New Physiognomy : or signs of character, as manifested through temperament and external forms, and especially in the "the human face divine." . s kind and affectionate to everybody. As a general rule, however, we may add, idiots are evenmore deficient in moral sentiments than in intellect. Theyseldom have any appreciation of sacred subjects, or any con-ciousness of responsibility for their acts. • A case is mentioned of an idiot—doubtless a natural clairvoyant, whopossessed the mysterious faculty of telling the time of day or night to thesecond, without watch or clock, and yet was an absolute
New Physiognomy : or signs of character, as manifested through temperament and external forms, and especially in the "the human face divine." . s kind and affectionate to everybody. As a general rule, however, we may add, idiots are evenmore deficient in moral sentiments than in intellect. Theyseldom have any appreciation of sacred subjects, or any con-ciousness of responsibility for their acts. • A case is mentioned of an idiot—doubtless a natural clairvoyant, whopossessed the mysterious faculty of telling the time of day or night to thesecond, without watch or clock, and yet was an absolute idiot, in all otherrespects being incapable of the least improvement. Ask him at any time,whether having been awake for hours or aroused from a sound sleep, What time is it V and he instantly replies, Thirteen minutes and a halfpast four, or whatever the time might be. Scientific men have visitedhim, but have been unable to account for the possession of this singular fac-ulty ; which is not at all strange, for scientific men who reject phrenol-ogy are unable to account for many other simple and natural phenomena. CAUSES OF IDIOCY 355. CAUSES OF IDIOCY. The causes of idiocy are as numerous as those of other in-firmities : intemperate parents; a debilitated condition of thebody ; anxiety; grief; habitual melancholy; dyspepsia; fear;abuse of*the physical system, orinattention thereto; unbridledpassion ; hereditary predisposi-tion to imbecility 5 neglect of themother on the part of the father,at critical periods j insanity, far the most prolific causeof idiocy is in the intemperateuse of alcoholV. stimulants, by rig. 449. one or both of the—to become—parents. Excessive medica-tion, or wro2)g medical treatment, is also a csiuse of idiocy, im-becilityj mrJformations, dwarfs, and other imperfect organiza-tions. T-smperate habits, right living, and careful conformityto the law^s of our being—physical, mental, and spiritual—would be a 23reventive against this calamit
Size: 1840px × 1358px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, booksubjectphrenology, booksubjectphysiognomy
