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sures 13 1/2 inches； and between upper ear… tips across and over the head 11 inches； which is so close to the eight…and ten…inch standard that he may be called mesocephalic。 The bulging in the vicinity of the parietal region accords remarkably with speculations upon the location of the auditory memory in that region； such as those in the American Naturalist； July； 1888； and the fact that injury of that part of the brain may cause loss of memory of the meaning of words。 It may be that the premature death of the mother's children has some significance in connection with Oscar's phenomenal development。 There is certainly a hypernutrition of the parietal brain with atrophy of the optic tract； both of which conditions could arise from abnormal vascular causes； or the extra growth of the auditory memory region may have deprived of nutrition； by pressure； the adjacent optic centers in the occipital brain。 The otherwise normal motion of the eyes indicates the nystagmus to be functional。
〃Sudden exaltation of the memory is often the consequence of grave brain disease； and in children this symptom is most frequent。 Pritchard； Rush； and other writers upon mental disorders record interesting instances of remarkable memory…increase before death； mainly in adults； and during fever and insanity。 In simple mania the memory is often very acute。 Romberg tells of a young girl who lost her sight after an attack of small…pox； but acquired an extraordinary memory。 He calls attention to the fact that the scrofulous and rachitic diatheses in childhood are sometimes accompanied by this disorder。 Winslow notes that in the incipient state of the brain disease of early life connected with fevers； disturbed conditions of the cerebral circulation and vessels； and in affections of advanced life； there is often witnessed a remarkable exaltation of the memory； which may herald death by apoplexy。
〃Not only has the institution of intelligence in idiots dated from falls upon the head； but extra mentality has been conferred by such an event Pritchard tells of three idiot brothers； one of whom； after a severe head injury； brightened up and became a barrister； while his brothers remained idiotic。 'Father Mabillon；' says Winslow； 'is said to have been an idiot until twenty… six years of age； when he fractured his skull against a stone staircase。 He was trepanned。 After recovering； his intellect fully developed itself in a mind endowed with a lively imagination； an amazing memory； and a zeal for study rarely equaled。' Such instances can be accounted for by the brain having previously been poorly nourished by a defective blood supply； which defect was remedied by the increased circulation afforded by the head…injury。
〃It is a commonly known fact that activity of the brain is attended with a greater head…circulation than when the mind is dull； within certain limits。 Anomalous development of the brain through blood…vessels； affording an extra nutritive supply to the mental apparatus； can readily be conceived as occurring before birth； just as aberrant nutrition elsewhere produces giants from parents of ordinary size。
〃There is but one sense…defect in the child Oscar； his eyesight…absence； and that is atoned for by his hearing and touch…acuteness； as it generally is in the blind。 Spitzka and others demonstrate that in such cases other parts of the brain enlarge to compensate for the atrophic portion which is connected with the functionless nerves。 This； considered with his apparently perfect； mental and physical health； leaves no reason to suppose that Oscar's extravagant memory depends upon disease any more than we can suspect all giants of being sickly； though the anomaly is doubtless due to pathologic conditions。 Of course； there is no predicting what may develop later in his life； but in any event science will be benefited。
〃It is a popular idea that great vigor of memory is often associated with low…grade intelligence； and cases such as Blind Tom and other 'idiot savants；' who could repeat the contents of a newspaper after a single reading； justify the supposition。 Fearon； on 'Mental Vigor；' tells of a man who could remember the day that every person had been buried in the parish for thirty…five years； and could repeat with unvarying accuracy the name and age of the deceased and the mourners at the funeral。 But he was a complete fool。 Out of the line of burials he had not one idea； could not give an intelligible reply to a single question； nor be trusted even to feed himself。 While memory…development is thus apparent in some otherwise defective intellects； it has probably as often or oftener been observed to occur in connection with full or great intelligence。 Edmund Burke； Clarendon； John Locke； Archbishop Tillotson； and Dr。 Johnson were all distinguished for having great strength of memory。 Sir W。 Hamilton observed that Grotius； Pascal； Leibnitz； and Euler were not less celebrated for their intelligence than for their memory。 Ben Jonson could repeat all that he had written and whole books he had read。 Themistocles could call by name the 20；000 citizens of Athens。 Cyrus is said to have known the name of every soldier in his army。 Hortensius； a great Roman orator； and Seneca had also great memories。 Niebuhr； the Danish historian； was remarkable for his acuteness of memory。 Sir James Mackintosh； Dugald Stewart； and Dr。 Gregory had similar reputations。
〃Nor does great mental endowment entail physical enfeeblement； for； with temperance； literary men have reached extreme old age； as in the cases of Klopstock； Goethe； Chaucer； and the average age attained by all the signers of the American Declaration of Independence was sixty…four years； many of them being highly gifted men intellectually。 Thus； in the case of the phenomenal Oscar it cannot be predicted that he will not develop； as he now promises to do； equal and extraordinary powers of mind； even though it would be rare in one of his racial descent； and in the face of the fact that precocity gives no assurance of adult brightness； for it can be urged that John Stuart Mill read Greek when four years of age。
〃The child is strumous； however； and may die young。 His exhibitors； who are coining him into money； should seek the best medical care for him and avoid surcharging his memory with rubbish。 Proper cultivation of his special senses； especially the tactile； by competent teachers； will give Oscar the best chance of developing intellectually and acquiring an education in the proper sense of the word。〃
By long custom many men of letters have developed wonderful feats of memory； and among illiterate persons； by means of points of association； the power of memory has been little short of marvelous。 At a large hotel in Saratoga there was at one time a negro whose duty was to take charge of the hats and coats of the guests as they entered the dining…room and return to each his hat after the meal。 It was said that； without checks or the assistance of the owners； he invariably returned the right articles to the right persons on request； and no matter how large the crowd； his limit of memory never seemed to be reached。 Many persons have seen expert players at draughts and chess who； blindfolded； could carry o