128 STUPIDITY. 



5. Cerebral or other organic or functional disease such 

 as sturdy : 



And more permanent and constitutional stupidity. 



The stupidity of semi-stupor is sometimes produced 

 artificially or experimentally, for special reasons or purposes, 

 by other animals as well as by man. Thus the now well- 

 known Dr. Russell of the Times, in his letters descriptive of 

 the Indian journey of the Prince of Wales in 1875-76, tells 

 us that i there is nothing which so pleases a captive beast (a 

 tamed elephant) .... as to batter one of his free brethren 

 into such a state of stupidity and weakness that he is unable 

 to frustrate the arts of the snarer, who slips the rope and 

 chain round his legs and leads him into servitude.' 



Whether and how far stupidity is improvable, remediable, 

 or removable depends obviously on its nature and causation. 

 That which is only apparent, which is confined to the 

 young, ignorant, and inexperienced, is probably temporary 

 merely, and will disappear with maturity, knowledge, and 

 experience; while that which depends upon old age, or 

 mental defect or disorder of any kind, may be unim- 

 provable, irremediable, hopeless, and permanent. There is, 

 in point of fact, however, comparatively little of it fortunately 

 of the latter character, and on the other hand, a great deal 

 that it lies in man's power to correct or remove, simply by 

 his own improved behaviour towards, or treatment of, such 

 animals as the ass. 



It is of interest to note that animals recognise stupidity 

 not only in each other, but also in man. Parent animals 

 correct the stupidity of their young, which arises mainly 

 from errors of inexperience, ignorance, or thoughtlessness. 

 For when stupidity of what may be called an organic or 

 constitutional kind exists when there is any mental want 

 in one of its offspring a want that renders the latter less 

 able to fend for itself than its brethren, or unable to do so 

 at all it is on this helpless member of her family that the 

 animal mother lavishes the wealth of her attention. 



On the other hand, sporting dogs not unfrequently detect 

 and show their irritation at the sportsman's stupidity, his 

 dilatoriness or awkwardness (Adams), just as the horse so 



