Library Collections: Document: Full Text

Providentially, and fortunately for society, it may be added, the lower the stage in the descending scale of degeneracy, the power of endurance diminishes, and the survivals of the unfortunates are continually more infrequent. Now, for such as these a place of custody, whereby system in the management and the proper appliance, a relief from positive misery and suffering, a degree of comfort, and at the same time some improvement in the habits can be secured, is not alone of service to the individual and a great relief to the average family of the community, or even those in charge of the ordinary county asylum, but is a positive gain to the productive power of the State.

Separation of any dependent class from the ordinary life or circumstances of the community, or even from the aggregated masses of the county poor-houses, properly conducted, does not increase its burdensomeness, but should reduce it to its minimum.

Prompted by such considerations, and after some experience of its operation, the work of separating and caring for the class of idiots by themselves has been determined upon by the authorities in England, and with the warm approval of the commissioners of lunacy of that country.

Canada is just now following in the same steps, by the establishment of custodial institutions for idiots, as out-departments of their several insane asylums.

There is another class, constituting the mass of idiots, with physical constitutions superior to those already described. In these the physical defect and infirmity is less deep seated and less marked. The bodily functions are impaired in their action to a less degree. The capacity for improvement, mentally and morally, is latent, because the mental life is not spontaneous in its action. It does not seek, through the active exercise of the senses, the aliment that should minister to its growth and strength. It does not feel the motives of action that lie above the range of appetite or passion. It grovels, while it should rise in the scale of being. And while the spirit thus fails in a proper, active out-going, a crust of habits of inertia and indifference forms about it and grows continually more impervious to external influences.

Socially speaking, it may be said, that while the existence of such as these is less a dead-weight upon the energies of any community than those of a lower grade of idiocy, yet in themselves they are equally unproductive. Their wants in the way of shelter, food and clothing, are to be supplied without their aid; and very often this state of unproductiveness is accompanied by disagreeable habits and annoying dispositions.

Higher than these in the scale of intelligence are those to whom the term weak-minded may be properly applied. For in their physical aspect they are hardly distinguishable from ordinary persons; and yet, through some subtle default in the functional action of the brain or other nervous tissue, in their mental expression and moral traits, they are imperfect and exceptional. However, to the practiced observer, even these have certain physical marks, related either as cause or consequence to the mental states within, that are quite well defined and certain just as partial deafness is heard in the tones of the deaf man's voice, and even seen in the expression of his face.

These cases so defined are just enough below the rank and file of human beings, in all the attributes of the race, to be forced to the rear in the progress from infancy to manhood. And this enforced disposition of them, or rather this dropping out of line, leaves them without the occupations and the impulses suited to their age, and by which and through which the growth and development of their fellows is secured. Want of occupation, in early life, means want of occasion for thought, for the exercise of the will, for self-determination, and the individual is left to be taken possession of by habits that wall him in from future purpose or effort. Sometimes a vicious self-education goes on, guided by appetite, passion or a spirit of mischief; and the result is seen in low cunning, petty misdemeanors, or even serious crimes that endanger the peace and safety of community.

Each of these conditions of the several classes thus rudely sketched, and without attempt at scientific precision, has its own mode or form of impairing the soundness of the state and depressing its social activities and industrial forces. Each may be such a source of trouble, cost and anxiety, to family and friends, as to leave it an open question, in philanthropy, which of them is most deserving of sympathy and aid.

But for these two last classes described, something more than custody is needed, in the effort to ameliorate their condition. They are not beyond the reach of training and instruction. The bodily health can be confirmed. The muscular powers can be developed and brought under the control of the will. The noticeable want of co-ordination in these physical forces can be made to give place to a measure of prompt action and dexterity. The avenues of sensation may be opened; the perceptive faculties may be awakened to a natural life; the intelligence may be quickened and enlarged ; and these may be combined into a capacity for useful occupation and habits of industry.