Crétins and idiots : a short account of the progress of the institutions for their relief and cure.

Date:
1853
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Crétins and idiots : a short account of the progress of the institutions for their relief and cure. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by King’s College London. The original may be consulted at King’s College London.

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    founded and endowed with lands in the middle ages ; in these days it is a labour of extreme difficulty to establish, by private exertion, a permanent Institution for the benefit of the poor. But surely this noble endeavour to extirpate the dreadful malady of Cretinism from the country ought to receive cordial support from each Canton, and the future existence of the Institution be secured. Owing to the height of the situation, the labour of carrying up all such provisions as are not produced on the mountain is very great and expensive. There have been several English and Scotch Children in the Institu- tion, who have derived benefit there, when all other means had failed to give relief. May the liberal contributions of the generous aid in the extension and permanent existence of the first model Institution which has led the way to so many others, and proved the possibility of relief, and even of cure, of the formerly neglected Cretin and Idiot. On the death of the late Dr. William Twining, in November, 1848, the miserable Cretins of Switzerland, as well as the poor Idiots of England, lost a zealous friend and benefactor. Others have arisen to fill the void, and to aid in the great work of extending relief towards the afflicted children in all countries. May the cause spread far and wide, and excite that general sympathy which it so truly de- serves. The result of twelve years labour and experience has proved that one third of these poor Cretins have been perfectly restored : and in no case has a relapse occurred. The rest have been consider- ably improved in body and mind. With increased knowledge derived from careful study, it is to be hoped that still more successful results will be obtained. It has been clearly ascertained that an elevated situation is essential : and other discoveries have been made, all tend- ing to aid in the means of relief and cure. The contributions of the generous and wealthy are alone wanting to extend the benefit to greater numbers of the afflicted and poor. It is impossible even for the rich to provide advantages for an Idiot child in their osvn home, equal to those afforded by a well regulated Institution. In a private family every care may be bestowed, and the imbecile child have a separate room and especial attendant; but solitude is un- favourable for the development of an imperfectly organised child ; cheerfulness and intercourse with its fellow creatures is essential to the happiness of every human creature, whether high or low in the scale of intellect or position in the world. Many persons have a dread of sending an Idiot child into an Institution amongst others of various degrees of imbecility. It is, however, now satisfactorily proved that the poor children, almost without exception, imitate the good habits, rather than the bad ways of their companions. It is very remarkable how quickly they obtain some perception of the difference between good and bad behaviour. A few months residence in the Institutions of Park House or Essex Hall suffices to teach good manners ; and those who have already learnt how to behave with propriety at meals, are distressed at the rudeness of the new comers, quite unconscious that they were themselves equally rude and dis-
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