Annual medical report of the Kent County Lunatic Asylum, at Barming Heath, Maidstone, for the year 1853-4, ending July 4th : presented to the Committee of Visitors, September 9, 1854 and to the Court of General Sessions, October 1854.

  • Kent County Lunatic Asylum
Date:
1854
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Annual medical report of the Kent County Lunatic Asylum, at Barming Heath, Maidstone, for the year 1853-4, ending July 4th : presented to the Committee of Visitors, September 9, 1854 and to the Court of General Sessions, October 1854. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    I which, upon examination into all their circumstances, would be found to be cpiite exceptional to the series of events commonly occurring in the management of a number of insane persons. Lastly, whether mild, or, strong in its kind; brief, or, extended in its application; with proper care, restraint may always be used (as often as really necessary) without injury to the person, without an amount of discomfort deserving to be weighed against the benefit and, chief of all, without injury to the social and moral condition of the Asylum. Suicide.—One instance of self-destruction occurred (No. 6 in the list of occurrences). There had, fortunately, been no similar accident for six years; the last having happened on July 20, 1847. The particulars are accurately detailed in a c nespondence on the sub¬ ject, at the time, with the Secretary to the Commissioners in Lunacy; and the facts cannot be better recorded than by subjoining the letters: — “Office of Commissioners in Lunacy, “ August 15, 1853. “ Sir,—With reference to your notice, this day received, of the death by suicide of M. B., 1 write on behalf of the Commissh ners in Lunacy to request that you will favour them with the following additional particulars, viz.:— “ 1. The part of the Asylum, and whether or not in a single sleeping-room; also at what hour (as far as known) of the day or night the act was committed? “ 2. By what means the patient hung herself? “ 3. By whom, when and under what circumstances the fact wras discovered. “ 4. A copy of the depositions and verdict upon the inquest. “ 5. The result of the investigation (if any) of the circumstances bv the Committee of Visitors. 4/ “ Adverting to the fact that M. B. was described by the Relieving- Officer of the M. Union upon her admission, as both suicidal and dangerous to others, the Commissioners desire to know whether any and what special precautions were taken, or, instructions given to the attendant with reference to her case. “ I am, &c., &c., “ R. W. S. LUTWIDGE, Secretary.” “ Mr. J. H. Stevens, Clerk, Kent Asylum.” [No. 2.] “ The Kent County Lunatic Asylum, “ August 16, 1853. • “ Sir,—Your letter dated the 15th inst. and addressed to the Clerk of this Asylum has been show n by him to me, and I have undertaken