There is nothing particular to observe here, unless it be the obvious remark, that from his age and confinement for such a number of years, among beings who, for the most part, have no commerce with right feelings and thoughts, it is wonderful that any thing like powers of mind should still remain; or that he should, excluded from the excitement and collision of the world, possess any inclination to exercise them; but this is most probably owing to the amusements and employments already stated; and for the sake of drawing attention to this fact, have I been induced to make any observation on this case.
No. 4.—Admitted 1787.
There is no statement of this case on record; but I have been informed, it was the consequence of injury on the head. He is a hopeless, and the most striking, case of idiotcy, at present in the house: a poor, simple, innocent, dangling, pouting, starved-looking creature, with a bluish red nose, and his head hanging forwards, saliva running over his falling lip—generally moving about to gratify his childish curiosity. Yet, as little mind as there is about him, still even he has fluctuations of the animal spirits: sometimes he is depressed and miserable; at other times he is animated and happy. When depressed, he for the most part repeats, in a feeble, plaintive tone,—“poor creature.” When animated and happy, he will throw his arms about in a most laughable manner, to the great amusement of other patients; so much so, that it is impossible to convey any conception of it, unless it be by making an old person try to imitate the frisky movements of an infant’s arms. These exhibitions are of rare occurrence. He will mumble over a tune very correctly, [121a] but has seldom any words. He is pleased with striking objects, particularly such as have glaring colours about them; and women, or their dress, arrest his attention. [121b]
No. 5.—Admitted 1791.
There is likewise no statement of this case on record, from which any satisfactory information can be drawn.
His personal appearance, and moping manners, were so very like the case described, No. 2, that it was common for those in the house to mistake the one for the other. He, like many other old and incurable cases, sat in a solitary, half-dozing state, his head reclining against the fire-guard, and seemed, when roused, like one who wakened out of his sleep unrefreshed. He was most remarkable for his extreme good nature, and excellent disposition. [122a] When on his death-bed, his gratitude and affection to his attendant (who was certainly an excellent nurse) were very pleasing. He had been long sinking from disease of the lungs, constantly coughing and spitting; and, latterly, purulent matter, in a very great quantity. He died on the 13th April, 1822.
No. 6.—Admitted 1791.
There is no statement of his case, and I have not been able to collect much information about him. It is said, he received a severe wound, and the mark remains on the upper back part of his head. [122b] Report says, that he fancied himself in love with a farmer’s daughter, and walked whole nights before her father’s door, without the slightest previous acquaintance with the object of his choice. This would seem rather the effect than the cause—a common mistake; they are constantly confounded together, or mistaken for each other. It is certain, that his neighbours were obliged to send him to a place of confinement, for this reason—whenever he saw any cattle in a poor pasture, he, from the impulse of his nature, invariably removed them into a better.
