Remarks on the lunacy acts for Scotland, and district pauper lunatic asylums / by A. Watson Wemyss.

Date:
1867
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Remarks on the lunacy acts for Scotland, and district pauper lunatic asylums / by A. Watson Wemyss. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

    17/34 page 15
    SUPERINTENDENT. One of the most important of the duties of the District Board is the appointment of a Eesident Medical Superintendent for the Asylum, as required by the Act, when the number of patients in it exceeds 100. As the welfare and proper treatment of the patients and the whole economy of an Asylum, as also the good conduct of the attendants, depend very much upon the character and qualifications of this resident superintendent, these may be sketched out as follows :— The first requisite for the resident medical superintendent of an Asylum, in addition to his ability, experience in managing the insane, and other professional qualifications, is a benevolent and humane disposition. The Second, a calm and patient temper. The Third, candour and firamess. And Fourth, a frank and ready willingness to hear complaints and grievances (even though partly imaginary) with a friendly disposition to mitigate and redress these, so far as in his power. It is only by these dispositions being constantly and diligently exercised with forbearance and kindness, that he can hope to secure the confidence of those under his charge, and have that control over the whole inmates of the asylum, which are necessary for the cure or amelioration of tlie Patients. By persevering diligence must he visit the patients regularly in their wards, their airing grounds, at their meals, at their devotional exercises, as also at their work and their amusements. Upon these occasions he. will, by his conduct, show a friendly disposition towards the patients—a delicate consideration for their infirmities ; he will reprove and control the wayward, moderate and correct the inclinations of the capricious, win over to his confidence the dis- trustful, and encourage and foster the growth of the best and purest affections of humanity, which, in his patients, are not annihilated, altliough grievously disordered. Success in tliese objects, by constant friendly intercourse and kindness, should be his habitual aim, as the surest way to cure or alleviate the mental disorder, the sufferings and weakness, of those unfortunate indi- viduals under his care.
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