| Description Of Item | Illustration from the collection of Alexander Morison. Plate 82 of Morison’s 'The Physiognomy of Mental Diseases' (1840). Signed A J [Alexander Johnston]. The same image also appears in the item archive reference DEP/MOR/4/203.
'Portrait of J. A.; aged 9 years.
The height of this boy is three feet, nine inches ; there does not appear to be any malformation of his head ; his limbs are well formed and he walks steadily, but, in general, prefers sitting; his teeth are decayed; he appears to possess the five senses, but cannot speak; he sometimes utters the syllables - de de de; he is good-tempered, though, at times, a little mischievous; is fond of hearing music, and exhibits affection for a patient in the Asylum, who is kind to him ; he is inattentive to the calls of nature, cannot feed himself or put on his clothes. His mother perceived his want of mind first, soon after he had cut two teeth; he is stated to have improved a little of late; he is fond of sweetmeats, which he now puts into his mouth; some months ago, although he liked them, he allowed them to drop out of his hand.' |