Mautisley  relates  the  case  of  an  imbecile  who  could  repeat
verbatim  ct  literatim  entire  pages  of  books  he  had  read  many
years  before,  even  though  he  did  not  understand  the  meaning
of  the  words.  Another  case,  an  epileptic,  would  read  a  long
newspaper  article  once,  and  then,  shutting  his  eyes,  would  repeat
it  word  for  word.  In  this  case  the  visual  memory  was  extraor-
dinarily developed.  It  is  well  known  that  some  healthy  per-
sons can  remember  what  they  have  seen  very  well,  but  promptly
forget  what  they  have  heard.  This  is  a  point  that  some  educators
do  not  seem  to  understand.  Some  students  I  have  known  could
never  learn  from  lectures,  but  were  very  quick  to  learn  by  read-
ing. This  observation  is  trite,  perhaps,  but  it  is  not  often  utilized
practically  in  pedagogics.
Epilepsy  sometimes  produces  very  peculiar  alterations  in  the
mental  faculties.  Instances  have  been  known  where  an  epileptic
has  oscillated  between  periods  of  vicious  depravity  and  the  most
ascetic  piety.  During  the  stage  of  excitement  through  which  the
brain  of  the  epileptic  passes,  brilliant  conceptions  and  lofty  flights
of  poetic  or  romantic  imagery  are  not  unusual.  Previous  to  an
epileptic  fit,  the  special  senses  may  become  very  acute.  Wins-
low  relates  the  case  of  an  epileptic  who,  while  confined  in  a
room  at  the  top  of  the  house,  could  hear  all  the  details  of  a  con-
versation carried  on  in  low  tones  in  the  kitchen.  Insane  patients
sometimes  surprise  one  with  the  depth  of  their  reflections  upon
subjects  that  are  entirely  foreign  to  their  station  in  life,  and  far


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468  THE   DISEASES   OF   SOCIETY

beyond  their  intellectual  capacity  when  in  a  healthy  condition  of
mind.
