The eighth annual report of the committee of visitors of the County Lunatic Asylum at Colney Hatch : January quarter session, 1859 / [Middlesex County Lunatic Asylum].

  • London (England). County Lunatic Asylum, Colney Hatch.
Date:
1859
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The eighth annual report of the committee of visitors of the County Lunatic Asylum at Colney Hatch : January quarter session, 1859 / [Middlesex County Lunatic Asylum]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    requisite in one who lias the care of these unfortunate beings. Every provocation is offered, accompanied not unfrequently with violence—every thing, in short, the very reverse of what reasonable men would be expected to do is practised towards the Attendants, whose very duties, indeed, are the most irksome and revolting ; and it is not to be wondered at if their tempers occasionally give way. It is, indeed, due to them to say that, as a body, both Males and Females have done their duties satisfactorily during a period of unusual difficulty, while the repairs and enlargement of the Asylum have been in progress. A large increase of the Staff of At¬ tendants will, of course, be necessary when the 800 additional Patients are admitted. Beyond this it is not at present con¬ templated to increase the Staff of the Establishment. The subject of Medical Assistance is one of primary im¬ portance, and it has elicited various opinions, both in and out of the profession, as to the requirements of such an Asylum as Colney Hatch. It has been repeatedly urged that the chances of cure are diminished, owing to the Medical Superintendents having too much labour on their hands to do justice to all. Indeed, the Commissioners in Lunacy appear inclined to lean towards this view. The Committee, however, do not concur with them. The increase of the establishment will naturally bring the subject again under the notice of the Committee. They believe that in an esta¬ blishment like this, where the Medical Officers have no other duties but those connected with their Patients, the present staff will be sufficient. They have to regret the loss of one of the Apothecaries, Mr. Hedger, who retired in the early part of the spring owing to ill-health, and died a few months afterwards. Mr. F. H. Hargood was appointed his successor.