The observations of the Governors upon the report of the Commissioners in Lunacy to the Secretary of State on Bethlem Hospital : with appendices.

  • Bethlem Royal Hospital
Date:
[1852]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The observations of the Governors upon the report of the Commissioners in Lunacy to the Secretary of State on Bethlem Hospital : with appendices. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    34/180 (page 34)
    xxxiy Alleged Violence in Feeding Patients. The Commissioners report that there is much reason to fear” the 'existence of a ‘‘ violent and offensive mode in which food “appears to have been forced upon some of those [patients] who “ obstinately refused to take it voluntarily.” In order that there may be no mis-apprehension as to the meaning of the Commissioners, their own two descriptions of this alleged practice are here set out. 1. “ Zif has been stated that there is a practice with some of these “ nurses, that in the event of a patient refusing food, not applying the stomach pump, hut laying them down on their backs andkneel- “ ing on one arm with one knee, and on the other arm with the other “ knee, and lying down themselves, then endeavouring to open the “ mouth and force food down their throats while in that position.” (423.) 2. “ Did you ever hear such a statement as this—that nurses, “ sometimes, in order to force a patient to take food, would lay “ her upon her back upon the ground, sit astride upon her chest, “ and kneeling upon her arms force the food down her throat ?” (675.)* The existence of these violent practices depends, like the alleged practice of “mopping,” greatly on the evidence of Mrs. Elinor W. with the exception of that part which describes the “ sitting astride “ upon the patient’s chest,” which is mere embellishment, no such expression being used by any witness. While the Governors ex¬ press their astonishment at the facility of belief exhibited by the Commissioners in this and other incriminatory statements, they almost doubt the necessity of offering any serious answer to a charge, which, upon the face of it, is palpably improbable. The Com¬ missioners may, however, rest assured, that they will find, upon enquiry of any competent and practical person, that to feed * These questions were put in the course of examination, held on the 7th July; and as Mrs. Elinor W., who ostensibly furnishes the information, was not examined until the lOth July, it would appear that this witness was either privately examined on some occasion previously to the former date, or that the Commissioners have taken the evidence of some other witness, which does not appear.