Remarks on the present state of the lunatic asylums in Ireland, and on the number and condition of the insane paupers in the kingdom / by Andrew Halliday.

Date:
[1808]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Remarks on the present state of the lunatic asylums in Ireland, and on the number and condition of the insane paupers in the kingdom / by Andrew Halliday. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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    I do believe that more attention has been paid to the wants of the lower orders of society in Britain, than in any other country in the world. But it is a melancholy fact, that the Insane, the most helpless, and at the same time the most destitute part of our species, have never, till of late, been made the object of national humanity — The various Institutions which our nation has to boast of, for the cure of pauper lunatics, have been established either by the benevolence of one person, or the humane exertions of a few individuals. In 1806, Mr. Wynn, while Under Secre- tary of State for the Home Department, moved for, and obtained a Select Committee of the House of Commons, to enquire into the State of Criminal and Pauper Lunatics in England and Wales, and the Report of this Committee, which contained a number of interesting facts and observations, was ordered to be printed in July, 1807 — But Mr. Wynn was not satisfied with having ascertained the misery of the poor lunatics; he remained firm to his purpose, until he had obtained those comforts and measures of humanity which the long neglected and un- told sufferings of the friendless Maniac demand- ed. He accordingly brought forward a Bill^ founded upon the Report of the Select Com- A 3 •