Unusual description of a wife's occupation

[Pennines]

On the 1851 Census of Lewes in Sussex, I came across the attached description of a lady - in the occupation column.

Had that been me - I don't think I would have been quite so explicit!

[Viktoria]

I can’t make out what it says, something looks like Lanatic, don’t think it is an F though.
Lanatic ? ale …….?Two words bracketed together ?
Do say what you see it as.
Viktoria.

Lunatic since Infancy? 
Oh poor soul. V.

[BumbleB]

Wife of a lunatic in an asylum.

[Pennines]

Yes BumbleB - that's what it says.

Sorry Viktoria, I probably should have clarified what it said. (Very descriptive of her situation).

[Gadget]

Is she the Household Head  or, if not, could the Head have given that info?

[BumbleB]

Exactly, but when she was asked, that was her response!

[Pennines]

She was a Visitor with a family - so it would have been the Head of the house who gave that description.

However, I still thought it funny (which is insensitive I know) AND unusual  -- so I just wanted to share it. I have never seen such a description before.

[KGarrad]

The Lunacy Act 1845 was an important landmark in the treatment of the mentally ill, as it explicitly changed the status of mentally ill people to patients who required treatment. The Act created the Lunacy Commission, headed by Lord Shaftesbury, to focus on lunacy legislation reform.

The term "Lunatic Asylum" was still in common use in 1851.

[Pennines]

There is a book 'My Ancestor was a Lunatic'.

I think I heard once that there were 3 types of Lunatics - but I can't remember what they were!!

Actually one of my Great Grandfathers died in an Asylum - a bit of a worry, as that relationship isn't too far back from me. I did obtain his admission papers from the Archives - very interesting reading.

He was only 46 years old when he died.