The individual we are studying is a sick person; this is shown by ptosis (drooping eye-lid), the recurrent periods of agitation, the epileptic convulsion in the night detected by the night nurse.
It is interesting to observe in the photographs of the child, the alteration of expression between the periods of calm and those of agitation; in the latter the face is asymmetrical and shows contractions in the left facial region, while the right side is paretic; the paresis is also manifested by ptosis (drooping lids). During the periods of calm, on the contrary, the left side also is atonic.
In the course of the history the differences in the child's conduct in the two states are well described.
During the periods of calm, the child is attentive, docile, careful of his dress, timid, and makes progress in his studies; during the periods of agitation he is unstable, rebellious, careless, unkind to his comrades, and makes no progress whatever. At the beginning, there were no periods of calm at all; furthermore, the child had every appearance of being an idiot; medico-pedagogic treatment rendered longer and more frequent, and finally permanent, these periods of calm, during which the child's intellectual redemption became possible. The treatment did not consist solely in the education of an idiot, but also in the cure of a sick child. "At the time of admission," according to the observations in the record, "the diagnosis was retarded mentality, and that only in relation to primary instruction, because in regard to matters of common knowledge and manual work, the patient comes very near to a normal lad of average intelligence."
Such a surprising transformation of an individual is certainly deserving of admiration; but this diligently compiled study is not yet quite completed. As a matter of fact, when the education of D—— was begun, observations regarding types of stature were not yet made; but his photographs show that he was an exaggerated macroscelous type. The trade adopted by D—— which will oblige him to sit with his chest bowed over the machine, or in a kneeling position while he sews, will in all probability drive him straight along the road to tuberculosis, a malady to which his organism has singularly predisposed him. It would be interesting to follow further the history of this patient, who has been transformed from an idiot into a skilful and industrious workman.
The society, which under the guidance of science, achieved his difficult redemption, has perhaps at the same time condemned him to death.
The modern standards of pedagogical anthropology would have furnished a more far-sighted guidance in the choice of a vocation.
Meanwhile, however, this history reported by Thulié is a luminous demonstration of the folly of rewards and punishments; the only forms of intervention during the periods of agitation, which lasted for entire months, during which the boy was continually unruly, impulsive, malicious, reckless, and incapable of work, were tonics, hydrotherapy and kindly treatment.
"Punishments" would have cruelly wrecked the life of a human being who was naturally gentle, affectionate, and capable of diligent work and permanent improvement.
Something similar ought to be attempted in the reformatories. The boys who are regarded as incorrigible are frequently sick boys, with an hereditary degenerative taint, and need to live in a tranquil environment and to receive medical treatment.