Lunacy and law : an address on the prevention of insanity delivered before the Medico-Psychological Association of Great Britain and Ireland / by Sir William R. Gowers.

  • William Richard Gowers
Date:
1903
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Lunacy and law : an address on the prevention of insanity delivered before the Medico-Psychological Association of Great Britain and Ireland / by Sir William R. Gowers. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    tutc a small minority. I know a lady who, for many years, has habitually had in her house four border-line cases. She has had only one attempt at escape. It was on a cycle ride, and the fugitive gave in at once when overtaken. As I have said, the Commissioners should be informed of any such attempt. The system in Scotland is far more humane. I suppose the Scotch have less power of imagination, and do not magnify small risks into insuperable dangers. They can at least claim that their system is justified by its result. Any insane or border-line patient for whom the course seems desirable “ with a view to recovery ” and is recommended by a doctor may remain in private care uncertified for six months. It is said to answer well, and prosecutions seem unknown. Whatever danger may be supposed to be prevented by the present law would be more securely and more extensively pre- vented by the system of notification I suggest. It would greatly increase the range of influence for public good, and would far better secure the certification of cases that really need it. As I have said, the Commissioners’ Reports show that the work they have to do is in amount astonishing. The subject was brought before me by the fact that they seem unable personally to investigate the cases for prosecution. They depute the superintendent of a neighbouring asylum, or some alienistic physician, to examine arid report to them on the case. Almost all their work is of a character that must chiefly be done by the medical Commissioners. Of these there are three, and there are three legal Commissioners, whose work is doubtless great but is not in evidence to the same extent. There are two medical Visitors and one legal, but they are concerned only with Chancery patients, and have nothing to do with the work of the Commissioners. The number of these is the same to-day as when the system was arranged in 1845. What of the insane under their super- vision, for whom they have great responsibility ? The number of insane under their supervision before 1 859 is not known, but it was then about 36,700. It is now 110,700. It has increased to three times the number of 1859. We can scarcely doubt that the number in 1845 would not be more than 27,700, one quarter of the present number. The number of Commissioners that was considered proper for 27,000 then
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