changed from Idiot to imbecile

[Kevinshouse]

In my husband family tree I have found a half sister of his g grandmother who on the census is described as an idiot, on the next census (10 years later) she is called an imbecile.  Does this mean that her condition got worse, or did idiot and imbecile mean different conditions to different people. Any help or advice would be very much appreciated.  The poor girl named Lizzy died aged 24 years in 1892 I may get her death certificate one day to see why she died so young.
Kind regards Susan

[stanmapstone]

Considering that householders, who could be illiterate, were being asked to give information about medical disabilities without any definition of the terms being used the answers should be treated with caution.

See http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,366498.msg2420961.html#msg2420961 and http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,279365.msg1629842.html#msg1629842 and

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,366498.msg2419028.html#msg2419028
Stan