102 On Idiotism. 
cessory nerves, and the blood from the lateral 
sinuses, were observed diminished in size; the 
cuneiform process was void of its natural con- 
cavity: and thatportion of the occipital bone 
which contains the cerebellum was diminished 
nearly two-thirds in size. All the cir- 
cumstances enumerated lead to the opinion 
that the cerebrum is prematurely and largely 
developed, whilst the cerrebellum and medulla 
oblongata are lessened and defective in their 
organization. 
It has been thought that the formation of 
the cranuim influenced the developement of 
the brain; but there are numerous facts 
which shew, that the formation of the cra- 
nium is completely modified by the changes 
which the internal organs undergo. It is to 
allow this adaptation of the coverings to the 
part covered, which constitutes a necessity 
for the sutures; and it is owing to them that 
various changes of configuration take place 
in childhood and youth without destroying 
life, which could not occur after the sutures 
are closed. 
The contracted state of the holes at the 
base of the cranium, and particularly the 
openings through which the blood passes from 
the lateral sinuses, seem to shew that the 
nerves transmitted through them are small, 
