what exactely is an idiot?!

[busylizzie123]

Since Down syndrome is a chromosomal disorder caused by an error in cell division, the likelihood of such an error occuring increases with maternal age. This means that an older mother is more likely to give birth to a child with Down sydrome than her younger counterpart. However, overall, fewer older mothers have babies than younger ones

I was under the impression it was older mother's, so googled the above
 there are always exception to the rules

[Viktoria]

The amniocentesis tests which analyse the ambniotic fluid in the womb to determine whether or not an unborn baby had Down`s syndrome was formerly only offered to older mothers -to-be.
I think the age was above 35. However I am always happy to be corrected and obviously I am not up to date with things nowadays.
I do feel that some words-terms- would be painful to me were I the mother of a child who was severely handicapped and for that reason try not to use them .
I have worked with special needs children and get very angry when some people argue that money in education spent on such children holds bright children back. So what---- bright children have it in their own hands to do well, they are very very lucky, were born lucky. It is the opposite end of the spectrum that I worry about.When you do your best for a lovely child with specal educational needs because an Educational Psychologist thinks it is worth doing, yet others think it a waste of money and you then have to defend the wages you earn doing it  ,it does make you very angry.I had better close now. Getting aeriated!!!    Viktoria.

[busylizzie123]

We are a little off topic now

[whatwasthat]

This thread started off on what was a legitimate question-or I thought as much. Then we have silly smiles and mentions of surrounded by water etc. Im no expert but I would suggest some really need to take a closer look at social history. There was and never has been a law against 2nd cousins marrying- in fact most of you would confuse a 2nd cousin to a first cousin once removed. As for Birkenhead being surrouned by water-I never realised it was an island-perhaps some are confusing it with the Isle of Man.

[whatwasthat]

We are a little off topic now

Indeed Lizzie,being new Im still trying to work out where down syndrome came into it.

[busylizzie123]

Indeed Lizzie,being new Im still trying to work out where down syndrome came into it.

I added a post  but you need to read the thread to understand why, i've lost the plot too

Oh and welcome whatwasthat, not been on long myself either, still new to it all . but learning fast, great bunch on here who have helped me loads

[Sloe Gin]

Im still trying to work out where down syndrome came into it.

The topic is about individuals who were described as idiots, imbeciles etc in the Victorian censuses.  It seems reasonable to speculate that some might have had what is now called Down's Syndrome.

[nedda]

Hi,

I've read the posts, but just wondering I have a relative that has "idiot" next to his name only on the 1881 census? Does this mean in the census's after he was cured?? 

The funny thing is, he doesn't appear on the 1891 or 1901 census, he wasn't with his family and doesn't appear anywhere. Wonder if this means that they institutionalised him in London??

He died when he was 72, and had 9 kids, so he was able to provide for his family.

Appreciate any idea's, as you can appreciate got to explain "idiot" notation to the family.

Nedda

[Sloe Gin]

People in asylums were often listed by initials only.

You don't say when he was born, is 1881 his first appearance on a census?  If he was older, and 'idiot' only appeared in later censuses, it could be a case of dementia, or possibly an accident resulting in some kind of brain damage or mental impairment.

Then again, it could just be an enumerator's error.