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.

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    ignorant and untrained, but gentle and tractable. She required much stimulating before she would take an interest in any employment. She has been one year at the institution. Her sluggishness has been in a great measure overcome, and her progress is now most satisfactory. Her atten¬ tion has been much directed to needlework and house employments, in both of which she promises to excel. From having been allowed much licence at home there was some difficulty in bringing her into habits of obe¬ dience ; but she is now so steady and orderly as to cause little trouble, and even to encourage a hope that, if spared, she will prove a useful servant in the establishment. 44 H. B., aged eight at the time of his admission; was violent and unma¬ nageable to a great degree ; subject to tits of rage, during which he would throw himself on the floor, kicking and screaming, until exhausted. In walking through the streets he was with difficulty restrained from rushing into the shops, and seizing everything he saw in them, and has frequently attracted the notice of those passing by. He could only articulate a few broken sentences ; nor could he give an answer to a question. He is now able to read and write fairly, can repeat many texts of Scripture, hymns, &c., and is perfectly orderly when walking, asking questions as to what he sees passing around him. His temper is equally improved. 44 G. C. was nine at the time of her admission. She was so unruly at home as to be generally tied to the table, which she would drag about the room. She is now perfectly under control; reads, writes, and works at her needle; assists also at household work, washing and dressing the younger children. 44 The success of the Bath institution will afford encouragement to others to commence the same work elsewhere; and, surely, no one can be con¬ sidered more necessary—more charitable. The experience of the past af¬ fords strong hope for the future, if only means be supplied to carry out the plans now in contemplation. These are, in the first place, to secure a large and more commodious dwelling; and, secondly, thoroughly to instruct the inmates, according to their capacity, in various trades and employments, by which they may be able hereafter to support, or assist to support, them¬ selves. For, it must be remembered, this institution is strictly for educa¬ tion and training, and not intended to be an asylum or permanent abode.” It was also in 1846 (the same year that witnessed the opening of the Bath Institution,) that a notice of Dr Guggenbuhl’s hospice, was pub¬ lished in Chambers s Edinburgh Journal. This was reprinted as a se¬ parate pamphlet, and was the means of exciting no small interest in the object here. It was, we believe, written by the late Madame Gaussen of Geneva, a native of Scotland, who, for many years, took the greatest interest in, and did much to promote the welfare of, the Abendberg hospital. Another tract from her pen, which was forwarded to this country by Dr Guggenbuhl for publication, appeared in 1848, with an introduction by Dr Coldstream of this city, and supplies the most complete and interesting account of this now famous institution which we possess.1 The most important step that has yet been taken in this work was the formation of a large society in London in 1847, for the establish¬ ment and support of an asylum for idiots. The prime mover in this scheme was the Rev. Dr Andrew Reed of Hackney, a well-known and much respected Congregationalist minister. He still acts as honorary 1 The Abendberg, an Alpine retreat for the treatment of Infant Cretins. Edin¬ burgh : Kennedy.