IDIOCY is the non-development of the mental faculties. A dement is deprived of powers which be once possessed; an idiot never, or only imperfectly, possesses such powers. In certain cases, the human form appears scarcely to be animated by intelligence at all; it is a senseless, motionless mass, to which the special senses impart no intimation of an external world, and from which there emanate no manifestations of human love or passion, or perception. The degrees of deprivation are, however, very numerous and sharply defined, so as to suggest different modes of management and training, and different degrees of moral responsibility in the individuals. The general characteristics of the vast majority of idiots may be held to be diminutive stature, gro tesque appearance, inactivity, uncleanly habits, gluttony, obtuse or 'acute sensibility, inability to regulate movements, to articulate, to count, degradation of propensities, and helplessness. The various degrees of their dependence upon others has been estimated thus: of 5'74-53 were as helpless as infants; 74 as children of two years old; 94 as chil dren of seven years old; 138 could engage in simple work with some small profit, if carefully watched and directed; 179 could nearly earn their bread; and 36 could, under due discipline, maintain themselves. In this imbeciles are included. The arrestment of the evolution of intelligence, in whole or in part, may commence and be consummated previous to birth, in consequence of moral impressions, or accidents, or diseases on the part of the mother; during infancy, from defective nutrition or injudi cious management; and during childhood up to puberty, from scrofula, rickets, hydro cephalous, and from unwise interference with the faculties in process of growth. A
large number of idiots are microcephalous, or present heads of very small dimensions; and though they decay and die at an early age, they are apparently healthy. But a much larger number are not merely examples of imperfect growth; they labor under positive disease and degeneration, and present symptoms either of constitutional taint, or of those specific affections, such as convulsions and paralysis, as are referred to the nervous structure The ameliorations which occasionally takes place under judicious treatment, and the educability of a few individuals within a certain range. have suggested to physicians and philanthropists the propriety of attempting to rouse, direct, and apply such powers as may exist. The first attempt to give regular instruction to idiots was made in the Bie6tre at Paris many years ago. A magnificent training-school, now numbering about 600 inmates, has been some time in operation at Earlswood, Reigate; and there is a similar institution at Larbert, Sterlingshire, while a smaller school exists at Baldoran, Forfarshire.—Sequin, Traitement Moral, etc., des Idiots; Art. " ldiotisme," Did. de Medecine; Abbots, Handbook of Idiocy; Buckminster Brown, Treatment and Cure of Cretins and Idiots.