236 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



idiot, aged fifteen, -unable to pronounce a single word, incapable 

 of receiving the most elementary education, able to hum correctly 

 and gracefully a large number of airs, and who did so every day, 

 always the same and always in the same order, without variation. 

 While the family was fond of singing, the idiot had never heard 

 any one sing except the father and mother. 



A young woman whom I examined not long ago is an idiot of 

 low grade, without ability to converse or care for herself, yet 

 presenting a marvelous memory for music, reproducing, both by 

 singing and on the piano, numerous musical compositions. Some 

 intricate instrumental pieces she renders accurately with her 

 voice in a high falsetto key. Several of her sisters are musicians. 



Dagonet {Traiie des maladies mentales) cites the case of an 

 idiot girl who began to speak at the age of nine years, but was 

 possessed of a very small vocabulary, and was ignorant of notes. 

 She had a remarkable aptitude for music, and could repeat upon 

 the piano compositions heard for the first time. She was the 

 daughter of distinguished musicians. 



Morel {Etudes cliniques) records the history of an idiot boy 

 who, becoming possessed of a drum, made such rapid progress in 

 its use in three or four attempts at playing that he was made 

 drummer in the orchestra at the asylum where he lived. His 

 father and grandfather had been drummers in the army, and a 

 normal brother had always had the desire to follow the same 

 pursuit. 



In this class of idiots savants also it is to be noted that the 

 idiocy is congenital. We observe, too, that the musical faculty, 

 although well developed in contrast to the general intellectual 

 paucity, is not of a high order. It consists of a remarkable audi- 

 tory memory, together with the power of expression, by means of 

 the vocal musculature or fingers, of the musical memories stored 

 up in the brain. There is no spontaneous musical expression, no 

 power of invention. An interesting feature is the evident heredi- 

 tary character of the talent. In some of the instances cited the 

 imitation of sounds heard is not restricted to music, but includes 

 sounds of every kind. 



Special Memories. Winslow records the case of a man who 

 remembered the day of burial of every person who had died in 

 the parish for thirty-five years, and who could repeat with perfect 

 accuracy the names and ages of the deceased and of the mourners 

 at the funeral. He was a profound idiot, and could not reply in- 

 telligibly to a single question beyond this, nor be trusted even to 

 feed himself. 



Morel cites the instance of an idiot who was unable to count 

 twenty, yet could name all the saints of the calendar and the days 

 of their respective /e/es. 



