The Express.
London, England, 1867-09-21 00:00:00

SECTION B.— Eocc.triolr.

Dr. ANDRZWS presided in this department. The room
was crowded, and considerable interest was manifestal in
the proceedings. A good number of persons desirous of
being present were unable to get admission. Amongst
those present were—The Lord Bishop of Down and Connor
and Dromore, the Moderator of the General Assembly
(Rev. J. Montgomery), and Charles Lanyon, M.P. The
special question for discussion was " What is the best
method for educating the idiotic and imbecile, and ought
the State to subsidize educational establishments for
such persons ?"
Dr. W. M'Cormac read a paper contributed by Mr. J.
Langdon H. Donn M.D., who was unable to attend. The
contributor said he believed the greatest proportion of
idiocy was to be found amongst the lower *lames—
amongst those who are constantly engaged in a struggle
for existence. The first necessity of an idiot was to give
him companionship. Any system pretending to be efficient
should combine medical„ phykical, moral, and intellectual
treatment. It should be founded on a beats of medicine.
The surroundings of an establishment for the cure of idiots
should be agreeable. It was impossible to improve the
physical condition without also improving the brain. The
influence of discipline and training bad a very appreciable
effect on the mental condition of the subject. Corporal
punishment should be avoided, and a kindly tact should
be exercised by the teacher. Self support should be in
every way encouraged. He strongly contended that
pauper idiots should be provided for by the counties, but
should never be treated in the lunatic asylums. He advo-
cated voluntary effort to provide fur the wants of these
unfortunate persons.
Mr. Lambert, one of the secretaries, read a paper con-
tributed by Mr. Martin Duncan, M.D., of Essex Hall, on
the same question.
Dr. G. H. Kidd read a paper on the same subject. He
said he regretted there was no institution in Ireland for
the care of idiots exclusively, and they could not, there-
fore, speak from personal experience. He quite agreed
I with former speakers that the system of herding lunatics
avid idiots together was most objectionable. Dr. Kidd
entered into statistics of idiots in the United Kingdom,
with a view of showing that there was no real provision
made for their necessities. At the last census there were
7,033 idiot' in Ireland ; of these 5,075 were at large, either
wanderers or under the care of their friends ; 403 were in
asylums, 934 in workhouses, and 21 in prisons. The
writer referred to the proposed establishment in Dublin,
started under the auspices of. Lord KintbeeleY, and sup-
ported by the present lord-lieutenant. Under such aus-
pices it could not fail ; but there was still a deficiency of
funds amounting to some 3,000/. which he appealed hope-
fully to the public to subscribe. The address was very
favourably received, and the speaker sat down amid gene-
ral applause.
Dr. Skse said the best method for educating the idiotic
and imbecile was to be gathered from the papers, The
greatest treat he thought was a visit to such an institution
as Earisfort, where there were some hundreds of happy
boys and girls. He thought it a purely philanthropic
pursuit, and neither state nor parochial endowment was •
fair demand. The community should take the first step in
this matter, and perhaps the state might in some way
supplement the effort. (Bear, hear.)
The Bishop of Down said the state should make ar-
rangements for the idiot pauper. (Hear, hear.) He
thought the asylums should be erected by public sub-
scription, and these institutions should be then en-
dowed by the government through the rates on the
county. He thought the voluntary efforts of the philan-
thropic would make up the deficiency of a small rate. He
hoped the work would be proceeded with at once.
Dr. Braeebridge, Birmingham, very briefly referred to
the efforts now being made in England.
Mr. Lanyon, M.l'., spoke to the question. He pro-
mised them, whenever the question of state support mine
before parliament, is should have his warmest support.
Dr. Arnold contended that the condition of the pauper
idiots in this country was most disastrous and discreditable.
A voluntary paper, " On the Condition of the Deal and
Dumb," was read by the Rev. John Kiugham.