Observations on the memoranda in the margin of the draft of an Act, entitled "An Act for the better management and regulation of houses for the insane" : addressed to the Metropolitan Commissioners in Lunacy / by M. Allen, M.D.

  • Allen, Matthew, -1845.
Date:
1831
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Observations on the memoranda in the margin of the draft of an Act, entitled "An Act for the better management and regulation of houses for the insane" : addressed to the Metropolitan Commissioners in Lunacy / by M. Allen, M.D. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    ducive to their cure,—domestic quiet, the removal of every possible annoyance,—the appearance of restraint to be carefully avoided, and as little of the reality as is compatible with the security of the violent, dangerous, and discontented, who must be restrained, and, if possible, without exciting or increasing their diseased state; we must do every thing to sooth and comfort the disappointed and melancholy, and if possible, “ to heal the broken-heartedwe must strive to correct and cure wrong notions and impressions;—we must cultivate and strengthen better feelings and principles, and discourage or neglect and allow to die away all that is bad from the want of nourishment and exercise;—for all such purposes the superintendent should be armed with moral and medical means at all points, and above selfish considerations. Is it not evident then, that every variety of suitable treatment should be adopted, according to the nature and circumstances of the case? Is all this to be done by mechanism? Is all this to be done by the strictest attention to the plan which some cold rules prescribe? Are we to cramp or destroy the spirit of kindness guided by expe- rience and wisdom, by confining it to rules which have merely for their object the prevention of evil, and not the production of good? Those who legislate should be careful not to meddle in the province out of the reach of human interference. By so doing they may de- stroy, but they can never give, the spirit by which alone good can be done. The present system adds to the horrid association of these houses, (and for which some of these houses may be accused of all the blame), and prevents them from becoming what I conceive would be of the very first importance,—I mean places for the voluntary seclusion of an exhausted mind, or of a nervous invalid, which would be of the first advantage to them, and would besides take away the feel- ing of horror associated with such houses. It is so in France. On the same principle, those who are sent without their own concurrence, should never be treated as if they were insane; the names “Asylum,” “Patient,” “Keeper,” “Insanity,” should never be heard among them; many have been made worse by a contrary system of treatment; and I may also mention that I am more and more convinced of the necessity and efficacy of proper medical aid, and of course of a Medical Man, or of one having acquired medical experience, being amongst them—I re- peat, “that no man ought to keep a house for the care of the Insane, who does not make cure his ruling motive in receiving, detaining, or discharging patients from his house.”
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