POSTSCRIPT. 61 



to the Royal College of Surgeons, I began 

 my lectures, for reasons which I have fully 



enlarged. He maintains the assertion that the mind, 

 like the body, is imbecile in youth as well as decrepit in 

 age. Now that the processes and evidences of mind 

 should be enfeebled and disturbed by corresponding 

 states of the nervous system would be naturally expected ; 

 but that, under other circumstances, any evident differ- 

 ence in the intellectual functions is observable, is 'an 

 assertion which will, I believe, on examination, be found 

 to be incorrect. 



Children are highly susceptible and prone to con- 

 tinual action. They are vividly affected by every im- 

 pression, most of which also produce on them an effect 

 which novelty gives to subjects even in adult life. Youth 

 is the season for acquiring knowledge : reflection would 

 but retard its attainment, and would be unavailing from 

 deficiency of facts and experience. That the mind is 

 often wayward and irrational in youth as well as in age, 

 is apparent ; but that it exhibits as powerful intellect 

 when excited and when it possesses adequate means for 

 its exertion in childhood, as at any period of life, must, 

 I believe, be acknowledged on a full examination of the 

 subject ; which has been admirably displayed by the 

 writings of Miss Edgeworth. That children also pos- 

 sess the more energetic qualities of mind, those which 

 chiefly ciiaractei-ize its distinct and superior nature, in 

 as great a degree as at any period of life, will .not, I 

 think, be denied by any who has carefully attended to 

 their conduct. Yet surgeons possess particular oppor- 

 tunities of making such remarks, and the communica- 

 tion of instances, which are not to them vei'y uncommon, 

 may be useful in the general consideration of this sub- 



