On atrophy of the brain in imbeciles / by Fletcher Beach.

Fletcher Beach

Date:: 1884

Credit: On atrophy of the brain in imbeciles / by Fletcher Beach. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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what stubborn, but was easily managed. He could not speak, but could only make a sound like “ ali.” He was able to take his food without assistance, and could help in the ward, but he could not wash or dress himself without assistance. He had some power of observation, imitation, and attention, though but little memory. He went 'to school in the Asylum daily, and at the end of one year had learnt some letters of the manual alphabet, and could hold up one or two fingers to correspond with the objects shown to him. Two years after- wards he was able to read some words with the manual alphabet, could spell “ cap,” write “ a, o, d ” from memory, hold up fingers as far as four to correspond with objects, and could match colours and forms. He had also learnt to make himself very useful in household work, and could sew on buttons, and do simple repairs of clothing. Considering the size of his brain, I think we may say he has made fair improvement, though not so much as his sister, who has a smaller head. A. P., admitted August 15th, 1877, was three years old on admission. Her parents are healthy, temperate, and not connected by consanguinity. A brother of the mother is subject to fits. The mother attributes the patient’s condition to a fright which she had when four or five months advanced in pregnancy. This is the fifth child. The others are all healthy and have no mental defect. The child’s head was small when born, and the mother thinks it has not increased much in size since, though the body has grown normally. She has never noticed passing objects, and has never been able to stand or hold anything. She is not subject to fits. Her thumbs have been drawn into the palms of her hands since birth. A. P. when admitted was a fairly nourished child, of fair complexion, 30 inches in height. Her head measured 15^ in. in circumference (5 to 6 inches below the normal size), 9^ in. transversely, and 10^ in. antero-posteriorly. As in the preceding case, the head has grown in size since admission, the corresponding measurements to those above now being 16, 91 and 10| inches. Her forehead is small and receding, tending to the oval in shape. In height it is 2 inches, and in width 3 inches. Her arms and legs are of normal size, the

On atrophy of the brain in imbeciles / by Fletcher Beach.

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