State of the madhouses in England.

Date:: [1815]

Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: State of the madhouses in England. Source: Wellcome Collection.

18/52 (page 536)

Bill paid by the Overseer. C. Mr. Vicars. £. s. d. Shirts mended. 0 1 6 7£ yrds cloth. 0 13 9 2 shirts made. 0 2 9 2 pair stockings . ... ... 0 6 0 £ 1 4 0 Bill paid by the Overseer. D. The Overseers of Fishlake, Dr. To the Governors of the York Lunatic Asylum, October 13th, 1813. £. s. d. Board, &c. of Win. Vickers, 4 weeks 3 days, 95. 1 19 9 Letter 15. 9d. Shaving 5d. Stamp, 2d. 0 2 4 Paid short. 0 0 6 Received, George Surr, 2 2 7 Allowing deposit 110 £ 117 E. This is to certify that I was sent for, by Mr. Ilopwood, of Tliorning Hirst, on Thursday the 14th instant, to examine the state in which William Vicars, of Stainforth, was dismissed from the York Asylum. He had the itch very bad, was also extremely filthy, for I saw his wife not only comb several lice from his head, but take them from the folds of his shirt neck; his health was so much impaired, that he was not able to stand by himself; his legs were very much swelled, and one of them in a state of mortification. He is now much recovered, both in mind and health, by bark and a generous nourish¬ ing diet. Witness my hand this 29th day of October, 1813. CHARLES MAPLES, Surgeon.” (Appendix to History, p. 6—8.) We cannot afford to proceed with any more of the evidence of Mr. Higgins. The two specimens of abuse which we have selected, are, it is to be remembered, extreme cases. But the general state of the house is represented to be just such a state as one would expect to give birth to such instances, and altogether conformable with them. The following testimony, as far as it goes, confirms the state¬ ment presented oy Mr. Higgins. Bryan Cooke, Esquire, called in, and Examined. YOU are a Magistrate of the West Riding of the County of York ? —I am.