<From: Jennifer Penner <jennifer_penner@alumni.sfu.ca> <Date: Mon, 09 May 2005 07:35:24 -0700 <To: ENG-WORCESTER-L@rootsweb.com <Subject: Popwick lunatic assylum <Does anyone know the correct definition for idiot? Beside her occupation <it also said Ref, could be Rel. some of the other inmates had that on their <line as well. Any ideas what this means? Thanks Jenn ______________________________ Hi Jen, Linking it with the term "Village idiot" I have always assumed it meant Down's Syndrome, which has always been present in local populations with a high incidence in the children of older women. The babies had a much shorter lifespan before surgical intervention. The label seemed to indicate someone relatively harmless (rather than maniac of lunatic) but it carried a social stigma which meant that many who survived infancy were put into the workhouse out of sight of the local community. I wonder whether the term imbecile was linked with other condition such as cerebral palsy. Someone else may know this! Best wishes Lin Watterson On the sunny Isle of Wight. Current interests include CLIFFORD (Lichfield Staffs and Birmingham) THOMAS (Dudley) and PEARSON (Dudley)