what exactely is an idiot?!

[rachelralph]

one of my dads great x2 uncles was listed in 51 cenus as idiot in the occupation coloumn. then in the 61 census he is listed as nil under occupation and idiot in the last coloumn. i then lose track of him, i would assume he died at a youngish age. am i right in thinking idiot meant a mental disorder that you were born with?
what i would like to know is if i did order his death cert (if i can find it!) would it tell me exactely what kind of 'idiocy' he was suffering from?

the only reason i ask about whether it was a birth problem too, is because the mother seems to have died quite young, and a few of my mans siblings seem to be living at home unmarried into their late 40's with no spouse. i am wondering whether this was a hereditary problem?

[CaroleW]

It was the dreadful term used in those days for a person who was born mentally retarded

[aghadowey]

Death certificate will list cause of death- which might be something like pneumonia, tb, etc. I've seen 'idiot' in census refer to children who were most likely what's now termed autistic and those with cerebral palsy.

[stanmapstone]

It was only in the 1871 Census that people were asked whether any member of the household was an 'imbecile or idiot' or 'feeble-minded', a question that was retained until the 1911 Census.
The exact definitions of terms such as 'lunatic', 'imbecile', 'idiot' and 'feeble-minded' are extremely problematic. According to the 1881 Census Report;
No accurate line of demarcation can be drawn between the several conditions indicated by these terms. Speaking generally, however, the term idiot is applied in popular usage simply to those who suffer from congenital mental deficiency, and the term imbecile to persons who have fallen in later life into a state of chronic dementia. But it is certain that neither this nor any other definite distinction between the terms was rigorously observed in the schedules, and consequently no attempt has been made by us to separate imbeciles from idiots. The term lunatic also is used with some vagueness, and probably some persons suffering from congenital idiocy, and many more suffering from dementia, were returned under this name.
Considering that householders, who could be illiterate, were being asked to give information about medical disabilities without any definition of the terms being used the answers should be treated with caution. Also they would be unwilling to admit  that anyone in the family had medical disabilities.

If you want to find out more look at
On the Diagnosis and Prognosis of Idiocy and Imbecility
http://www.personal.dundee.ac.uk/~mksimpso/IreDiag.htm
See http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,405872.msg2741392.html#msg2741392

Stan

[LizzieL]

Does anyone know whether the term "idiot" is interchangeable with the term "lunatic". A distant rellie of mine was listed on early censuses living with wife and children and occupation was a Painter, then in three subsequent censuses he was in an asylum and was listed as a lunatic. Correspondence with a direct ancestor who had done more detailed research confirmed he was epileptic. I don't know whether he was afflicted as a child and it got worse in his 40s or it was as a result of an accident later. 

[rachelralph]

its just so sad. my nephew has epilepsy but he is quite literally a child genius. he is advanced in his mental age by a good 10 years. we wouldnt dream of refering to him in anyway a lunatic.

i have a funny feeling my man had something like cerabel palsy (excuse spelling) as like i said a lot of his family members were still being cared for at home while in their 30's and 40's.  the mother also has disappeared from the 71 census even though her husband says he was still married not widowed, leading me to believe that she may be in 'care' if it can be called that!

[KitCarson]

My understanding of 'idiot' would be a mental impairment.  That could be from birth or from say an accident during childhood or adulthood.  I don't think a physical medical impairment, such as a palsy, would be classed in the same context, even then.  I would say that there is a distinct difference in what these display?

Others will be more expert though.  Kit

[Redroger]

I am sure too that people would attempt to abuse family members who they had quarrelled with in this way.

[dragongirl]

 my great grandfathers aunt was listed on every Census  as idiot
 or imbecile depending who was filling in the Census form. All
through her long life she was looked after by Relatives firstly  her
  Mum and Dad' then through siblings until the end when her last widowed sister died. I searched for her and found her in Leominster Workhouse and she was dead within the year. I felt so sorry as if  I had  known her it was so sad and quite a shock
really I suppose  there were no more Relatives living locally to
care for her