

And generally retired to her chamber, where none but those of the family were likely to come. An accident convinced her relatives that her power of smelling was acute and refined in an astonishing degree, and at least equal to the exquisite sensibility of her touch. The same relation who had been the means of discovering that she possessed the power of distinguishing colours, one day visited the family, went up to this lady's chamber, and entreated her to go down and sit with her amongst the rest of the family, assm'ing her that there was no other person present; to this she at last consented and went down to the parlour door; but the moment the door was opened, she turned back and retired to her own chamber much displeased, alleging that there were strangers in the room, and that an attempt had been made to deceive her. That strangers were present, was really the case, but the lady was not aware of it, they having come in while she was above stairs. When informed of the real state of the circumstance, she was pacified; and upon being asked afterwards how she knew there were strangers in the room, she answered by the smell. The difference between those with whom she was well acquainted and strangers was more readily distinguished than one acquaintance from another, and she seemed to require other assistance than the sense of smell. As amean of making themselves known to her, they usually presented their hands, which she felt. The form and temperature of the hand produced generally the necessary distinction but she sometimes was accustomed to span the wrist and measure the fingers. A.lady with whom she was well acquainted, coming in one very hot day after having walked a mile.

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