Hospitals for the mentally ill

I have now found several people from my families who were at some time in one of these institutes. No idea why. Some were later 'released' others perhaps not. Thinking of all of the dire things these people may have endured apart from brain injuries from varies occurrances, the materials they worked with & the rotten treatment some lived with in poor circumstances. Strewth! some people were even caught reading books !! or being a female. I think most of us have read the list of reasons why people were put into mental establishments.

Sad times, but we cannot know just went on in the homes of our rellies way back then

 

Just a little extra to lighten the mood

Talking of mental asylums, when my Dad applied for the post of Porter at The Royal Albert Asylum he was invited for an interview.

Arriving a little earlier than expected he decided to have a look around the grounds, a man joined him dressed in an overall jacket & started to make conversation with Dad asking him if he had just arrived & what he had come for, Dad, naturally told the man he had come for an interview as a porter, 'is it nice working here?' asked Dad, 'oh yes' said the man, 'How long have you been here' asked Dad, 'over 30 years' said the man.

As it was nearly time for Dad's interview he asked the man to point him in the direction of the Head Porter's Office, 'Come this way ' said the man & took him to the office, after knocking politely they both entered. The man behind the desk looked up & said 'I see you've met Harold, Mr J', 'Yes' said Dad.

'Right', said the HP, 'take that jacket off Harold & get back to your ward now.

No it isn't a story, it's perfectly true, seemingly Harold had been there since childhood & was often to be found introducing himself to strangers, Dad of course got the job & he & Harold got along very well. He was still there when Dad fully retired 10 years later.

 

I think idiot and imbecile were just common expressions in days gone by and no one really took offence to them.
As for "unpaid domestic duties" I wish they still said that for housewives... for most of us it is true.

 

Or 'passed over' really gets me. My parents have died. They didn't pass over anything.

 

Nor 'passed away'- to where? Where are those rainbow bridges when you need them?

 

Passed away, I don’t mind. I use it myself but ‘he’s passed’ just doesn’t sound right. Sounds a bit like ‘past, present and future’