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“Of stupidity or folly”: Thomas Willis's perspective on mental retardation
  1. A N Williams
  1. North Warwickshire PCT, UK
  1. Correspondence to:
    Dr A N Williams, Consultant Paediatrician, North Warwickshire PCT, St Nicolas Park Clinic, Windermere Avenue, Nuneaton CV11 6HH, UK; anw{at}doctors.org.uk

Abstract

“Mental retardation” is a modern term for an age old problem. The descriptions of paediatric cases contained within the works of Thomas Willis (1621–75) have been increasingly recognised for their insight into seventeenth century child health practices.

  • Thomas Willis
  • mental retrdation
  • learning difficulty
  • stupidity
  • folly' autistic savant

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