A MASTER OF THE CALENDAR

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 128, 1 June 1935, Page 25

A MASTER OF THE CALENDAR

The "astonishing aptitude" for calcu- j lating dates shown by an inmate in a mental home is described by Dr. W. M. McGrath in the "British Medical Journal." In this case the patient, who cannot read or write, remembers the date of death of various occupants of his ward, the arrival or transfer of doctors or nurses, and the dates of the examinations of his blood and cerebro-spinal fluid. • He knows all the patients in his ward by their correct names, and can tell their number from day to day. The daily happenings are remembered in detail, also the names, date of entry, and promotions of the nursing staff. Dr. McGrath says that this patient's chief ability, however, lies in the correct naming of the day of the week on which any given date falls. "There are grounds for believing," the doctor continues, "that he has committed to memory the day of the week corresponding with some key date. When given a date at random he counts backward and forward to the nearest one corresponding with his initial key-date, making allowances for a leap year. "It has been observed that he is quicker at calculating future than past dates." ' , Some of the questions and . the

patient's reaction time are given as follows:— - ! Question. Patient's Keaction. What day was: Kopiy. Time. April 1, 1898? Thursday 7scc Juno 21 1852? ..... Sunday 25scc Sept. 10, 1804? ..., Friday 15see Juno 1, 1703? .....; Wednesday 20sec Oct. 27, 1754? .... Monday DOsec What day is: ■ . Aug. 21, 1966? ....» Sunday 2usec May 10, 2024? ...... Sunday 20sec June 10, 2050? ..... Tuesday 15aec Sept. 16, 1099 2 .... Thursday 7see Patlont's Correct What date will: Reply. . Answer. Good Friday be In 193G? April 17 April 10 August Monday be in 1930? Aug. 3 Aug. 3 Whit Monday be- in 1936? June 1 June 1 .1 The doctor adds that the patient can neither read nor write, and cannot tell the time by the clock. He can repeat the alphabet forward and backward, never starts a conversation, and has no friends among the patients. He has a keen sense of humour and appreciates music, but no ambition or future plans. Dr. McGrath says that this man is extremely interested in and proud of his achievement. He concludes that whatever the causes of defective development of the nervous system may be, the effect on all parts of the system need not be the same. One portion may attain maturity while other portions lag behind.