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But the real objection to the explanation given by the authorities cited lies in the fact that the lower animals do not practise this procedure. It is certainly not a general practice of the lower animals, as any one can learn by inquiring of those familiar with the habits of domestic or other animals. If it were true of any, it is a pretty bold assumption that there was in these instances a reversion to a particular instinct that was not needed, that was purposeless.

Furthermore, the direction which a true maternal instinct would have taken in these cases would have been effort at fondling the children and nursing them. Thus, if in a sufficient number of cases of idiocy it were proven that without ever having seen the act of nursing in others these mothers had put their children to the breast, had made the attempt to nurse their offspring, the inference might be fairly drawn that it was in obedience to a natural instinct.

It will be seen, I think, that there is absolutely nothing in these cases to warrant the deduction of Dr. Carpenter, and which has been adopted by the later authorities. (2)

We may now approach the subject fearlessly from another direction.

At the outset I desire to limit the term idiocy to its true meaning. It is a default of mental power, either congenital or arising from causes operating at such an early period of life as to precede the customary development of childish intelligence. The underlying physical cause may be primary, as an arrest of development of nervous structure, imperfection in quantity or quality, or again, from failure in functional activity of the same.

It may be secondary where the defect of structure and default of function are the result of infantile diseases.

This is a very different condition from that of dementia. In this last, mental faculties once possessed are impaired or lost through disease.

The two conditions of idiocy and dementia are often confounded, but they are very unlike in important particulars.

Next as to instinct. "An instinct," says Whately, "is a blind tendency to some mode of action independent of any consideration on the part of the agent of the end to which the action leads."

There are two classes of actions which in the inferior animals have been referred to instinct as their spring; 1st. Those which have reference to the preservation of individuals, as the seeking and discerning the food which is convenient for them, and the using their natural organs of locomotion, and their natural means of defence and attack; the avoidance of danger. 2d. Those which have reference to the continuation of the species, as the bringing forth and bringing up of their young; the gratification of the sexual instinct.

It embraces certain impulses the aim of which or result of which is hidden from the animals exercising them. It includes knowledge without instruction or experience. It covers skill without instruction or practice.

There is intelligent purpose in every manifestation of it, and it acts through rational methods, but the individuals using it have no intelligent appreciation of the purpose or the methods.

I have chosen this old definition of instinct because it is the one substantially held by Dr. Carpenter when he stated his theory in regard to its prevailing power with idiots. Thus, he makes the animal "a creature of necessity, performing its instrumental part in the economy of nature from no design or will of its own, but in accordance with the plan originally devised by its Creator." He ascribes to instinct "a perfection of adaptation which is beyond human intelligence or reason," and "acts without experience." And he thus accounts for the perfection of its action:

"It lies in the original construction of their nervous system, which causes particular movements to be executed in direct, respondence to certain impressions and sensations."

It will thus be observed that regarding only that portion of the nervous system which is employed in instinctive acts, it would need a more perfect machinery of execution if the machine is to act automatically, in direct respondence to impressions and sensations, than if guided by intelligence and will. So, too, perfection of nervous structure is not only needed for the exercise of instinct, but a healthy action of nerve-tissue.

There is a modern theory of instinct which makes it a "lapsed intelligence," that is, an acquirement through intelligence and experience in one generation becomes a hereditary instinct in the next. But that would not help the matter, for that supposes a differentiation of the nervous tissue only the more complicated and perfect in its operations, and acting automatically, which could not be predicated in the case of idiots.