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Home - Rules of an Asylum - Insane British - Curious Punishments |
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ConclusionIn completing the task which the author has attempted in the foregoing chapters in the History of the Insane in the British Isles, he is only too conscious that, in the endeavour to be concise as well as comprehensive, he has made many omissions. With every desire to be fair to all who have been engaged either in originating or in advancing the improved treatment of those who, suffering cruelly from a malady involving their very nature and being, have also been treated cruelly by their fellows, the writer fears that some names which ought to have been recorded and some institutions which ought to have been honourably mentioned, have been passed over in silence. Apart from unintentional oversight, it is not always easy to find in the Temple of Fame the precise niche in which to place the figure that would rightfully fill it, and the consequence is that the pedestal, as in some of our great public edifices, remains unoccupied. It may be said, however, in extenuation of any such omission, that it did not fall within the scope of this book to chronicle all the establishments which, in more humane methods of treatment, have been in advance of others, still less to complete the history up to the present day of those which have been mentioned. As it proceeded, the work has entered more into detail than was originally designed; thus, in the chapter on Scotland the sketch is filled in with particulars somewhat out of proportion to that attempted in the earlier chapters. Again, in crediting various asylums, as Lincoln, Hanwell, and Lancaster, with introducing non-restraint, the author has not found space for more than a reference to the meritorious course pursued at an early period at the Suffolk Asylum, the Gloucester Asylum, and at Northampton from its opening (1838), and at the Haslar Hospital.[314] The writer would have been glad, had the proposed limits of the book admitted of it, to describe much more fully the rise and growth of those charitable institutions, the endowed or registered hospitals for the insane, which have in England formed so important, and, on the whole, so successful, an experiment in providing care and treatment for the insane of the poor but non-pauper class, supplemented as they have been by the payments of the rich. At the present moment, the principle and the method by which these institutions are governed attract much earnest attention, and appear to not a few to afford the best alternative provision for the middle and upper classes, as against asylums carried on by private enterprise. It may be so. Abuses which in former days were possible, could not occur under the legislative restrictions of our time; but it must not be overlooked that their annals have disclosed, in some instances, abuses as great and inhumanities as shocking as any that have disgraced the history of private houses. How abominably even such institutions have been managed, has already been depicted in a notorious example; how admirably, might have been shown, had space allowed, as regards the same institution in the hands of men who, like Dr. Needham, have maintained the reforms previously introduced within its once dishonoured walls, and carried forward that humane system of treatment which, Phoenix-like, arose from its ashes. The author would have liked to do justice to other hospitals--as that at Northampton, which under Dr. Bayley's remarkable power of organization has proved so great a success; that at Cheadle, which under Mr. Mould's exhaustless energy has shown how the various needs of different phases of mental disorder may be met by various modifications in the provision made for their care outside the walls of the asylum, thus combining cottage treatment with the control of the central establishment; and, lastly, that at Coton Hill, Stafford, which now and for many years has been superintended by Dr. Hewitson--an institution due to a wave of public feeling in favour of an institution for those in reduced circumstances, which bore this practical fruit after some temporary discouragement. Of the work done by county asylum superintendents it is impossible to speak too highly; in fact, it would be difficult to know when to stop, were one to be mentioned. Superintendents of the vast asylums of Middlesex, Lancashire, and Yorkshire deserve the recognition of services performed day by day with faithful diligence, not always sufficiently appreciated, and not always without peril, as instanced in the case of the late superintendent of Brookwood, Dr. Brushfield.[315] As of those whose hourly labour is performed in these and other institutions, so of those who were labourers, however humble, in the early days of asylum reform at the close of the last and the beginning of the present century, it must never be forgotten that work unobserved by the public eye, but conscientiously performed for the unfortunate class which, to a large extent, is unable to appreciate or thank the kindly hand which shields them from cruelty or saves them from neglect, will find its reward in the conscience; and also in the increased happiness of those whom it benefits, though it may not set the worker on any pinnacle of fame. It is to such that the author of "Romola" refers when speaking of the "valiant workers whose names are not registered where every day we turn the leaf to read them, but whose labours make a part, though an unrecognized part, of our inheritance, like the ploughing and the sowing of past generations." FOOTNOTES: [314] See Report of the Metropolitan Commissioners. 1844. [315] Since the above was in type, another example has occurred in the case of Dr. Orange, who has been assaulted by a criminal lunatic, and narrowly escaped serious injury. APPENDIX A. (Page 61.) In addition to the maps of Ralf Agas (cir. 1560?) and Braun and Hogenberg (1572), there is an earlier view of London and Westminster by Anthony van der Wyngrede, 1543, in the Bodleian Library, Oxford, but it is worthless for the purpose of tracing the outline of Bethlem. No additional light is thrown on the buildings by the view of London and Westminster in Norden's "Speculum Brittanniae," engraved by Pieter van dem Keere, 1593. It appears to be agreed that, whatever the date or designer of the so-called "Agas" may be, it is "the earliest reliable survey of London." Virtue's reprint is dated 1737. Mr. Overall's "Facsimile from the original in the possession of the Corporation of the City of London" was published in 1874. It is, however, only by a careful study of the original with a magnifying glass and a good light, that the outline of the Bethlem buildings can be made out. Smith, in his "Topography of London" (1816), p. 36, says that the only plan of London showing the first Bethlem which he had been able to meet with is that by Hollar. This map showed Moorfields divided into quarters, with trees surrounding each division, the site of the second Bethlem being then an uninterrupted space, and a cluster of five windmills standing on the site of the north side of Finsbury, a part of which in Mr. Smith's memory was called Mill Hill. Hollar's rare map (1666 or 1667) is so much later than Agas, that we have not followed its distribution of the buildings. In Faithorne's map, published a few years earlier (1658), from a survey in 1640, "Bedlame" is represented as a quadrangle, with a gate in the wall on the south side. There is a very clear outline of the first Bethlem in Lee and Glynne's map of London (in Mr. Gardner's collection), published at the Atlas and Hercules, Fleet Street, without date. This map is also in the British Museum. Mr. Coote, of the Map Department, fixes the date at about 1705. Rocque's map of London (1746) shows Bethlem distinctly. This map, and Ogilby's, formed the basis of Mr. Newton's "London in the Olden Time," 1855. With regard to the story of the skeleton in irons and Sir T. Rowe's burying-ground, mentioned at p. 49, it is not disputed that he was concerned in the burying-ground of Bethlem; but the skeleton appears to have been found some distance from this spot. What is stated in Strype's "Stow" (Bk. ii. p. 96, edit. 1720), is that in 1569 "Sir Thomas Rowe caused to be enclosed with a wall about one acre, being part of the said hospital of Bethlem, to wit, on the west, on the bank of Deep Ditch, parting the hospital from Moorfields. This he did for burial in case of such parishes of London as wanted ground convenient within their parishes. This was called New Churchyard near Bethlem." There are some very fine prints of the second Bethlem Hospital in the Print Room of the British Museum. Of these (to which Mr. Crace's collection is a recent valuable addition), and the prints in Mr. Gardner's private collection and the Guildhall Library, the following list has been prepared. I have again to thank Mr. Gardner and Mr. Coote for their assistance. I have also to thank Mr. Crace for allowing me to see his prints before they were removed to the British Museum. VIEWS OF BETHLEM HOSPITAL. 1. Inscribed "Hospitium Mente Captorum Londinense. Frontispicium Hospitii (vulgo Bedlam dicti) mente captis destinati, sub auspiciis colendissimi viri Gulielmi Turner Equitis aurati Senatoris non ita pridem Praetoris Londini Praesidis dignissimi nec non Beniamini Ducane Armigeri Thesaurarii fidelissimi; caeterorumque ejusdem Hospitii Gubernatorum A.D. MDCLXXV mense Aprili fundati, anno sequento mensi Juli consummati." R. White sculp. Printed by John Garrett, 1690. 47 in. by 22-1/2 in. Crace Collection, 26/3; Guildhall Library. 2. A New Prospect of y{e} North Side of y{e} City of London, with new Bedlam, and Moorefields (showing New St. Paul's). 1710. 58 in. by 22-1/2 in. This print is a later edition of one by J. Nutting, 1689, in which old St. Paul's is shown. Crace Collection, 26/1. 3. On a scroll, "Hospitium mente captorum Londinense." New Bedlam in Moorefields. Soly fec. Sold by H. Overton, cir. 1730. 22-3/4 in. by 16-1/2 in. Gardner Collection; British Museum. 4. Painting of Bethlem Hospital (fresco) in one of the rooms of the Foundling Hospital, by Haytley. 1746. 5. The Hospital of Bethlem (L'Hospital de Fou). A view showing also Moorgate. J. Maurer del.; T. Bowles sculp. 1747. 16 in. by 10-1/2 in. Gardner Collection; Crace Collection, 26/6; Guildhall Library. 6. Hospital of Bedlam. Smaller copy of Bowles's print. Gardner Collection. 7. Interior of Bedlam, by Hogarth. 1735. Gardner Collection. 8. Bethlehem, a Poem, with a view of Bethlehem. By J. Clark. 1749. 9. Bethlehem in Moorfields. 1752. By B. Cole. 10. The Hospital called Bedlam. 1754. Gardner Collection. 11. View of Hospital of Bethlehem. 6 in. by 10 in. Robert Sayer, cir. 1760. 12. Visit to Bedlam. R. Newton. 1794. 13. Mezzotint of Bethlehem, by Malton. 1798. 11 in. by 9 in. 14. Bethlem Hospital as it appeared in 1811 (proof). Arnold del.; Watkins sculp. Guildhall Library. 15. London Wall and Bethlehem Hospital. Etching by J. T. Smith. 1812. 16. South-west View of Bethlem Hospital and London Wall, 1814. Smith del. et sculp. Guildhall Library. 17. Two clever water-colour drawings of Bethlem. Gardner Collection. 18. Water-colour drawing of gate with the recumbent figures by Cibber. Richardson. Gardner Collection. 19. The two figures on the pediment of the gate by Cibber. Stothard del.; Sharp sculp. 1783. Guildhall Library. 20. The same. Burell sculp. 1805. 6-1/2 in. by 4-1/2 in. Crace Collection. 21. The same engraved by Warren in Hughson's "London," vol. iii. p. 81. Gardner Collection. 22. A portrait of William Norris as confined in Bethlem Hospital. Arnold fec. 1814. 23. New Bedlam in Moorfields, 6-1/2 in. by 9-1/2 in., and another 5-1/2 in. by 6-1/2 in. No date or name of artist. Gardner Collection. 24. Das Narren Hospital Bethlehem. Dutch print. No date. Gardner Collection. 25. Plan of Moorfields and Bethlem Hospital. Gardner Collection. 26. New Bedlam in Moorfields. 10-1/2 in. by 7 in. Very early view. No date. Gardner Collection. 27. The New Prospect of Bedlam, Moorfields. By John King. 10 in. by 4 in. No date (costume cir. Will. III.). 28. The Hospital of Bethlehem. 9 in. by 14 in. No date. Gardner Collection. 29. Curious and quaint drawing of Moorfields and Bethlehem. 13 in. by 21 in. Gardner Collection. 30. Bethlehem Hospital, by Toms. 7-1/2 in. by 15. Gardner Collection. 31. Three views. Hospital de Bethlem; New Bedlam; Bethlehem. Gardner Collection. 32. Bethlehem in St. George's Fields. Ground Plan of New Bethlem Hospital. Basire sculp. 1819. This, with five other views by Shepherd, etc., are in the Guildhall Library. VIEWS OF ST. LUKE'S. 1. "Enthusiasm displayed." The Rev. John Whitfield preaching under a tree in Upper Moorfields, with view of "St. Luke's Hospital for Lunaticks" in the background. J. Griffiths pinx.; R. Tranker sculp. 1750. 19-3/4 in. by 15 in. Gardner Collection; Crace Collection, 33/19. 2. Elevation of St. Luke's Hospital in a pamphlet entitled "Reasons for the Establishing, etc., of St. Luke's." 1765. Guildhall Library. 3. Another elevation. J. Dance arch. et sculp. 1784. 15 in. by 4-1/2 in. Gardner Collection; Crace Collection, 33/15. 4. Front view of the New St. Luke's Hospital, lately erected in the City Road. Deeble del. et sculp. 1785. Gardner Collection; Guildhall Library. 5. St. Luke's Hospital, Old Street Road. A coloured print from a drawing by F. A. Shepherd. 1814. 8 in. by 5-1/4 in. Original drawing in the Gardner Collection; Crace Collection, 33/16. 6. Lunatic Hospital of St. Luke's. Aquatint. Gardner Collection. 7. Front View of the New St. Luke's Hospital. No date. Gardner Collection. 8. Ditto. Ditto. 15 in. by 5 in. Gardner Collection. 9. Sepia drawing of St. Luke's. Gardner Collection. 10. Two original drawings by John Carter. Gardner Collection. 11. Lunatick Hospital of St. Luke, published by Ackermann. 1815. Gardner Collection; Guildhall Library. 12. St. Luke's Hospital, Old Street Road. Shepherd del.; Sands sculp. 1815. Gardner Collection; Guildhall Library. 13. St. Luke's Hospital. Higham del. et sculp. 1817. Guildhall Library. 14. Lunatic Hospital, St. Luke's. S.W. view. T. H. Shepherd del.; J. Gough sculp. 1837. 5-3/4 in. by 3-1/2 in. Gardner Collection; Crace Collection, 33/18. 15. Interior of St. Luke's. Rowlandson and Pugin del. et sculp.; Stahler aquat. 1809. Gardner Collection; Guildhall Library. APPENDIX B. (Page 142.) In reference to the writers on insanity at the close of the eighteenth century, Dr. Pargeter, in the work referred to at p. 142, after dwelling slightly on the pathology, causation, and nature of insanity, becomes disheartened and exclaims, "Here our researches must stop, and we must declare that wonderful are the works of the Lord and His ways past finding out" (p. 15). Of asylums he says, "The conduct of public hospitals or institutions for the reception of lunatics needs no remark; the excellence in the management of them is its own encomium" (p. 123). Of private madhouses under the management of regular physicians, he ventured to say that "people might securely trust that in them the afflicted would be judiciously and tenderly treated, and also managed by servants selected and instructed with such judgment as will make them as zealous of their own character and reputation, as of the honour of their employers. In such hands we may place implicit confidence; and a perfect assurance that in such an abode dwells nothing offensive or obnoxious to humanity--here no greedy heir, no interested relations will be permitted to compute a time for the patient's fate to afford them an opportunity to pillage and to plunder. But such dwellings are the seats of honour, courtesy, kindness, gentleness, mercy, and whatsoever things are honest and of good report." Such was the comfortable satisfaction with which a worthy man in 1792 regarded the condition of the insane in English asylums in that year. He admits, however, that in private asylums kept by illiterate persons, compassion as well as integrity is oftentimes to be suspected, and quotes a passage from a paper written in 1791, which asserts that "if the gaolers of the mind do not find a patient mad, their oppressive tyranny soon makes him so." The work written by Dr. Mason Cox (Fishponds, near Bristol) was the best medical treatise of the day on insanity. Unlike Cullen, he objects to "stripes" in the treatment of the insane. On the cold bath he says, "Even so late as Boerhaave we have the most vague directions for its employment; such as keeping the patient immersed till he is almost drowned, or while the attendants could repeat the Miserere.... The mode recommended and so successfully practised by Dr. Currie of Liverpool is certainly the best, that of suddenly immersing the maniac in the very acme of his paroxysm; and this may be easily accomplished if the patient, previously secured by a strait waistcoat, be fixed in a common Windsor chair by strong broad straps of leather or web girth" (p. 135, 3rd edit., 1813). The author observes that it is certainly worth trying whether keeping a patient for days in succession in a state of intoxication would be beneficial, where every other means has failed (p. 75). APPENDIX C. (Page 146.) ASYLUMS IN OPERATION IN 1792. Bethlem Hospital. Used for lunatics about 1400. St. Luke's Hospital. Founded 1751. Liverpool Royal Lunatic Hospital, associated with the Royal Infirmary. 1792. Manchester Royal Lunatic Hospital, in connection with the Royal Infirmary. 1706. (Removed to Cheadle, 1849.) Bethel Hospital, Norwich. 1713. The Lunatic Ward of Guy's Hospital. 1728. (New building, 1797.) The York Lunatic Hospital, Bootham. 1777. St. Peter's Hospital, Bristol. Incorporated 1696. Brooke House, Clapton (Dr. Monro's). 1759. Hoxton Asylum. 1744. Fonthill-Gifford, Hindon, Wilts. 1718. Droitwich Asylum. 1791. Belle Grove House, Newcastle-on-Tyne. 1766. Lea Pale House, Stoke, near Guildford. 1744. Ticehurst, Sussex. 1792. The number of lunatics in London and in the country, returned under the Act of 1774 (14 Geo. III., c. 49), from that year to the projection of the York Retreat (1792), was 6405; and from 1792 to the Select Committee of 1815, 12,938. In 1775 the number registered during the year was 406; and in 1791, after various rises and falls, it was also 406. In 1792 the number rose to 491, and in 1815 to 850; the lowest being 414 in 1807, and the highest 700 in 1812. The above list of asylums shows how scanty was the provision made for the care of the insane at the time of the foundation of the York Retreat. I may here add that, in addition to the notice taken of this experiment by the writers on the Continent mentioned in the text, the attention of the Germans was forcibly directed to it by Dr. Max. Jacobi, of Siegburg. He visited York, and, much struck by what he witnessed there, translated into German the greater part of the "Description of the Retreat." The late superintendent of the Retreat, Dr. Kitching, who filled that office for many years with much efficiency, spent a considerable time at the Siegburg Asylum, comparing notes with Dr. Jacobi. APPENDIX D. (Page 173.) 9 GEO. IV., C. 40 (1828). The fifteen persons appointed Commissioners in Lunacy for the metropolitan district, five of whom were physicians, were paid L1 an hour, and were appointed for one year. They were to meet quarterly for the purpose of granting licences, those in the provinces being granted by justices at quarter sessions, where three or more justices were to be elected to visit the provincial licensed houses, together with at least one medical Visitor. Three of the Commissioners were to visit licensed houses in the metropolitan district four times a year. Two justices to visit licensed houses in the provinces, accompanied by the medical Visitor, four times a year. An annual report was to be prepared and presented to the Secretary of State for the Home Department. Private patients were not to be admitted to asylums without the certificates of two medical men and an order; the certificates being in force fourteen days before admission. Pauper patients were not to be admitted without one medical certificate and the order of two justices, or an overseer and clergyman. The proprietor of an asylum had to transmit a copy of documents to the Commissioners or justices, as the case might be. Single patients to be received on like order and certificates. No regular visitation of this class instituted. It should be stated that among the previous Acts, now repealed, there was a small Act passed May 2, 1815, notwithstanding the failure of Mr. Rose to induce Parliament to undertake legislation based on the evidence given before the Committee of that year. This was the Act 55 Geo. III., c. 46, entitled, "An Act to amend an Act 48 Geo. III., c. 96 (1808), being an Act for the better Care and Maintenance of Lunatics being Paupers or Criminals in England." The committee of visiting justices of lunatic asylums were to be elected annually. Subscribers to lunatic asylums erected by voluntary contributions, who should unite with any county, might elect a committee of governors to act with committee of visiting justices. Justices to fix sums to be expended in purchase of lands, houses, etc., or in erecting buildings. Overseers of the poor to return lists of all lunatics and idiots within their parishes, verified on oath and accompanied with a medical certificate. When any asylum could accommodate more lunatics, magistrate might order an addition under certain regulations. APPENDIX E. (Page 188.) 8 AND 9 VICT., C. 100 (1845). The following are the clauses of the Act which provide for the expense of carrying out its provisions. By this statute it was enacted, after repealing 2 and 3 Will. IV., c. 107; 3 and 4 Will. IV., c. 64; 5 and 6 Will. IV., c. 22; 1 and 2 Vict., c. 73; 3 Vict., c. 4; 5 and 6 Vict., c. 87, that the Commissioners in Lunacy under 5 and 6 Vict., c. 84, should be henceforth called "the Masters in Lunacy," and that new Commissioners in Lunacy should be appointed. The Commissioners were to grant licences for the reception of lunatics within a certain jurisdiction of the metropolis; justices of the peace in general or quarter sessions licensing houses for the reception of lunatics and appointing Visitors in all other parts of England and Wales, including a medical man. For every licence granted a sum to be paid of ten shillings for every private patient and two shillings and sixpence for every pauper, or so much more as shall make up the sum of fifteen pounds, these moneys being applied towards the payment of the expenses of the Commissioners or any charge incurred by their authority. The secretary of the Commissioners to make out an annual account of moneys received and paid by him in the execution of the Act, to be laid before the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, the balance (if any) to be paid into the Exchequer to the account of the Consolidated Fund, such accounts being laid before Parliament every year, the Treasury being empowered to pay out of the Consolidated Fund any balance of payments over receipts which may be necessary. With regard to the application of moneys received by the clerk of the peace for provincial licences, they were to be applied towards the payment of the clerk to the Visitors for the county, and the remuneration of the medical Visitors, and other expenses incurred in the execution of the Act, the accounts being laid before the justices at the general or quarter sessions, who shall direct the balance (if any) to be paid into the hands of the treasurer of the county or borough in aid of the rate; any balance of payment over receipts being paid out of the county or borough funds. There was paid into the Exchequer in the year ending March 31, 1880, L1376 for licences in the metropolitan district, besides L18 stamps. Lunacy Board expenses, L15,064. I have not any accurate returns of the amounts received from the provincial houses, but on a rough estimate these licences produce to the counties in the aggregate L1452, and L30 to the Imperial Exchequer, per annum. In the following year, August 26, 1846, an Act was passed "to amend the Law concerning Lunatic Asylums and the Care of Pauper Lunatics in England," and was to be construed with 8 and 9 Vict., c. 126. There were only twelve sections. It was passed to clear up doubts which had been entertained as to the meaning of certain clauses in the above Act. It was repealed by 16 and 17 Vict., c. 97. APPENDIX F. (Page 190.) After the legislation of 1853, the Acts referred to at p. 190 and p. 188 constituted, with 8 and 9 Vict., c. 100, and 15 and 16 Vict., c. 48, and the Acts relative to criminal lunatics, the then code of Lunacy Law. Lord St. Leonards' first Act, p. 188 (16 and 17 Vict., c. 70), enacts that when the Commissioners shall report to the Lord Chancellor that they are of opinion that the property of any lunatic, not so found by inquisition, is not duly protected, or the income thereof not duly applied for his benefit, such report shall be deemed tantamount to any order or petition for inquiry supported by evidence, and the case shall proceed as nearly as may be in all respects as therein directed upon the presentation of a petition for inquiry. The next Act (16 and 17 Vict., c. 96) prescribes amended forms of orders and certificates, notices of admission, and of the medical visitation book. The requirements on the part of the medical man signing the certificate are laid down. Empowers proprietors or superintendents of licensed houses (with consent of Commissioners) to entertain as a boarder any patient desiring to remain after his discharge, or any relation or friend of a patient. Authorizes amendment of any order or certificate within fourteen days after admission of patient. Permits the Commissioners to allow medical visitation of single patients less frequently than once a fortnight. Empowers one or more Visitors to visit single patients at request of Commissioners, and report to them their condition. Directs that the medical man who visits a single patient shall make an annual report to the Commissioners of the mental and bodily health of such patient. Empowers the Lord Chancellor to discharge single patients. Directs that notice of the recovery of every patient shall be sent to his friends, or in case of a pauper to his parish officers, and in case of death of a patient in any hospital or licensed house, a statement of the cause, etc., to the coroner. Authorizes transfer of a private patient (with consent of two Commissioners) from one asylum, hospital, or licensed house to another, without any fresh order or certificate, and similarly as to single patients. Empowers the Lord Chancellor, on the representation of the Commissioners, to require a statement of the property and application of the income of any person detained as a lunatic under an order and certificates. Extends to the Commissioners the powers vested in the private committee, as to single patients, by the Act 8 and 9 Vict., c. 100, s. 111. Repeals s. 27 of 8 and 9 Vict., c. 100, as to the visitation of workhouses; and enacts that one or more Commissioners shall visit such workhouses as the Board shall direct. Authorizes the Commissioners in urgent cases to employ any competent person to visit any lunatic and to report to them. Directs committee of every hospital to submit regulations to the Secretary of State for approval, and to send a copy to Commissioners. Empowers Commissioners, with sanction of the Secretary of State, to make regulations for the government of licensed houses. Enacts that Bethlem Hospital shall be subject to the provisions of Act 8 and 9 Vict., c. 100. The third Act (16 and 17 Vict., c. 97) repeals the several Acts then in force respecting county and borough lunatic asylums, and re-enacts most of the provisions therein contained, with certain additions and improvements. It authorizes justices of boroughs, instead of providing asylums for their own use, or in arranging with counties, etc., to contract with the Visitors of any asylum for the reception of their pauper lunatics, in consideration of certain payments. The powers of the Visitors were enlarged in many ways. When a county or borough asylum can accommodate more than its own pauper lunatics, the Visitors are empowered to permit the admission of the pauper lunatics of any other county or borough, or lunatics who are not paupers, but proper objects to be admitted into a public asylum, such non-pauper patients to have the same accommodation, in all respects, as the pauper lunatics. The Visitors are directed to appoint a medical officer to be superintendent of the asylum. They are empowered to grant superannuation annuities to the officers and servants. They are directed to make an annual report to the general or quarter sessions of the state of the asylum. Every pauper lunatic, not in an asylum, hospital, or licensed house, is to be visited every quarter by the medical officer of the parish or union, who is to make return thereof; and the medical officer is to be paid two shillings and sixpence for every visit. The forms of orders, statements, and medical certificates are amended, and the medical officers of unions are permitted to sign certificates. The medical man certifying is required to state his qualification, when and where the patient was examined, and to specify facts indicating insanity; distinguishing facts observed by himself from those communicated to him by others. Visitors are empowered to order the removal of pauper patients to and from asylums, and also to discharge or permit the absence on trial of any patient. The Commissioners are empowered to direct the removal of any lunatic from any asylum, hospital, or licensed house to any other. The person signing the order for admission of a private patient into an asylum may discharge such patient, subject, in the case of dangerous lunatics, to the consent of the visiting justices. Any person having authority to discharge a private patient is empowered (with consent of two Commissioners) to transfer him to another asylum or to the care of any person. Orders and certificates, if defective, may be amended within fourteen days. Patients escaping may be retaken within fourteen days. This statute did not re-enact the clause contained in the Act it repealed respecting workhouses. 18 AND 19 VICT., C. 105 (1855). In 1855 was passed the Act 18 and 19 Vict., c. 105, "to amend the Lunatic Asylum Acts and the Acts passed in the Ninth and Seventeenth Years of Her Majesty, for the Regulation of the Care and Treatment of Lunatics." By this statute it was enacted that any single county or borough might unite with the subscribers to a registered hospital, and that the proportion of expenses between any county and borough might be fixed with reference to accommodation likely to be required. Other sections provide in detail for the maintenance of county and borough asylums, and other matters which it is unnecessary to enumerate. APPENDIX G. (Page 195.) A short summary is added of the provisions in force at the time of the Select Committee of 1859-60, for the protection of private patients. They remain essentially the same. In the metropolis, the power of licensing is exclusively in the hands of the Metropolitan Commissioners. In the provincial districts it rests with the justices at quarter sessions. These licenses are annually renewed, and they may be revoked by the Lord Chancellor. The patients are admitted upon an order signed by some relative or friend, with a statement of all the particulars of the case. This statement must be supported by the certificates of two medical practitioners, who, having examined the patient separately within seven days previous to the reception, state that he is a person of unsound mind, and a proper person to be detained under care and treatment. It must also specify the grounds upon which their opinion has been formed, viz. the facts observed by themselves or communicated by others. After two and before the expiration of seven clear days, the proprietor or superintendent of the licensed house must transmit to the Commissioners, and also to the visiting justices, if the licensed house is within their jurisdiction, a copy of the order and certificates. The licensed house must be visited by two of the Commissioners, four times at least every year, if it lies within their immediate jurisdiction; and if beyond, it must be visited four times at least by Visitors appointed by the justices, one of whom shall be a medical man, and twice at least by two of the Commissioners. In the course of such visits, inquiries are directed to be made as to the occupation, amusement, classification, condition, and dietary of the different patients, and also whether a system of non-coercion has been adopted or not; and where it shall appear, either to the Commissioners or to the visiting justices, that a patient is detained without sufficient cause, they have the power, under certain conditions, of ordering his discharge. When a patient recovers, the proprietor or superintendent is required to send notice of such recovery to the person who signed the order for his reception; and if such patient is not discharged or removed within fourteen days, the proprietor is required immediately to transmit a similar notice to the Commissioners or visiting justices, as the case may be. When a patient dies, the medical practitioner who attended such patient during his illness is to cause a statement to be entered in the case-book, setting forth the time and cause of death, and the duration of the disease of which the patient died, and a copy of such statement, within two days, must be transmitted to the coroner. In addition to these specific provisions, the Commissioners have power from time to time to make regulations for the government of any of these licensed houses, and they must report annually to the Lord Chancellor the number of visits they have made, the number of patients they have seen, the state and condition of the house, the care of the patients therein, and such other particulars as they may think deserving of notice (p. vi.). 25 AND 26 VICT., C. 111, "THE LUNACY ACTS AMENDMENT ACT, 1862." In consequence of the importance of the Act of 1862, the Commissioners issued the following circular noting its chief provisions:-- Private Patients. Sec. 23.--The order must be dated within one month prior to reception; the person signing the order must himself have seen the patient within one month prior to its date; and a statement of the time and place when the patient was so seen must be appended to the order. Sec. 25.--When possible, every order must contain the name and address of one or more relations of the lunatic, to whom notice of the death of a lunatic must be sent. Sec. 24.--Besides the persons hitherto prohibited from signing certificates and orders, the following also are now disqualified:--Any person receiving any percentage on or otherwise interested in the payments for patients, and the medical attendant as defined in the Lunacy Act, c. 100. Also 15 and 16 Vict., c. 96, s. 12; c. 97, s. 76. Sec. 26.--Where a patient received as a pauper is made a private patient, no fresh order or certificate is required, and vice versa. Sec 28.--With the exception of the statement by the medical officer as to a patient's mental and bodily condition, all the documents heretofore required to be sent to the Commissioners after two or before seven clear days from the reception of the patient, must in future be sent within one clear day from such reception. The medical officer's statement is, as heretofore, not to be sent until after two and before seven clear days. Letters of Patients. Sec 40.--Without special directions to the contrary, letters addressed to the Commissioners, committees of Visitors, committees of a hospital, and the Visitors of licensed houses, must be forwarded unopened. Other letters must also be forwarded, unless, by an endorsement thereon, the superintendent or other person having charge of patients should prohibit their transmission. Letters so endorsed to be laid before Commissioners, committees, or Visitors at next visit. Sec. 38.--Absence on trial may be permitted to patients, in the same way as leave of absence for the benefit of health is permitted under s. 86, c. 100. Sec. 43.--In the absence of any person qualified to discharge, a discharge or removal may be ordered by the Commissioners. Pauper Patients. Sec. 25.--The order must contain the name and address of one or more relations of the lunatic, and notice of the death of the lunatic must be sent to such relation. Sec. 38.--A pauper permitted to be absent on trial from a licensed house or hospital may have such an allowance made to him by order of the Commissioners, Visitors, or committees as would be charged for him were he in the house or hospital. Licensed Houses and Hospitals. Secs. 14 and 15.--No fresh licence can be granted by justices without inspection and report by the Commissioners. Notices of alterations in houses licensed by justices must be given to Commissioners. Their report must be considered by the justices before licence is granted or alterations are consented to. Sec. 16.--The physician, surgeon, or apothecary not being a licensee, where any such is by law required to reside in or visit a licensed house, must in the metropolitan district be approved of by the Commissioners, and in the provincial district by the visiting justices. A penalty is imposed on any person infringing the terms of his licence as to numbers, sex, or class. Sec. 18.--With consent of two of the Commissioners, or, in the case of the provincial licensed houses, of two of the Visitors, a person who may have been a patient within five years immediately preceding, may be received as a boarder into a licensed house (extension of c. 96, s. 6). Sec. 29.--Licensed houses may be visited at any time by one or more of the Commissioners or Visitors, but in the metropolitan district they must be so visited twice in the year, in addition to the present visits by two Commissioners, and in the provincial districts similarly by Visitors. Commissioners and Visitors visiting singly have substantially the same powers of inspection and inquiry as when visiting together. To these the sixty-second section of the Act does not apply. Sec. 39.--A penalty is now imposed on any officer or servant conniving at an escape. Sec. 43.--In the absence of any person qualified under ss. 72, 73, c. 100, the Commissioners may order discharge or removal of a patient. Sec. 38.--Absence on trial may be permitted to patients, in the same way as leave of absence for the benefit of health is permitted under s. 86, c. 100. Medical Certificates. Sec 27.--Where medical certificates have been returned with a written direction of the Commissioners for amendment, and such amendment shall not have been made within fourteen days, the Commissioners may order the patient's discharge. Sec. 22.--Lunatics so found by inquisition may be received without certificate on an order of the committee, accompanied by an official copy of the order appointing such Committee.[316] Workhouses. The Poor Law Board issued a circular at the same time. The only paragraph which it is of interest to cite here is the following:--"The eighth section empowers the Visitors of any asylum and the guardians of any parish or union within the district for which the asylum has been provided, if they shall see fit, to make arrangements, subject to the approval of the Commissioners in Lunacy and the President of the Poor Law Board, for the reception and care of a limited number of chronic lunatics in the workhouse of such parish or union, to be selected by the superintendent of the asylum and certified by him to be fit and proper so to be removed. The Board are at present not aware of any workhouse in which any such arrangement could conveniently be made; but they will be ready to consider any such proposals on the subject when the Visitors of the Board of Guardians of any union shall find it convenient or practicable to act upon this clause." FOOTNOTES: [316] Seventeenth Report of Commissioners in Lunacy, 1863. APPENDIX H. (Page 205.) Extract from the British and Foreign Medical Review, January, 1840:-- "In this particular there is apparently no asylum in England which presents so remarkable a model as that of Lincoln. Of all the works that have appeared on the subject of lunatic houses since the publication of Mr. Tuke's account of the Retreat, there is none which contains matter more deserving of attention than that recently published by Mr. Hill. His lecture is little more than a simple commentary on the resolutions of the board of management of the Lincoln Asylum for twenty years past; during which period, under the superintendence of Dr. Charlesworth, and latterly with the vigilant co-operation of Mr. Hill himself, as house surgeon, almost every kind of bodily restraint is stated to have gradually fallen into disuse as superfluous, a mere substitute for want of watchful care.... If the Lincoln Asylum can present a model of this kind, which all may visit and examine, the services of Dr. Charlesworth to the cause of humanity and in behalf of the insane, already considerable, will only be second to that of him who first released them from their chains." On this Mr. Hill observes, July 8, 1840:-- "At last the first Medical Review in Europe took up the subject, and placed most deservingly Dr. Charlesworth in a striking position as to the non-restraint system, and also honoured myself with approbation." The following extracts from the Orders in the Lincoln Asylum books[317] are essential to the right understanding of the introduction of non-restraint there. Dr. Charlesworth was visiting physician from its opening in 1821; Mr. Hill was appointed house surgeon in 1835. "1828. Ordered--That the use of the strait waistcoat be discontinued in this institution except under the special written order of the physician of the month. "1828, October 13. Ordered and resolved--That the physicians be requested to consider whether it be possible to make any improvement in the means of restraint now in use, and especially for obviating the use of the strait waistcoat." Extract from the Fifth Report of the Lincoln Lunatic Asylum, 1829, April:-- "The governors have particularly directed their views to the subject of coercion and restraint, well aware of their injurious consequences to the patients.... The construction of the instruments in use having also been carefully examined, they have destroyed a considerable proportion of those that were not of the most improved and least irritating description, and hope hereafter to introduce still further amelioration into this department." Extract from the House Visitor's Report, 1829, August 17:-- "Every attention seems to be paid to the patients, whose general state has, I understand, for some time past, been so generally good that it is gratifying to say that the strait waistcoat has almost become useless." Extract from the Seventh Annual Report, 1831, March 28:-- "Heretofore it was conceived that the only intention of a receptacle for the insane was the safe custody of the unhappy objects, by any means, however harsh and severe. These views are now passing away, and the fair measure of a superintendent's ability, in the treatment of such patients, will be found in the small number of restraints which are imposed. The new director has answered this test in a very satisfactory manner." The new director here referred to was Mr. Henry Marston. The following note is appended to this report:-- "As early as the 24th day of November last (viz. Nov., 1830, five years before Mr. Hill's appointment), there was not any patient in the house under restraint, unless one wearing a collar, which leaves all the limbs quite at liberty, can be so considered. This gratifying occurrence has taken place more than once since that time." Extract from the Ninth Annual Report, 1833, April:-- "It is unceasingly an object in this institution, and should form a prominent point in the annual reports, to dispense with or improve as much as possible the instruments of restraint." Extract from the House Visitor's Report, 1834, August 4th to 10th inclusive:-- "I have much satisfaction in being able to state that not a single male patient has been under restraint since the 16th of July, and not one female patient since the 1st of August, and then only for a few hours." At this time Mr. Hadwen held the appointment of house surgeon. Extract from the Governor's Memorandum Book, 1835, July 8th:-- "Resolved,--That this Board, in acknowledging the services of Mr. Hadwen during the period of fifteen months that he held the situation of house surgeon of this institution, feel called upon to express their high approbation of the very small proportion of instances of restraint which have occurred amongst the patients under his care." Extract from Edinburgh Review, April, 1870:-- "But to Conolly belongs a still higher crown, not merely for his courage in carrying out a beneficent conception on a large scale and on a conspicuous theatre, but for his genius in expanding it. To him, hobbles and chains, handcuffs and muffs, were but material impediments that merely confined the limbs; to get rid of these he spent the best years of his life; but beyond these mechanical fetters he saw there were a hundred fetters to the spirit, which human sympathy, courage, and time only could remove. "Perfect as was the experiment carried out at Lincoln Asylum, the remoteness of that institution from the great centre of life, and the want of authority in its author, would no doubt have prevented its acceptance for years by the physicians of the great county asylums so long wedded to old habits. It was for some time treated as the freak of an enthusiastic mind, that would speedily go the way of all such new-fangled notions; and no doubt it would, had not an irresistible impulse been given to it by the installation of Dr. Conolly at Hanwell, where, with a noble ardour, he at once set to work to carry out in the then largest asylum in the kingdom the lesson he had learned at Lincoln." Dr. Conolly's works bearing on mental disorders, in addition to his "Lectures on Insanity," were as follows:-- 1. "An Inquiry concerning the Indications of Insanity, with Suggestions for the better Protection and Care of the Insane." 1830. 2. "The Construction and Government of Lunatic Asylums and Hospitals for the Insane." 1847. 3. "The Treatment of the Insane without Mechanical Restraints." 1856. See "Memoir of Dr. Conolly." By Sir James Clark. 1869. FOOTNOTES: [317] As given in the Journal of Mental Science, July, 1870. 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