Report, together with the minutes of evidence, and an appendix of papers, from the committee : appointed to consider of provision being made for the better regulation of madhouses in England (ordered by the House of Commons, to be printed, 11th July, 1815) : each subject of evidence arranged under its distinct head / by J.B. Sharpe.

  • House of Commons
Date:
1815
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report, together with the minutes of evidence, and an appendix of papers, from the committee : appointed to consider of provision being made for the better regulation of madhouses in England (ordered by the House of Commons, to be printed, 11th July, 1815) : each subject of evidence arranged under its distinct head / by J.B. Sharpe. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

    43/590 (page 25)
    in the higher stations of life, are charged with moderation accord- ing to their respective means. A certain number of patients, in very distressed circumstances, who pay for their own board, and have no assistance from their parishes, receive the benefit of S5l. per annum (being the interest of the reduction fund) along with the overflowings of the payments of the more affluent patients. The above payments discharge lodging, board, coal and candle, tea, washing, and medicines; but those patients, whose expenses exceed 9s. a week, are separately charged for their washing. The physician is required to attend gratis on the paupers, and on those who are maintained at reduced payments ; but is authorized to receive from the friends of the more affluent patients the rea- sonable emoluments of his profession. In the above Report it is stated, that parish and other paupers are maintained at nine shillings a week, and we are given to understand that the physi- cian receives emoluments from the affluent only ; yet, from seven- teen of the patients maintained at nine shillings, the physician was receiving one shilling per week each. It is stated, the phy- sician is authorized to receive reasonable emoluments from the •affluent. Mr. Wilson paid one hundred and nine pounds four shillings per annum, of which the physician only accounted for thirty-six pounds eight shillings, retaining the remaining sum of seventy-two pounds sixteen shillings as his reasonable emolu- ment. The thirty-six pounds eight shillings paid to the house was also to leave overflowings to the distressed patients. In page 48 of the Report of the Committee of Enquiry it will be seen, that there were Fourteen patients, at 4s. each per week - £.145 12 0 Twelve ditto, at 2s. each per week - - - - 62 8 0 Seventeen ditto, at la. each per week - - - 44 4 0 Now, take the first class of patients at 16s. and 252 4 0 the part taken from them at ll. 8s.; for Mr. Wilson, of Saviour Gate, paid 2/. 2s. to the Asylum, of which the physician took 1/. 8s., and there will remain for him - - - ],164 16 0 Which, added to the former, makes - - 1,417 0 0 This sum, multiplied by five, the number of years Dr. Best has held the situation, gives 7,085 0 0 And by twenty-three, the time Dr. Hunter might have taken these sums, viz. since the year 1785, gives - - 32,591 0 0 £.39,676 0 0