STUDY OF MOVEMENT AND MENTAL STATUS. 751 
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can see each child individually. To fix the child’s eyes while he is under 
observation it is convenient to hold up some object for him to look at. I 
ase a shilling at the end of a pencil. The children are then asked to hold 
;heir hands straight out in front of them with the palms toward the floor, 
and for a moment the action is done before them. At each stage of the 
nvestigation children that present deviations from the normal are asked 
0 wait with the teacher. Each selected child is reéxamined individu- 
ally, and a schedule is filled in deseribing the points seen, while the 
:eacher’s report of mental status is subsequently written in. Nine 
:housand one hundred and eighty-six cases were thus recorded. 
This inquiry was specially arranged for the enumeration and classifica- 
sion of children below the normal standard, and notes were taken on such 
pases only. It is gratifying to find that boys 79.3 per cent. and girls 84.5 
per cent. were norwnal in body and in nerve condition ; the proportion of 
normal children is the foundation of a national educational and social 
system, while the abnormal present a social danger. 
Now as to the points observed —passing over the individual defects in 
levelopment of the body (physiogromy, cranium, palate, ears, etc.)—1I shall 
only refer to children presenting such defects as ‘“ development cases.” 
Movements and postures of the parts of the body are indices of the 
action of portions of the nerve system (nerve centers) corresponding ; 
abnormal actions of this class are termed ‘nerve signs” ; children pre- 
senting one or more nerve signs are called ‘“ nerve cases.” The most 
frequent nerve signs may now be defined ; their frequency among the 
fifty thousand children and the co-relations indicate their significance. 
General balance defective.—Under this heading are entered cases when 
the balance at the body is asymmetrical as to spine, shoulders, feet, etc.; 
shoulders at unequal height, back bent, slouching gait. 
Hxpression defective.—Without expression, as in a paralyzed face ; one 
constant unchanging appearance ; want of changefulness; vacancy; a 
fixed look—or it may be a fixed, unchanging bad expression. No anatom- 
cal definition can be given. 
Frontals overacting.—The frontal muscles produce horizontal creases 
mn the forehead, which may be strongly marked if these muscles overact 
coarsely. Sometimes the muscles are seen working under the skin in ver- 
micular fashion, with an athetoid movement. In other cases the action 
's fine, producing what may be called a dull forehead. This over-mus- 
ular action does not necessarily erase expression. 
Corrugation.—Knitting the eyebrows ; contracting the eyebrows. Ver- 
sical creases are thus produced. This may coexist with overacting 
‘rontal muscles. 
Orbicularis oculi relazed.— There is a thin muscle, the orbicularis oculi, 
which encircles the eyelids; its tone gives sharpness to the curvatures 
of the lower lid, so that its convexity is seen. Its action 1s increased In