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.

    18/18 (page 18)
    From the history of this movement, as sketched in the preceding pages, we think the following deductions may be legitimately drawn :— 1. That very many, perhaps a majority of children, born with such defects of the nervous system as issue in idiocy or imbecility, are sus¬ ceptible of great improvement, both in mind and body, under appro¬ priate treatment and training. 2. That all fatuous children ought to be subjected to the proper means of education in institutions devoted to the purpose. 3. That such institutions ought to be superintended, or conducted by, properly qualified medical men. Some distinguished members of the medical profession in Den¬ mark, Prussia, Saxony, and Wurtemburg, have, more or less recently, devoted themselves to the forwarding of this good work in various ways. For example, in Copenhagen, the learned Professor of Physiology in the University, Dr Eschricht, published last year an interesting treatise “ On the Possibility of Educating Idiot Children to become useful mem¬ bers of Society.” In the same city. Dr Hybertz has published an ela¬ borate statistical inquiry into the extent to which idiocy prevails in the various countries of Europe ; and has also devoted himself to the treatment of a certain number of children affected with it. Mr Molden- hawer, also, in the Danish capital, has commenced a work of the same kind ; while in Schleswig, Dr Hansen is similarly employed. Dr Sagert of Berlin, Director of the Royal Institution for the Deaf and Dumb in that city, has written much and well on the treatment of idiocy, and has, for several years, laboured personally in training imbecile chil¬ dren. At Bendorf, near Coblenz, Dr Erlenmeyer has a small establish¬ ment of the same kind. In Saxony, Dr Kern at Leipsic, and Dr Glasche at Hubertsburg, near Dresden; in Wurtemburg, Dr Muller at Winterbach, and Dr Zimmer at Mariaberg,—are all in charge of insti¬ tutions for treating idiocy, varying in extent. A proof of the zeal in this good cause which exists in Denmark, has lately been shewn in the mission of a gentleman, in all respects well qualified, charged by the government of that country to visit, and re¬ port upon, all the institutions for the cure of idiocy in Europe. This commissioner, (Mr John Moldenhawer, who published last year an account of the German establishments), after having visited the English schools, came to Edinburgh, in expectation of seeing something worthy of his attention, and was disappointed. Dundee alone, in all Scotland, could furnish him with the material for his report. The subject of the treatment of idiocy lately engaged the attention of the Academy of Medicine at Paris ; a paper on it having been read be¬ fore that body in July last, by M. Delasiauve, physician in charge of the epileptics and idiots at Bicetre. This author homologates the axiom of Voisin, regarding the object of the education of the idiot, namely, to develop what already exists. He announces a' classification of idiots with reference to their various degrees of aptitude for education, and suggests some improvements, both of a general and special kind, which he thinks ought to be introduced into establishments devoted to the cure of idiocy.