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Certain peculiarities of the ear are often seen in idiots. At one time there was a girl at Essex Hall whose ears were enormous and flapped about in the most extra-ordinary manner, giving her an appearance singularly strange and grotesque, the more and its incontinent retention are capable of so as she was very lively and good-humoured, with a marked expression of drollery. There is an idea that the brain and these derangements mutually affect each other. The lobule of the ear and its position with regard to the cheek, as well as the formation of the helix, present, it is said, peculiar modifications in idiots, and also sometimes in lunatics, while there is often a flaccidity in the fleshy parts, which are turgid and not, symmetrical with those on the other side of the head. Nor is it unlikely that these several varieties from the normal condition may be due to a certain defective circulation, which may extend to the internal tissues of the brain, having at the same time relation to the encephalic development and that of the skull. We have previously referred to the observations of Dr. Down with regard to certain facial inequalities perceptible in idiots, and they were made upon two hundred cases taken without any special selection from a larger number. He well remarks that the opinions formed of idiots have arisen more from the representations of poets and romance-writers than from the deductions of rigid observation. Persons think their heads are formed like that in Lavater's portrait, or Homer's description of Thersites, so that all their notions are built on the strongest exaggerations, and not on true investigations of their physical and psychical conditions, which are the only real tests of their state. As in the case of the ear, so the formation of the mouth is often aberrant. The palate is found to be inordinately arched, and also unsymmetrical, one side plane, the other concave, or sometimes excessively flattened, while its veil, called the velum palati, is unusually flaccid, or the palate itself exceedingly narrow. The faulty nature of the teeth has been before alluded to; they are not only so in the way previously out of order, so that many cannot protrude it, or is of inordinate size, resulting in defective articulation. Besides these defects, the tonsils and the mucous membrane are disordered, to which may be added elongation of the uvula. The flow of saliva from the mouth is another symptom of idiotcy, and it is sometimes so excessive as to produce severe excoriation of the chin, and it is rarely unconnected, except in childhood, old age, or disease, or injury, with mental imbecility. This great secretion of saliva mentioned, but are irregular, crowded, sometimes to a degree of deformity, and all due to the imperfect development of the superior maxillary bone. The tongue likewise is out of order, so that many cannot protrude it, or is of inordinate size, resulting in defective articulation. Besides these defects, the tonsils and the mucous membrane are disordered, to which may be added elongation of the uvula. The flow of saliva from the mouth is another symptom of idiotcy, and it is sometimes so excessive as to produce severe excoriation of the chin, and it is rarely unconnected, except in childhood, old age, or disease, or injury, with mental imbecility. This great secretion of saliva and its incontinent retention are capable of much improvement. All these observations are worthy of attention, because they exhibit the bodily characteristics of a class whose mental vigour is infirm; and the inference of Dr. Down is unquestionable, that the psychical condition of these unfortunates should be specially sought to be ameliorated by an improvement of their physical condition. One conclusion seems to be certainly arrived at, which is, that the many different manifestations of want of harmony between the physical and mental powers of idiots are due either to some defect in the bodily organs, or to the derangement of their functions. To this it may be added, as is done by the author of the report of the New York Asylum, "that amidst all the diversities just alluded to there is one common point of resemblance not of a physical character, and that is the want of attention." Evidently this is due to an inability, arising from some physical cause, to concentrate the faculties and powers on a given object. This means that these faculties and powers are in such a state that they refuse, to the natural and normal extent, to obey the will. In allusion to this condition of all idiots in greater or less degree, the writer last referred to has the following observations --

"One peculiarity of our system of instruction consists, then, mainly in creating this power of attention; in the first place by exciting the will by appropriate stimuli, and then by its continued exercise giving it the capability to control the other attributes of the individual. It should be mentioned, because of its relation to our mode of education, that there is a natural order both in the succession in which the will obtains the supremacy over the other powers, and also in the means by which that will is developed and strengthened. We see it in the infant naturally well endowed, and especially in the idiot, because of the more gradual progress in the control it first acquires over the muscular system, then over the intellect, and finally over the desires, the appetites, and the passions. That natural order in the means by which the will is developed is learned by a similar observation, and the knowledge of it has its practical value in our course of instruction. It is first excited by the instincts, then by the appetite; still again by the desires, the intellect, and finally the natural powers. Thus a child is sometimes seen who, with no lack of muscular power, is unwilling to take anything in his hand. The fear of falling, one development of the instinct of self-preservation, will, however, lead him to grasp with firmness the rounds of a ladder rather than suffer injury. Then he will hold food in his hand, or a cup of water, to gratify his appetite. Next he is induced to hold an object in his hand, to gratify his senses or his curiosity with reference to it. And so he goes from one step to another, the discipline acquired in accomplishing the lower enabling him to achieve the higher. Physical training will, then, form the basis of all well-directed efforts for the education of idiots; first, because of its direct effect to obviate the existing peculiarity of physical condition; and secondly, because the gymnastic exercises constituting the physical training may be designed and adapted to develope the power of attention in conformity with the natural order of succession."