funnily enough I found something on this some time ago. However, I appear to have lost it. Typical! I have had a Google around and have found the following extract on a message board on genealogy. I trust they will not mind its reproduction here: "I have just received the April edition of the Family Tree magazine which has part 2 of an article about hospitals for the mentally ill. It gives the following definitions in use until the beginning of the 20thC: imbecile - 'mental age of an infant' idiot - 'natural fool from birth' lunatic - 'sometimes of good and sound memory and understanding, and sometimes not' It goes on to say that the Mental Deficiency Act of 1913 introduced revised definitions: idiot - 'unable to guard themselves against physical danger' imbecile - 'incapable of managing themselves or their affairs' feeble minded - 'needing care or control for the protection of themselves or others' moral defective - those possessed of 'vicious or criminal propensities' It them goes on to say that giving birth out of wedlock was considered a form of moral insanity and hence unmarried mothers were classed as 'moral defectives'. lunatic - retained its old definitions until 1930, when it was redefined to mean 'a person of unsound mind' It mentions several interesting looking links, one that looks particularly good being: http://www.mdx.ac.uk/www/study/mhhtim.htm " Hope this is of some help Rosie ----- Original Message ----- From: "Martin Adams" <martin@adams3606.fsnet.co.uk> To: <ENG-SHROPSHIRE-PLUS-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, July 27, 2006 4:06 PM Subject: [ENG-SHROP] Workhouse Information. > Hello all, > This I know is a delicate subject but can any one please tell me where I > can find the definitions used in the census' for inmates of workhouses. > For example what did they consider the differences between an idiot an > imbecile or a lunatic. There must have been some set criteria but I can't > find them anywhere. > Thanks for any help > Regards > Martin > > > ==== ENG-SHROPSHIRE-PLUS Mailing List ==== > DO NOT send virus/worm/hoax warnings to the list. If you receive a > suspicious e-mail with an attachment, delete it. > Virus discussions are a no-no. > > ============================== > Search the US Census Collection. Over 140 million records added in the > last 12 months. Largest online collection in the world. Learn more: > http://www.ancestry.com/s13965/rd.ashx > >

You have aroused my interest further. Rummaging around I have discovered the following additional information: From a genealogy and historians' definitions site: Learning disability: This is the modern "politically correct" term used by doctors in the UK for people whose mind fails to develop. The usual term in use by the general public is mental handicap I am advised that learning disability means dyslexia in North America. In the UK dyslexia is called dyslexia or occasionally word blindness. Neither term has any derogatory connotation There are many related terms that are now felt to be derogatory e.g. mental handicap, simpleton, mental retardation etc. Some terms do have a formal definition in the UK although they are no longer used Term IQ Modern term Idiot 0 to 25 Severe learning disability Imbecile 25 to 50 Moderate learning disability Feeble minded (moron) 50 to 70 Mild learning disability Those with an IQ of less than 50 usually need care throughout life and are unlikely to educable in the formal sense Rosie ----- Original Message ----- From: "Rosie" <rosemaryryden@hotmail.com> To: <ENG-SHROPSHIRE-PLUS-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, July 28, 2006 9:22 AM Subject: Re: [ENG-SHROP] Workhouse Information. > funnily enough I found something on this some time ago. However, I appear > to have lost it. Typical! I have had a Google around and have found the > following extract on a message board on genealogy. I trust they will not > mind its reproduction here: > > "I have just received the April edition of the Family Tree magazine which > has part 2 of an article about hospitals for the mentally ill. It gives > the following definitions in use until the beginning of the 20thC: > imbecile - 'mental age of an infant' > idiot - 'natural fool from birth' > lunatic - 'sometimes of good and sound memory and understanding, and > sometimes not' > > It goes on to say that the Mental Deficiency Act of 1913 introduced > revised definitions: > idiot - 'unable to guard themselves against physical danger' > imbecile - 'incapable of managing themselves or their affairs' > feeble minded - 'needing care or control for the protection of themselves > or others' > moral defective - those possessed of 'vicious or criminal propensities' > > It them goes on to say that giving birth out of wedlock was considered a > form of moral insanity and hence unmarried mothers were classed as 'moral > defectives'. > lunatic - retained its old definitions until 1930, when it was redefined > to mean 'a person of unsound mind' > > It mentions several interesting looking links, one that looks particularly > good being: > > http://www.mdx.ac.uk/www/study/mhhtim.htm " > > Hope this is of some help > Rosie > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Martin Adams" <martin@adams3606.fsnet.co.uk> > To: <ENG-SHROPSHIRE-PLUS-L@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Thursday, July 27, 2006 4:06 PM > Subject: [ENG-SHROP] Workhouse Information. > > >> Hello all, >> This I know is a delicate subject but can any one please tell me where I >> can find the definitions used in the census' for inmates of workhouses. >> For example what did they consider the differences between an idiot an >> imbecile or a lunatic. There must have been some set criteria but I can't >> find them anywhere. >> Thanks for any help >> Regards >> Martin >> >> >> ==== ENG-SHROPSHIRE-PLUS Mailing List ==== >> DO NOT send virus/worm/hoax warnings to the list. If you receive a >> suspicious e-mail with an attachment, delete it. >> Virus discussions are a no-no. >> >> ============================== >> Search the US Census Collection. Over 140 million records added in the >> last 12 months. Largest online collection in the world. Learn more: >> http://www.ancestry.com/s13965/rd.ashx >> >> > > > ==== ENG-SHROPSHIRE-PLUS Mailing List ==== > DO NOT send virus/worm/hoax warnings to the list. If you receive a > suspicious e-mail with an attachment, delete it. Virus discussions are a > no-no. > > ============================== > Census images 1901, 1891, 1881 and 1871, plus so much more. > Ancestry.com's United Kingdom & Ireland Collection. Learn more: > http://www.ancestry.com/s13968/rd.ashx > >