Daily Almanac for

Nov 27, 2009

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Cretinism

Mental imbecility accompanied by goître. So called from the Crétins of the Alps. The word is a corruption of Christian (Chrétien ), because, being baptised, and only idiots, they were “washed from original sin,” and incapable of actual sin. Similarly, idiots are called innocents. (French crétin, crétinisme.)

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