Mad-houses : observations on the Act for regulating mad-houses, and a correction of the statements of the case of Benjamin Elliott, convicted of illegally confining Mary Daintree : with remarks addressed to the friends of insane persons / by James Parkinson.

  • Parkinson, James, 1755-1824.
Date:
1811
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Mad-houses : observations on the Act for regulating mad-houses, and a correction of the statements of the case of Benjamin Elliott, convicted of illegally confining Mary Daintree : with remarks addressed to the friends of insane persons / by James Parkinson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    and some exist which are the consequence of im- perfections in the bill itself. To point out these evils, and to endeavour to trace them to their true source, and to suggest means by which they may be removed or lessened, are the objects of the pre- sent attempt. One of the most important regulations in thisact, is that which is intended to prevent keepers of mad- houses from receiving patients without having an order, in writ ing, under the hand and seal of some physician, surgeon, or apothecary. But it appears doubtful, whether this clause, as at present worded, yields that security which was expected from it, owing to its admitting the validity of an order, signed by any person,whose claim to be considered a member of the medical profession rests only on his designating himself an apothecary. Such per- sons are not legally recognised as fit judges of the maladies to which the human system is subject. Those only can be, and, indeed, are so considered, as have received such a professional education as has enabled them to undergo the examination or- dered by law, and have in consequence received from those appointed to examine them, a regular permission to exercise the duties of their profes- sion How peculiarly competent a physician is to sign the order here required, need not be pointed out; and with respect to surgeons, it is only necessary to remark, that it is hardly possible, that one who