On some of the mental affections of childhood and youth : being the Lettsomian lectures delivered before the Medical Society of London in 1887 : together with other papers / by J. Langdon Down.

  • Down, John Langdon Haydon, 1828-1896.
Date:
1887
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On some of the mental affections of childhood and youth : being the Lettsomian lectures delivered before the Medical Society of London in 1887 : together with other papers / by J. Langdon Down. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, Harvard Medical School.

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    are bright in their expression, often active in their moyements, agile to a degree, mobile in their temperament, fearless as to danger, perse- vering in mischief, petulant to have their own way. Their language is one of gesture only; living in a world of their own they are regard- less of the ordinary circumstances around them, and yield only to the counter-fascination of music. These are the cases in which mothers enter- tain the strongest hope, and in which the doctor endorses the hope with confidence based on the pretty waywardness of the child. I cannot enforce too strongly grave caution in the pro- gnosis which should be given in such cases ; they are the most disappointing which one is called upon to treat. A period of nearly thirty years has enabled me to study not only the present but the future of such children, to make a forecast, based on experience as to results, and to correct the notions of sanguine hopeful- ness. So interesting are they in appearance that it is difiicult to realise that they will not be perfectly responsive to training, and that speech will not be speedily gained. I know nothing more painful than the long motherly