| Description Of Item | Illustration from the collection of Alexander Morison. Plate 86 of Morison’s 'The Physiognomy of Mental Diseases' (1840). Signed A J [Alexander Johnston].
'Portrait of T. F.; aged 30.
The height of this idiot is four feet nine inches; he is not deformed in person, but has a feeble stooping gait, and when he walks his hands are bent inwards. His head is larger than usual in a person of his height, and the frontal portion is very prominent; his countenance is heavy, yet he moves his eyes very quickly ; his ears discharge a good deal of muco-purulent matter, but he appears to hear, although he never speaks; he puts on his clothes, and for the most part attends to the calls of nature; he also feeds himself, but swallows his food as fast as he can put it into his mouth.
He is not affected by music, does not exhibit the slightest feeling of affection for any one ; he appears to be timid, the moment he is touched he runs off as fast as he can, as if afraid; he is, generally, in a sitting posture.' |