Scientific Intelligence. — Zoology, 381 



instance, from a vow, &c. The first has nothing alarming in 

 it ; the second, on the contrary, is very difficult to overcome. 

 The dryness of their mouth causes many maniacs to think that 

 earth has been nuxed up with their food, or that spoiled meat 

 has been given them, &c. &c. After a very interesting exami- 

 nation of the illusions which arise from the aheration of the 

 other senses, tlie author closes his memoir with the following 

 conclusions : 1*^, Illusions are the result of the actions of the 

 sentient extremities, and of the reaction of the nervous centre. 

 J2J, Illusions are caused as frequently by the anomalous excite- 

 ment of the internal organs, as by that of the external senses. 

 3J, Illusions set reason astray, with respect to the nature and 

 cause of the impressions actually received, and excite the indi- 

 vidual to acts mere or less irrational. 4M, Sex, education, pro- 

 fession, habit, by modifying cerebral action, modify the charac- 

 ter of illusions. 5th, Illusions assume the character of the ideas 

 as well as of the passions which predominate in the persons af- 

 fected. 6^/t, Illusions cannot be confounded with hallucinations, 

 since, in the latter, the brain alone is excited. 7M, Finally, 

 reason dissipates the illusions of the man who is sound in mind, 

 whilst it is unable to destroy the illusions of maniacs. — Dublin 

 Jour, of Med. and 6hem. Hist. No. vii. p. 136. 



4. Remarkable case of Obesity in the Human Species, — At a 

 late meeting of the Royal Society of London, a relation by Mr 

 Pettigrew of the occurrence of a remarkable case of obesity in the 

 person of J. H. Kirman, a boy about eleven years old, was read. 

 The subject of the paper was present at the meeting. His features 

 are pleasing, and expressive of that simplicity which frequently 

 marks the countenance of early boyhood, and contrasts strangely 

 with his bulky person. He was born in Lincolnshire, and was 

 not remarkable at his birth, nor, indeed, until three years ago. 

 He had tiien a fractured limb, or something of that sort, and 

 was obliged to remain much in a state of rest ; a similar acci- 

 dent followed, which met, of course, with similar treatment : 

 then it was that he began to increase so remarkably in size. 

 He weighs 14 st. 2 lb., and measures — 



In height, .... 6 feet. 



Across the chest, ... 45 inches. 



Across the abdomen, . . 44 inches. 



Calf of the leg, . . . 104 inches. 



