The Idaho scimitar. [volume] (Boise, Idaho) 1907-1908, 1907-12-28
High-Grade ImbeCiles.

whose condition often escapes notice. especially il
earlier years. because certain characteristics, partcu
larly the memory which may be fine, mask OF
conceal it. In the Medical Record (New York, No
vember 16) DR.. B. c. Talmey thus describes the
salient peculiarities of this class, stated by Pro
fessor Grashey:
The high-grade imbeciles are, in conradiStinctior
the complete idiots, able to master their language
In the very slight degrees of mbecity the disease
represents only deficiency of the emotions in high
er and lesser degree. Hence the anomaly be
discovered only in the emotional life Of the patient
The most conspicuous symptom is the predominance
of the passions. The imbeciles easily irritated
and very irascibe Their rage may reach the highest
degree They may fall into a great passion over a
trihe Their passionate moods are of long duration
they may cherish their temper for hours. A melan-
choly mood may last several hours and even days,
and under its influence they may commit suicide A
great number of suicides may thus be accounted for
The imaginative life is frequently well developed.
The imbeciles may even acquire vast store of ex-
perience, being often possessed OF splendid mem
DRY. Still the memory is in SO far defective that the
receptive power is extended alike upon the impor
tant and unimportant things The splendid memory
is the reason why the imbeciles are recognized
in school as such. On the contrary they are be-
leved by their teachers to be talented Still this
deception is only possible if they happen to be good
natured and not irascble stubborn. Then they
acquire great amount of knowledge. But if the
is scrutnzed little carefully, it is found
that the imbeciles have not the right understanding
of the things they have learned They have learned
everything by heart in a mechanical way and they
only reproduce like encyclopedia the judgments
of others which they have retained by means of their
splendid memory.
Ordinarily the educators are able to recognize
the mental deficiency of such individuals The inn
beetle children cannot endure very long in school,
because they cannot stand punishment. If punished
they become entirely obstinate and in their passions
they fall into blind rage and become irresponsible.
1t IS therefore, dangerous to punish children with
mental stigmata of degeneracy especially to lock
them up in confinement for they may jump through
the window"
Ethical and moral conceptions the writer goes on
to say, grasped with difficulty by children of this
type They have heard of parental piety, patriotism
truth, honesty, perseverance, gratitude, and know
the meaning Of the words but deeper understanding
is wanting They lack the ethical emotions that with
normal persons invariably accompany ethical concep-
tons. The high-grade imbecile, even if he has
learned much and has found good position, is un-
able to remain long We read:
"This vacillation of the will and INCONSISTENCY of
aspiration is often very early symptom Imbeci1e
children prone to run away. They leave their
schools and do not return to their parents When
as adults, they obtain position, they remain there
certain length of time Suddenly they disappear
without any reasonable cause When they have
public office the least disagreeab1e happenings will
cause them to surrender their position and to de-
'ert without knowing what to begin afterward When
he defect is of very slight degree the patient may
-eman in his position little longer, year or so,
,ut he will finally quit If the imbecile has been a
mechanic for some time, and something does not