> In fact, the majority of scientists believe that there is no “autism epidemic” at all—that people with autism are no more common than they were 20, or 50, or

> In fact, the majority of scientists believe that there is no “autism epidemic” at all—that people with autism are no more common than they were 20, or 50, or 1,000 years ago. This seems very possible. Although a fiction, there is a good example in the Aubrey/Maturin novels by Patrick O'Brian (Spoiler Alert!): Dr. Maturin's daughter is born while he is away at sea, and it is strongly suggested that she is on what we call today the Autism Spectrum. Naturally, as a legendary doctor ahead of his time, he recognizes that she is not mentally retarded (or an "idiot" in the language of the period). He prevents his less enlightened contemporaries from essentially trying to beat the condition out of his daughter, and takes measures to provide an environment where she can thrive.