The education of the imbecile, and the improvement of invalid youth.

Date:
1856
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The education of the imbecile, and the improvement of invalid youth. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    14/18 (page 14)
    I recognised him, so changed was his appearance. 1 wa3 struck particu¬ larly by the fresh and healthy appearance of his skin and complexion, which was formerly pale and haggard. “ If, sir, he is a fair sample of what training and education can do for idiots, I can only say, God speed you in your endeavours to build up such an institution—it has but to be known to be appreciated, and to have the views of its founders carried into successful operation.—I remain very truly, &c., Samuel Downer, Jr.” In Philadelphia and New York also, more recently, asylums or schools for the defective have been instituted, and are now in successful opera¬ tion. Although, as we have seen, it was in Scotland that some of the earliest suggestions as to the feasibility of ameliorating the condition of the fatuous by appropriate training were made, yet it was not until 1852 that the work was actually begun in this country. The subject having attracted the attention of Sir John and Lady Jane Ogilvy, (whose beneficent labours amongst the poor of Dundee had made them familiar with all the multiform causes of distress affecting the lower grades of society,) they generously resolved to erect, at their own ex¬ pense, an institution for educating the imbecile, on their estate of Bal¬ dovan, about four miles from Dundee. The Baldovan Orphanage and Asy¬ lum also enjoys the distinguished patronage of Her Majesty and His Royal Highness Prince Albert. A handsome structure was reared and opened for the reception of inmates about a year ago. Under the same roof, but under a totally different management, there is a small institu¬ tion for orphans and other destitute children, belonging to the Scottish Episcopal Church in Dundee. “ The advantage of having such children, healthy in body and mind, to be companions for the imbecile children during their play hours, when they have advanced to a certain stage of cure, need hardly be pointed out.” The department for idiot children is well arranged, and capable of accommodating between twenty and thirty children, with attendants. Dr Fleming of Dundee is the physician in ordinary to this establishment, which enjo}Ts also the advantage of being watched over, both by the benevolent founders, and by a committee of intelligent gentlemen, especially interested in the work, through local con¬ nections and otherwise. The details of treatment and training are super¬ intended by Miss Bodman, an accomplished educator, who has acquired the principles of her art in the schools of Switzerland and London. It is too soon to speak of the results obtained at Baldovan, but we have reason to believe that these have been as encouraging as elsewhere. No report has .yet been published. It is not to be carried on as an elee¬ mosynary institution, but rather as a self-supporting one. Neverthe¬ less, the charges for children of the humbler classes are so moderate that some parochial boards are found willing to place certain of their poor imbeciles there. Superior accommodation is provided for young persons accustomed to the refinements of higher life. Deeply impressed as we are, with a sense of the gratitude which the nation owes to the. worthy baronet and his lady, who have so liberally and well commenced this good work in Scotland, we cannot but hope that they will have the satisfaction of seeing their example followed in many parts of the country. This, we are assured, would be regarded