Contrasts, Dedicated to the Ratepayers of London [By W. Gilbert] (English, French, Paperback)

Ce livre historique peut contenir de nombreuses coquilles et du texte manquant. Les acheteurs peuvent generalement telecharger une copie gratuite scannee du livre original (sans les coquilles) aupres de l'editeur. Non reference. Non illustre. 1873 edition. Extrait: ...I noticed several persons employed on labour which at first sight it seemed hardly possible the idiot's mind could be brought to understand, or his hands to perform. Shoemaking and tailoring occupied a great number. Noticing in the workshops of the shoemakers some very dangerous-looking knives, I inquired whether it was not imprudent to leave such weapons in the hands of those who might use them offensively. I was told, however, that no accident or mischief had ever occurred among them, and that knives and awls had never been used in any of the few disputes which had arisen in the establishment. Besides those who work in the shoemakers' and tailors' shops, I found that no fewer than 79 were employed in the cleansing and general economy of the wards, 17 in the upholsterers' shop, 121 in the grounds, besides several others in the gashouse, the engine-house, the engineer's office and the mess-room, --amounting altogether to 300 male patients. These, added to 452 of the female idiots and lunatics, make a grand total of 752 patients employed in what may be termed skilled and profitable labour. The remaining portion of the inmates are either too old, too infirm, or too young to be made useful, though the labour of many of these is occasionally utilised to the fullest degree consistent with their well-being and health. I afterwards visited the garden and grounds and the engine-house. In the former, I noticed specimens of gardening that might not have disgraced the market-garden grounds at Fulham. Yet by far the largest portion of the labour had been performed by poor'creatures who, till they entered the asylum, were probably ignorant of the way to handle a spade. I was also shown a piece of...