# Dictionary of National Biography, 1912 supplement/Norman, Conolly

​NORMAN, CONOLLY (1853–1908), alienist, born at All Saints' Glebe, Newtown Cunningham, on 12 March 1853, was fifth of six sons of Hugh Norman, rector of All Saints', Newtown Cunningham, and afterwards of Barnhill, both in co. Donegal, by his wife Anne, daughter of Captain William Ball of Buncrana, co. Donegal. Between 1672 and 1733 several members of the Norman family served as mayors of Derry, and two represented the city in parliament. Educated at home owing to delicate health, Norman began at seventeen the study of medicine in Dublin, working at Trinity College, the Carmichael Medical School, and the House of Industry Hospitals. In 1874 he received the licences of the King's and Queen's College of Physicians and the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland, becoming a fellow of the latter college in 1878, and of the former in 1890.
Norman's professional life was spent in the care of the insane. In 1874, on receiving his qualifications, he was appointed assistant medical officer in the Monaghan Asylum, and he remained there till 1881. After study at the Royal Bethlem Hospital, London, under (Sir) George Savage (1881–2) he was successively medical superintendent of Castlebar Asylum, co. Mayo (1882–5), and of Monaghan asylum (1885–6). From 1886 till his death he was medical superintendent of the most important asylum in Ireland, the Richmond Asylum, Dublin, where he proved his capacity for management and reform. When he took charge of the Richmond Asylum it was insanitary and overcrowded, and more like a prison than a hospital. He introduced a humane regime, made the wards bright and comfortable, and found regular occupation for some 75 per cent, of the patients. By his advice a large branch asylum was built a few miles away in the country. In 1894, and again in 1896, 1897, and 1898, the asylum was visited by beri-beri, the outbreak in 1894 being specially severe. He wrote a very complete article on the clinical features of the disease in 1899 (Trans. Royal Acad. of Medicine in Ireland, vol. xvii.). In later years he was interested in the problem of the care of the insane outside asylums. He studied the methods adopted in Gheel in Flanders and elsewhere, and advocated in many papers the inauguration in the United Kingdom of a system of boarding out.
Norman was president of the Medico-Psychological Association of Great Britain and Ireland in 1894, when the annual meeting was held in Dublin. In 1907 he was president of a section of the Medico-Psychological Congress at Amsterdam. At the time of his death he was vice-president of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland. In 1907 the honorary degree of M.D. was conferred on him by the University of Dublin. He was long an editor of the 'Journal of Medical Science,' contributed many papers on insanity to medical periodicals, and was an occasional contributor to this Dictionary.
Norman had many interests outside his speciality. He read widely, and collected books, engravings, and pewter. He was an indefatigable letter-writer, and a ​humorous and whimsical conversationalist.
Norman died suddenly on 23 Feb. 1908, while out walking in Dublin. He was buried in Mount Jerome cemetery, Dublin. He married, on 6 June 1882, Mary Emily, daughter of Randal Young Kenny, M.D., of Killeshandra, co. Cavan. There were no children of the marriage. On St. Luke's Day, 18 Oct. 1910, a memorial with medallion portrait by Mr. J. M. S. Carré, erected by public subscription in the north aisle of St. Patrick's Cathedral, was unveiled by the lord-lieutenant, the earl of Aberdeen. On the same day the subscribers presented to the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland a portrait in oils by Miss Harrison. Neither artist knew Norman, and both portraits are faulty.
[Journal of Mental Science, April 1908; Medical Press and Circular, 4 March 1908; Burke's Landed Gentry of Ireland; private sources and personal knowledge.]
R. J. R.