Report on insanity and idiocy in Massachusetts / by the Commission on Lunacy under resolve of the Legislature of 1854.

  • Massachusetts. Commission on Lunacy.
Date:
1855
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report on insanity and idiocy in Massachusetts / by the Commission on Lunacy under resolve of the Legislature of 1854. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    23/248 (page 13)
    1855.] As in sixteen towns in the State there are no physicians, letters were sent to the clergymen, on the supposition that they were acquainted with the condition of all the families; and also the overseers of the poor were asked to return the paupers ; and besides these, the physicians of the neighboring towns who attended the sick in these places were especially asked to return any insane and idiots who might be in the families of the towns not their own. Besides, similar letters and schedules were sent to the Su- perintendents of the Lunatic Hospitals in Worcester, Taunton, Somerville and Boston, to the officers of the county receptacles for the insane in Cambridge and Ipswich, and personal inquiry was made of the masters of all the Houses of Correction and Jails in the State, and of the proprietors of all the private houses or establishments devoted to the care of the insane, asking each to make a similar return of the lunatics and idiots under his care. And in order to complete this survey, letters were sent to officers of all the hospitals in the Northern and Middle, and some of the Southern States, asking them to make returns of all the insane patients belonging to Massachusetts who were intrusted to their charge. By this means the Commissioners believed, that they should be able to reach nearly every insane and idiotic person who belonged to Massachusetts, and to reveal the sum of mental disorder or deficiency resting upon the children, citizens and wards of this Commonwealth, more completely than they could in any other way. These letters were sent out in July and August, and were very kindly received. The physicians generally gave the work their ready sympathy and cooperation. The leading members of the medical profession encouraged and aided it. The Coun- cillors of the Massachusetts Medical Society voted to approve the work and the plan of its operation, and advised all the members of the society to assist in the inquiry, and lend their influence to persuade all others to do the same. The County Societies which held their meetings within the period of this survey gave it their active assistance; and officers of every other society which did not meet gave their active and earnest help to this work within their respective spheres.