On Idiotism 103 
and therefore that the brain is in a state of 
feeble action: the same irregularity shews a 
diminished supply of blood, because the holes 
for the exit of blood must correspond to those 
for its entrance, otherwise such congestion 
would take place in early life as to destroy 
the individual so formed, either by the rup- 
ture of a vessel, or by the effusion of water 
into the ventricles, or upon the surface of the 
brain. 
In considering these great defects in the 
conformation of the brain, it is no wonder 
that we see the intellect wholly or partially 
destroyed, whilst the vital and animal func- 
tions are carried on in a very imperfect man- 
ner. Defective organization of the brain, 
is attended with irregular evolutions and 
powers in various other parts of the animal 
economy; and the Idiot though well formed 
in infancy and childhood, becomes deformed, 
and in many instances distorted as he ap- 
proaches to puberty ; and I apprehend that it 
will be generally found, in examining the 
gradations of idiotism, that the defect of 
figure and the defect of intellect, will cor- 
respond with each other. 
