What's the difference??

[juliep123]

 Ive been looking at the census information for the union workhouse in notts. Can any one tell me the difference between a lunatic, an idiot and an imbecile? I wonder how they came to the conclusion who was what?
Julie.

[Steve Ley]

Here is a great site on lunatic asylums

http://www.mdx.ac.uk/www/study/4_13_TA.htm

and here is the page with a lot of definitions including the 3 you are interested in.

http://www.mdx.ac.uk/www/study/mhhglo.htm#farm



Steve.