Practical observations and suggestions on the treatment of mental affections / [Joseph Seaton].

  • Seaton, Joseph
Date:
1846
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Practical observations and suggestions on the treatment of mental affections / [Joseph Seaton]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    ]8 To carefully direct our attention to the discovery and removal, or alleviation, of such internal disorder as may have produced, or may be aggravating, the mental affec¬ tion. To use every means calculated to secure the patient’s confidence. To exert ourselves to procure for him the greatest amount of personal comfort and enjoyment of which he is capa¬ ble. In doing this there should be as little appearance of design as possible. Every thing should appear to be done in the common course of things, without reference to the particular individual; indeed, all should appear to be the ordinary arrangements of a family; and the same care should be taken to prevent his identifying himself with any precautions which may appear necessary for his personal safety. Let these objects be carried out honestly and perseveringly by persons properly qualified, and I believe the keepers of Lunatic Asylums might soon turn their bolts and bars “ into ploughshares ” and their strait-waistcoats into pillow cases: for I am quite convinced that, in very few of those cases in which mechanical coercion is resorted to, is it really necessary; and in those few cases, the necessity has generally been the result of previous improper treatment. In the foregoing remarks, I have endeavoured to point out some of the errors which have fallen under my own observa¬ tion. If what I have said should have the effect of inducing the medical attendant, or the near relatives of an unfortunate patient, to deliberate carefully before they act, I shall perhaps have been the means of saving the one from the reflection, which to an honourable mind could not but be painful, that, instead of his professional knowledge having been exercised to piotect the patient against the folly and ignorance of others, he had thoughtlessly lent its full weight in aid of their silly
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