FORMS OF MENTAL DEFECT AND DERANGEMENT. 45 



brains, or are produced by the presence of cerebral hydatids, 

 or by cerebral ramollissement ; that they are most frequently 

 associated with the lymphatic temperament, and with various 

 morbid bodily conditions, including vices of conformation or 

 structure, articular nodosities, and superficial growths. Both 

 he and Houzeau speak of animal idiots or imbeciles as cre- 

 tins, while, however, they give no evidence of the associa- 

 tion of goitre with idiocy. 



I have elsewhere shown 1 that goitre occurs in many ani- 

 mals; for instance, in Switzerland, where the goitrous 

 condition is so common in the human idiot the cretin. 

 Though there is every probability of their concurrence, there 

 is as yet, so far as I am aware, no proof of the concomitance 

 of goitre and idiocy in the same animals, that is, of the 

 existence of cretinism proper. It is most desirable that such 

 a concomitance of morbid mental and bodily conditions 

 should be carefully looked for wherever human cretinism 

 exists ; and I venture this suggestion in the hope that those 

 who have opportunities of studying cretinism in man, will 

 not fail to make inquiry as to the existence of a similar con- 

 dition in other animals. 



Mental imbecility, however stupidity, non-intelligence 

 is not associated only with physical deformity or disease ; for, 

 as Pierquin points out, it co-exists sometimes in the horse 

 and dog, just as in man or woman, with physical or personal 

 beauty. The incongruity, however, is as great and as un- 

 usual in the lower as in the higher animal. 



Whether associated with physical beauty or deformity, 

 with health or disease, limited or defective intellect, deficient 

 or impaired mental power or action renders an animal use- 

 less for any of man's purposes. 



Pierquin describes what in man would be called acute 

 dementia in a parrot as the result of fright or fear. It was 

 on board ship during a naval battle. Previously a lively 

 and intelligent ship pet, it showed its terror by cowering 

 during the fight, became insensible to the usual civilities 

 offered to it, acquired a dull stupid look, and made mono- 



1 ' Community of Disease in Man and other Animals.' Reprint from the 

 ' British and Foreign Medico- Chirurgical Review ' for January 1874. P. 17. 



