Narrative of the recent difficulties in the Provincial Lunatic Asylum in Canada West : dedicated to the Christian community, and to the presiding officers of lunatic asylums in Europe and America.

  • Park, Geo. H. (George Hamilton)
Date:
1849
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Narrative of the recent difficulties in the Provincial Lunatic Asylum in Canada West : dedicated to the Christian community, and to the presiding officers of lunatic asylums in Europe and America. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    There was no deficiency of clothing. Now there is little difference between a want of clothing, and neglect by the Commissioners to see that the unhappy inmates were properly and comfortably clad. Had the several mem- bers of the Board in their collective or visitorial character performed their duty, Dr. Rees (who was like myself surrounded by hostile servants) would not have needed to record (24th August, 1S43) that no patient he allowed to go without wor-ted stockings and shoes, as many are suffering from the neg- lect of this oft repeated injunction, and it must be immediately enforced.'' And after this order, so little did the Commissioners or servants heed the con- dition of the Lunatics that, on the 18th September, 1844, the learned gentle- man repeated that the Steward is paiticularly directed to see that no patient is allowed to go without shoes and stockings. The destruction of such property (inseparable from the inadequate domestic police sustained by the Board) attracted the attention of this vigilant Superintendent, who, in November 1S44 recorded, '■ that the unusual destruc- tion of bedding and wear ng apparel, reported by the attendants, shows that greater attention is required. In other Institutions, the injured or tattered articles are collected in an appointed room to afford evidence that they have been so lost to the Institution, and not purloined. Destruction, and I have every reason to believe peculation, as well as drunkenness, went on to such an extent that in September 1S45, Dr. Rees reiterates his complaints about clothing; and after directing an increase of bedclothes and wearing apparel, adds, the male patients appear wholly destitute of stockings or shoes or moccasins. Dr. Telfer observed the same abuses; and it is plain from his entry that he had reason to apprehend the most discreditable and dishonest proceedings, for in his zeal to correct evils of such magnitude, he inadvertently or intentionally trespassed upon the scandalously neglected department of tie Commissioners, by directing a book to be kept in future for the Medical Superintendent, in which the Steward and Matron is to enter daily every article received, with the name of the person from whom received, the quantity and prices. The manner in which the accounts were kept, if they could, indeed, be said to be kept at all, exhibits at this time upon examination, the most disreputable and ruinous management; Dr. Telfer, therefore, needed such a measure to pro- tect himself from any personal participation in existing abuses—Commission- ers, however wrong, are sustained by the Government, as avowed by them ; but the single-handed Medical Supeiintendent must rest on the honesty of his case and the virtue of public opinion. But as Dr. Telfer has published some able letters in his deft nee, I must refer the reader to them. No want of clothing ! How came there to be, on my assumption of duty, naked patients in the attic ? How came the Board to recognise the need of my large demand for such articles, audit and pay for them ] The corro- boration of my heavy requisition by Steward Ramsey, and the acquiescence of the Commissioners by incurring so large an outlay, and the internal condition as testified by the current entries of preceding Medical Superintendents, afford evidence of the sincetity and necessity of the course pjrsued by me—a course in the pursuit of which I might reasonably expect to be approved, not betrayed by my friends in the Government. On whom, then, upon this point, rests the falsehood and treachery ? 2. The Rev. Delegates add for the past Superintendents, there was no AR.KED want of cleanliness.