Annual report of the Board of Control : 3rd, 1916.

Date:
1916
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Annual report of the Board of Control : 3rd, 1916. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    55/168 (page 45)
    were established by local authorities, 1 (89 beds) by a religious society, and 2 (containing together 31 beds) by associations of private persons. Institution Closed during 1916. Guiltcross.—Eastern Counties Institution.—At the close of 1915, as mentioned in our second Annual Report, serious diffi¬ culties involving the general management and conduct of this Institution were brought under our notice. We were also in receipt of complaints from more than one source relating to the o’eneral administration of the Institution and the condition of O the patients. Early in 1916 a special visit was paid by three members of our Board, who reported in great detail on various matters which, in their opinion, were very unsatisfactory and called for immediate attention. The Report was brought to the notice of the General Com¬ mittee of the Incorporation of National Institutions for Persons requiring Care and Control, who were the managers of the Institution, and was the subject of much discussion and corre¬ spondence. In the result, it appeared to us to be hopeless to anticipate that the administration of the Institution could be placed upon a really satisfactory^ basis. Ultimately we came to the conclusion that, in view of the admitted condition of the Institution and of all the circumstances, the proper course was for the managers to resign the certificate of the Institution and to take immediate steps to provide for the reception of the inmates elsewhere. These arrangements took some time to carry out, but the certificate was ultimately resigned and the Institution closed. Institutions Established previous to 1916. Very few of the many Institutions that were certified previous to 1916, and saw the end of that year in full work, call for special notice. The Managers have given evidence of a desire to fulfil the purpose for which their several establishments were designed, which generally have been conducted in a satis¬ factory manner, so far as essentials are concerned. As yet there is considerable diversity in methods employed; but, at the same time, good reason to believe that efiort in the right direction is maintained, and that all those interested in the treatment of mentally defective persons are profiting by ex¬ perience. In a comparatively new work, such as this is, there is much to learn ; real progress therefore must depend upon continuous study and research. It is probable, indeed, that some time will elapse before anything approaching to a well organised and perfect system can be devised ; such a system as will meet all requirements, and provide for the varied needs of the many persons, presenting diverse clinical characteristics, who are sent for Institution care. In the meantime some latitude