Art. V. Report of the Metropolitan Commissioners in Lunacy to the Lord Chancellor (presented to both Houses of Parliament by command of Her Majesty), London, 1844.

Date:
[1844?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Art. V. Report of the Metropolitan Commissioners in Lunacy to the Lord Chancellor (presented to both Houses of Parliament by command of Her Majesty), London, 1844. 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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    the man with whom he had been placed; and from the state of the roof there was access for the weather and the rain; and though it was in the latter part of the year, he was stark naked, his legs chained and clenched together, and fastened by a chain not more than two feet in length, with- out even straw, and not able on account of his chains to lie down in such a way as to rest himself, and without power to move beyond the limit of the narrow circle which the chain would describe. I have felt bound to have the case fully investigated and exposed, because I am afraid the evil exists to a considerable extent.’ In 1841 a commission was taken out by Dr. Burman of Henley to inquire into the insanity of a patient who had been sent to him by his brother in 1805. The lunatic’s property amounted to more than 4607. a-year. Only 1207. a-year was allowed for the lunatic’s maintenance, which was not paid. The brother presented himself to a living belonging to the lunatic; sold his commission in the army; cut down his timber, mortgaged and sold part of his pro- perty, received the proceeds, and died insolvent. Such is the manner in which, in the years 1843 and 1844, luna- tics have been treated by a mother, a sister, and brothers in Eng- land, Wales, and Ireland. The highest legal authority in Ireland has stated that he believes that the evil exists to a considerable extent in that country ; and we have no doubt that it exists to a great extent both in England and in Wales. Sir James Graham has stated in the House of Commons that the condition of pauper lunatics shall be taken into consideration in the next Session of Parliament; and he is reported to have said : 4 With respect to the detention of single lunatics by their friends in private dwellings, it was only necessary for him to remind the House of the caution necessary to be exercised in this respect, as the rights of relatives in these matters deserved some consideration.’ We hope the condition of all lunatics, without exception, will be considered; and that nothing will be allowed to find shelter beneath the cloak of affectionate relationship. It is not necessary, in providing protection for these unfortunates, to invade the privacy of domestic life, or to add publicity to the pangs of those who kindly and properly take charge of their afflicted relatives; but for the purpose of putting an end to outrages such as we, with Sir E. Sugden, believe now to exist to a very great extent, we would make it severely penal to detain any single lunatic without giving immediate notice to the Lord Chancellor, or to the Commissioners in Lunacy; and we would, if the Commissioners are not to visit such persons, require that the medical attendant of the family should certify from time to time that the lunatic is properly treated. It suffices not that we enforce a mild and humane system of treating the insane in our public and private institutions, if we admit the rights