a general sense, signifies a person that cannot speak, or has not the use of speech.

Love, a person that stands dumb or speechless when he ought to answer, or to plead. See Arraignment.

Grammar, a letter which yields no sound without the addition of a vowel. The simple consonants are distinguished into mutes and liquids, or semivowels. See the articles Consonant, Liquid, &c.

The mutes in the Greek alphabet are nine, three of which, viz. π, ρ, τ, are termed tenues; three θ, ψ, φ, termed mediae; and three χ, ξ, ζ, termed aspirata. See the article Aspirate, &c.

The mutes of the Latin alphabet are also nine, viz. B, C, D, G, I, K, P, Q, T.

MUTILATION, the retrenching or cutting away any member of the body.

This word is also extended to statues and buildings, where any part is wanting, or the projection of any member, as a cornice or an impost, is broken off. It is sometimes also used in a more immediate manner for castration: (See Castration and Eunuch.) The practice of this sort of mutilation is of various kinds: the Hottentots are said to cut away one testicle from their children upon supposition that they are thereby made lighter and more active for running. In other countries, poor people completely mutilate their boys, Mutilation to prevent the misery and want which would attend their offspring. Those who have nothing in view but the improvement of a vain talent, or the formation of a voice which disfigures nature, as was the case formerly in Italy, are contented with cutting away the testicles. But in some countries of Asia, especially among the Turks, and in a part of Africa, those whom jealousy inspires with distrust would not think their wives safe in the custody of such eunuchs: They employ no slaves in their seraglios who have not been deprived of all the external parts of generation.

Amputation is not the only means of accomplishing this end. Formerly, the growth of the testicles was prevented, and their organization destroyed by simple rubbing, while the child was put into a warm bath made of a decoction of plants. Some pretend that by this species of castration the life is in no danger. Amputation of the testicles is not attended with much danger; but complete amputation of the external parts of generation is often fatal. This operation can only be performed on children from seven to ten years of age. Eunuchs of this kind, owing to the danger attending the operation, cost in Turkey five or six times more than others. Chardin relates, that this operation is so painful and dangerous after 15 years of age, that hardly a fourth part of those by whom it is undergone escape with life. Pietro della Valle, on the contrary, informs us, that in Persia those who suffer this cruel and dangerous operation as a punishment for rapes and other crimes of this kind, are easily cured though far advanced in life; and that nothing but ashes is applied to the wound.

There are eunuchs at Constantinople, throughout all Turkey, and in Persia, of a gray complexion: they come for the most part from the kingdom of Golconda, the peninsula on this side the Ganges, the kingdoms of Assan, Aracan, Pegu, and Malabar. Those from the gulf of Bengal are of an olive colour. There are some white eunuchs who come from Georgia and Circassia, but their number is small. The black eunuchs come from Africa, and especially from Ethiopia. These, in proportion to their horrible appearance, are the more esteemed and cost dearer. It appears that a very considerable trade is carried on in this species of men; for Tavernier informs us, that when he was in the kingdom of Golconda, in the year 1657, 22,000 eunuchs were made it it. In that country they are sold at the fairs.

The object of improving the voice by means of this species of mutilation, it is said, often fails; for of 2000 victims to the luxury and extravagant caprices of the art, hardly three are found who unite good talents with good organs. The other languishing and inactive wretches are, in some measure, outcasts from both sexes, and paralytic members in the community. But let us pay the tribute which is due to that virtuous pontiff Pope Clement VIII. who, listening to the voice of modesty and humanity, proscribed and abolished this detestable and infamous practice. Mutilation, he declared was the most abominable and disgraceful of crimes.