1870.] On Idiocy. 57 



She can run a little, and sits up ; moreover, she can get in and out 

 of bed herself. The features are irregular, the eyes are deep-set, 

 and the nose is small and flat. The lower jaw is large and pro- 

 minent at the chin. There is some power of expression in the 

 muscles of the face. She squints with one eye, but sees well, being 

 incapable, however, of having her visual attention directed. The 

 eyes wander much, and are also often fixed with an unmeaning 

 " brown study " stare. The ears are large, and then sense is acute. 

 She is fond of music, and will listen sometimes. The senses of 

 smell and taste are natural, and there is no excess of saliva. The 

 hands are clumsy, and she can spoon her food, but she cannot 

 dress herself. She makes herself useful by holding things. She 

 has slight memory, which is restricted to persons and things with 

 which she is in constant contact. She remembers a few names. 

 She has a few ideas and fancies, and is very sensitive to external 

 impressions, although the result is transitory. She has ideas of self- 

 preservation, and is occasionally very passionate, but usually is 

 placid, good, affectionate, and obedient. She is incapable of being 

 taught anything, except a few household matters. 



A girl, aged eleven years. She is tall and thin, and has a 

 narrow and flat forehead. The face is large, and the mouth also. 

 It is generally open, showing the ragged teeth, and permitting 

 some slavering. The face is expressionless, the eyes are not often 

 fixed, but the head is constantly turned about, looking for new 

 objects. She has slight powers of speech. The body and limbs 

 are well formed ; the walking is very badly performed ; the mus- 

 cular co-ordination is defective, and she is much given to jerking 

 movements. She is gay, very full of fun, and affectionate, and 

 occasionally passionate. The memory is very weak, and the 

 powers of comparing, of perceiving intellectually, and of attending, 

 barely exist, but the attention can be attracted. 



A girl, aged twelve years, has a small head with a high sugar- 

 loaf shape, Chinese-looking eyes, and a long, projecting lower lip. 

 The face is very placid, without expression when she is quiet, but 

 there is much capacity for expression. The eyes are weak, and she 

 stares long and fixedly ; the nose is flat. She is lop-eared, but 

 hears fairly well; she listens indifferently, and sucks her large 

 tongue. The teeth are deficient and bad. The body is well formed, 

 the legs are long and straight, but the arms are bowed. She walks 

 and runs badly. She speaks a few words. The memory, percep- 

 tion, and attention are at a very low ebb. She is listless and seden- 

 tary, bashful, good-tempered, gay, and knows those about her. She 

 is obedient, and knows what is expected of her. 



A stout and well-made boy, aged eight years, has a well-formed 

 body and limbs. The shape of the head is good, and the face is 

 large. Its expression varies. The eyes are well formed, but he 



