The Brandon news., 1903-09-10
PROPER TREATMENT or IDIOTS
Paris Hospital Has Inaugurated Syl
tenn Based on Science.

tenn BASED on science.
Few more impressive experience
can be imagined than a visit to tho
great Paris hospital of the SaltpeI
triere, a name which the astoundinsl
Investigations of the late Professor
Charcot have rendered famous all
the world over. The Saltpetriere is q
town within a town, with houses and
streets and public places, but it is 1
town from which the divine spark
reason is almost banished. Modern
science, however, after endless gropS
ings and by dint of inexhaustible pal
tience, has found the entrance to Oh
hidden chamber after another, and
she has not yet solved the secret Ct
secrets seems to be trembling on thu
brink of discovery. The most intricat
and obscure recesses Of the brain hav
been explored and many of the deI
cate concealed springs of life laid bard
The analysis of the mind diseased nj
longer appears hopelessly beyond t
scope of our intelligence. HysterK
epilepsy, idiocy and other of its mystN
rious manifestations have lost much 4
their terror since their true impo8
and proper treatment have been
yealed.
| Today one of the most interestiI
sections of the Saltpetriere is that
ably presided over by one of Charco
most eminent successors, DIR. Jules V
sin, the school for degenerate CHI
dren. Here the intellect OF which
are so proud is to be observed reduc
to its simplest expression. DR.. Voisft
/ has set himself the charitable task Oh
awakening at least glimmer of intel
| ligence in the brains of those littl9
disinterested human beings whom fat
seemed to have destined to an exist
ence of moral and intellectual nullit
more profound that that Of the beast
that perish. Only unfagging persev9
ance and indomitable good natut
could hope to achieve any good n
suit. The children are received froIl
the age of two years and upward. Few
Of them can utter any articulatf
sounds, the greater number canno
maintain their equilibrium; none are
able to carry on the simplest mental
operation.
Here is a girl of fourteen. Aftef
years of patient teaching she is still
absolutely unable to tell the sum d
five and five. When she is asked the
question her forehead Fuckers, he
lips grow tremulous and her finger
nervously lock and unlock. She
visibly taxing the powers Of her brazil
to the utmost, if only to please het
kind instructor, but all ineffectuallW
How many fingers have you OF
your right hand?" asks DR.. Voisin' il
soothing tones. Five" after long r9
| fection. "And how many on your aet
hand?" Five" after another lOnt
pause. "And five and five put togeth4
make how many?" The problem
quite beyond her At last, after bei4
made to ccunt over her fingers sci
arately one by one. she succeeds
giving the correct answer. Tomorr6R
when asked the same question she WI
once more be in the same predid2
ment, and before a step is game
months perhaps years have
elapse. And this girl is one of th
brightest of the pupils To assist
such lesson is to have a keen intJl
ton of the martyrdom to which oth4
children are ruthlessly subjected al
the world over at the hands of th
less patient instructors unable to did
tinguish between mental incapacit
and obstinacy. Ask Dr. Vofsin the OF
igin cf much misery and suffering anf
he will give you the answer you hav,
almost anticipated-"alc poiso4
in Or ,,-T On,10O SOhoro II