Genealogy Chat

I was looking trawling through the census's earlier and found members in an aslyum. The people in there were as young as 25. I found it really sad as some of these people may not have been mad at all, I read some where that women who got pregnant and were unmarried were often put in these places. Very very sad. Julie

hi julie, my mum knew of someone who was put into an institution back in the 40s and she said that the only thing that she'd done wrong was to steal from a shop. i believe she was let out in the 60s i dont know what became of her . hazel.

My great grandmother was 'sent' to Storthes Hall near Huddersfield in 1919. It turns out that she was was suffering from terminal kidney failure, and this was the only institution in the district that could hope to care for her. There was nothing wrong with her mental state at all.

My uncle contracted T B when he was around 6 years old and was left unable to hear or speak. My grandparents who i assume could not ccope sent him to a School or home of some type in Youghal Co Cork. Which is where he died. because of his disabilitys my Dad and i often wonder if he was treated ok. My Grandparents used to visit him all the time, but because he could not speak we will never know. Julie

Slightly off topic, but to show that people weren't always treated appropriately - my aunt who was mentally handicapped but able to live independently, hit a US serviceman during WW2 because he made a pass at her. (She was about 16). She was sent to a home for unmarried mothers, even though she wasn't pregnant. She managed to get to the house where my mother was working as a nanny, about 100 miles away, and my mum took her to her parents.

My great great grandfather was admitted to an asylum...we've seen his records..he had epilepsy! What a shame. Suzanne

Hi Eleanor Would an imbecile be someone who would now be described as having severe learning disability and a lunatic someone with acute or chronic symptoms of a mental illness? That sounds as though I know what I am talking about! Jenny

just googled imbecile this is what itcame up with Medical Directory > Health > Medical Dictionary im·be·cile (ĭm'bə-sĭl, -səl) n. A person of moderate to severe mental retardation having a mental age of from three to seven years and generally being capable of some degree of communication and performance of simple tasks under supervision. The term belongs to a classification system no longer . The defination of A lunatic (colloquially: 'loony') is commonly used term for a person who is mentally ill, dangerous, foolish or unpredictable, a condition once called lunacy. Julie

Children in the workhouse wouldn't necessarily be scrubbing floors. They'd be fed and clothed, sheltered and given a basic education until they could be placed in work. Think of Oliver Twist, who was apprenticed to the undertaker. If their mothers were in the workhouse, or had died, the workhouse would have been a grim alternative to life on the streets - begging, or ending up as child prostitutes.

Case Book transcription - Edith Annie Craven - C85/3/6/60/p541-542 Page 2 of 2< prev Transcription of diary July 26. Patient has been dejected and very restless much of the time since admission. In an hour or more after being put to bed the first night she stayed, danced about, struggled, and would not be appeased. 11 grains of choral hydrate were then given, afterwards patient slept all night. Last night she slept well until 5 this morning. The only words she has uttered intelligibly, ? , are ''mama'', ''bit of cake''. Patient has passed her evacuations in her clothes and bed, has made no effort to be clean, neither has she responded to endeavours to keep her clean. She has been restless all the time when awake, several times has climbed on to chairs and tables. Has fed herself, but very hastily. Has thrown herself on the floor in a passion when displeased. No fit. Bowels moved yesterday. Present Mental State - Patient is gay, playful, constantly restless, makes childlike noises indicative of pleasure. Seizes a pencil when it is shown to her and immediately puts one end of it into her mouth: has no idea of its purpose. Is utterly inattentive to all that is said to her: does not appear to hear or apprehend anything said. Makes efforts to speak, spontaneously: ''lipsala'' and ''loennum'' are the only intelligible sounds she uttered during examination Physical Condition: Patient shows no deformity of the head, trunk and limbs; no stiffness or degeneracy found. She looks bright and pretty. Has a fresh clean complexion Expression is not epileptic or unduly idiotic. Features regular. Irises dark brown. Reactions cannot be made with precision because of patients' restlessness and resistance: pupils constantly large. Good bodily condition: height - 3 foot 6 inches. Weight 43 lbs. Skin normal. On admission were noted a small, old scar at outer muscle of left orbit - no bruise. ……over left lung………..normal. Respiratory system - Normal Circulatory system - Normal Digestive system - Teeth well shaped, sound: tongue clean. No increase of liver or spleen….. Abdominal digestive organs appear to be normal Genito-urinary System - Urine 1030, acid, clear, light - brownish yellow. No sugar, no albumen. Diagnosis - idiocy Causation - Prognosis - Hopeless Treatment - Non medicinal at present L. Birt August 3. Discharged at request of parents L. Birt August 3rd 1896 Discharged not improved L Birt G.M.O

Case Book transcription - Edith Annie Craven - C85/3/6/60/p541-542 Page 1 of 2 next > Transcription of diary No. of Admission: 11.421 Name: Edith Annie Craven Occupation: None Admitted on the: 24th day of July 1896 Age: 5 years Married, Single or Widowed: 'Single' Religious persuasion: 'Church of England' Previous place of abode: 58 Skircoat Green, Halifax Whether first attack: Yes Duration: 3 ½ years Age on first attack: 18 months Previous care: Mother Supposed cause: Epilepsy Epilepsy: Yes Suicidal: No Dangerous: Yes, she pinches any other children Name and residence of nearest known relative: John Crown St, Skircoat Green, Halifax Number of children: Can he read and write: Heredity: Habits destructive: Habits degraded: Vicious, etc: Drink or other vice: Cranial injury: Criminal family history: Neurotic: Re-admission for a year: Facts observed by: E H Hachete Siddal Halifax. She is now in a most restless state and if her mother lets her go rushes wildly about the room shouting in an incoherent manner when asked a question she makes no answer, but dances up and down staring fixedly at the questioner. Other facts communicated: John Craven her father states that three and a half years ago she started with epilepsy and gradually lost her reason. She is now unable to speak and has to be constantly watched, or she runs away and cannot find her way back. She has to be tied into bed to keep her there. S P Knowles History: patient began to have fits when she was 18 months old. At first the fits were only light faints: they gradually have become stronger and her mind has deteriorated. She never could be taught anything. Lately has been very restless especially at night. Has had no fits since last Easter. Family History: Has intemperance, ? , insanity and fits. Patient has 2 sisters younger than herself, both are healthy. L.Birt.

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I used to work in a special hospital with elderly ladies many who had been placed in care as children. The circumstances were often very sad children who had been born in the workhouse and their parents were deemed unfit - sometimes disabled themselves children deemed to be suffering from moral impairment after having committed theft or minor assaults and often children suffering from cerebral palsy,deafness or epilepsy and ofcourse unmarried mothers. Many of the girls came from very good families. So sad I once attended a 90th birthday party for a blind lady who had been in special hospitals for 80 years.

My Great Aunt Ethel was put in a lunatic asylum (St Ebba's in Epsom) at the age of about 13 just before WW1. When she started menstruating she had an epileptic fit and was thought to be 'possessed'. She stayed there until her menopause in about 1960. She wasn't even allowed out for her parents funerals. I know she was on medication, but I don't know whether the fits continued for the whole of her time in the asylum. As a child I wasn't aware of her existence until she was released when I was about 11 as it wasn't talked about in the family. She worked in the laundry at the hospital and lost the sight of one eye in an accident involving another inmate. When Ethel was released (into the care of a nurse from the asylum I believe, in whose house she lived) she travelled extensively both here and abroad. At the age of about 75 she was given a flat of her own in a sheltered accommodation complex, but unfortunately only lived there a short while before her death from cancer. God bless you Auntie Ethel - I hope you are at peace now. Sue

what terribly sad stories it certainly makes you think doesnt it ??