Syphilis has always been regarded as one of the accidental causes of Epilepsy, and ranks, indeed, among those which exert the most decided influence on its development. The epileptic malady, when so originated, throws almost into the shade the other constitutional accidents, or sequels of the syphilitic infection, if they are not—as it often happens—in suspension or latency. The first point, therefore, to be considered before we proceed to the description of its characters, is—at what stage of syphilis does the neurosis commonly occur, or rather, is there a secondary and a tertiary epilepsy, distinct from each other, as is held by Fournier, who judges it difficult to connect the former, principally exhibited by females, like a transient specific neurosis, with any lesion of the nervous centres; whereas the latter should be, on the contrary, manifestly consecutive to encephalic lesions, thus constituting one of the manifold expressions of that complex organic state known as cerebral syphilis.

That there are two methods by which to approach the study of mind—the one inward and reflective, the other outward and transitive, including more especially the anatomy and physiology of the brain and nervous system—is by high authorities, even in physical and biological science, now generally admitted.

It was only when special attention was paid to the training of idiots, that an idea began to be formed of their actual number, and it is only within a few years back that in the census of civilized nations idiots were distinguished from lunatics, or as it is generally put, born insanity was distinguished from acquired insanity. Even yet to some people it will be startling to hear that in most countries there are as many idiots and imbeciles as there are lunatics, and that in some countries there are more. According to Koch, there are for every hundred lunatics in Prussia 158 idiots; in Bavaria, 154; in Saxony, 162; in Wurtemberg, 97; in Austria, 53; in Hungary, 140; in the Canton of Berne, 117; in France, 66; in Denmark, 58; in Sweden, 22; in Norway, 65; in England and Wales, 74; in Scotland, 68; in Ireland, 69, and in America, 79. Large as this proportion is, there are many reasons for believing that it is considerably understated, both in our own country and in America. In France I have already pointed out that, although in the census of 1872, there were only 35,133 idiots given, it was found by a special commission to inquire into the diffusion of cretinism, that there were about the same time in the country 122,000 cretins and idiots, that is, 230 idiots for every 100 lunatics. Moreover, from the known unwillingness of parents first to believe and then to admit that their children are imbecile, we may fairly assume that there must be a large number of idiots under five years of age, who are never returned as such in any census, and of whom a large proportion die in early years. Koch found that in Wurtemberg only 43 idiots were returned under 5, while between the ages of 6 and 10 years there were 294 returned.

Although my attention has been directed for some years past to the consideration of this subject, the number of cases of lead poisoning coming under my observation is inconsiderable, and I put forward the following with the hope of inducing others to place on record their experiences rather than with the idea of formulating definite conclusions.

Preliminary.—The greater part of the letterpress and accompanying plans were sent into the competition lately requested by the Borough Magistrates of Hull, and were awarded the third premium. The elevations and architectural details were designed with much care and success by Mr. B. S. Jacobs, of Hull; the sanitary and sewage works were prepared by Mr. George Bohn, C.E.; while the writer is responsible for the ground and first floor plans, and for the internal arrangements generally.

In addition to the works quoted in the Journal for January, 1880, p. 576. the following periodicals have been used in making the German Retrospect :—

“Archiv für Psychiatrie und Nervenkrankheiten,” ix. Band, 2 und 3 Heft, und x. Band, 1 Heft. Berlin, 1879.

The Progress of General Paralysis in the Hereditarily Insane.—By Marandon de Montyel.—The introduction of this paper deals at considerable length with the question of the action of hereditary tendencies in the development of mental diseases. We had not thought that it was now necessary seriously to discuss the belief that insanity is a chastisement of sin, and a just punishment of those who have wandered from the ways of our Lord. In regard to prognosis, most will agree that hereditary tendency to insanity and other nervous diseases diminishes the probability of ultimate recovery. But Dr. Doutrebente has stated that among such, les candidats à la folie, general paralysis tends to become chronic, to remit and even to continue for 10, 15 and 25 years, although its mean duration is usually believed to be from 2 to 3 years, or only 13 months, according to Calmeil. It is naturally enough asked, “How is it that in general paralysis alone the disease is ameliorated, whilst in all other diseases the tendency to incurability and death is increased by inherited morbid tendencies ?” Dr. Doutrebente is equal to the occasion by saying, “We think the time is not far distant when general paralysis will no longer be considered a form of insanity, but a morbid entity, an interstitial encephalitis, which may be complicated by any form of insanity, without thereby constituting a distinct species. He also says, in his paper on the “Different Forms of Remissions in General Paralysis:” “It is not hereditary, at least in the same way as insanity, and it is not usually met with in families tainted by a progressive morbid heredity, especially towards insanity,” and he agrees with M. Lunier that it is due to a special form of heredity, one of temperament, normal and non-morbid.