The Express.
London, England, 1853-07-28 00:00:00

LUNATIC ASYLUMS BILL.

On the motion for going into committee on this bill,
Lord D. STUAUT said he wished to take this oppor-
tunity of drawing attention to a lamentable occurrence
which had taken place in Colney Hatch Asylum, and to
put a question to the Secretary fur the Home Department.
The circumstances were that a patient in humble life,
whom he (Lord D. Stuart) had known for many years, was
placed in the asylum, and being one of the class of dan-
gerous lunatic,, was placed in a padded room ; the practice
of the asylum being that no personal restraint should be
placed on the patients. In May last, on one oc-
casion, this person was taken into the yard,
where other dangerous patients were walking,
when a quarrel and tight took place, which ended in the
death of the person of whom he had spoken. The keepers
separated the two patients, and this person was taken heck
to the padded room, where he was left fur twenty minutes,
at the end of which time he was found dead. Ile did not
say that any blame attached to the authorities; but ha
thought the ease required investigation, considering that a
fight between two patients ended in lou of life. An inquest
was held, and it was found that the deceased's ribs were
broken, aed Lad punctured the lungs, thus causing
death. The noble lord then complained of the short
notice which was given to the wile of the (le-
otard, who, being at Hertford, only received notice
at eight a'ele;ek on the very morning of the inquest, that it
would be held at half•put nine. The verdict was " acci-
dental death," without as y blame being attached to the
keepers or any one else. Ile understood that a discussion
bad taken plate on the ease among the visiting magistrates,
sad that it was under the consideration of the Home Seen-
;try. He wished to inquire what had been the result of
that investigation, and it the noble lord would object to lay
on the table the correspondence on the subject ?

Lord PALMERSTON said his attention had been called
to the case by his noble friend and the parties concerned.
Inquiries had been made, but unfortunately inquiries
into such matters seldom led to satisfactory re-
sults. In his own opinion the keepers had not been as
alert as they ought to have been, and especially the
keeper who removed the man, Who ought to have
called immediately for medical assistance. The examina-
tion of the body, however, showed that no medical skill
could have prevented the result. With regard to the pro-
ceedings at the inquest, he was sure no one could be more
1111110111 than Mr. Wakley to act in the same manner to-
wards the humblest as towards the highest person ; ar.d if
the relatives in this case had not had sufficient notice of the
time at which the inquest was to be held, it must have been
accidental. There was no objection to the production of
the papers.

Mr. W. WILLIAMS thought no blame could attach to
Mr. Wakley. He also bore testimony to the good manage-
ment at Colney-hatch. There were some accidents which
no care coulu greeen•.

Mr. FITZROY said that there was no want of care in
this cue ; the keepers were actually in the yard ; there
was no preparatory quarrel or scuffle, but in one moment a
blow was inflicted of so severe a nature that it was stated at
the iaquest that it could only bare been inflicted by a lu-
natic. If there was any blame it was attributable to the
system pursued at the asylum, which, it was uni Ily
admitted, was most proper—namely, the absence of all per-
sonal restraint on the patients. It was impossible to pro-
vide attendants for all the patients ; but whenever repre-
sentations were made of the insufficiency of attendants they
were instantly supplied. At the same time it was
very difficult to obtain competent persons al
moderate tabula to undertake this painful and
odious duty. Still wheneser it was represented to
the magistrates that these dangerous patients required
attendants, orders were given for increasing the number ;
but they objected to any personal restraint on the patients.
In consequence of the Commissioners of Lunacy requiring
such a large area for asylums, it was impossible tl have the
keepers and medical attendants always in every part of
them. There was, however, one patient in this asylum who
was under the exclusive can of a keeper. It must be re-
membered that expenditure in these asylums bore heavily
on the ratepayers, but everything was done by the visiting
magistrates to improve the condition of the patients.
Capt. SCOBELL said that if proper keepers could not be
got on account of low salaries, it would be only a wise
economy to raise them.

Mr. FILES/MELD said that it often did great benefit to
• patient who had been confined in a private room, to have
a change into the yard. There was no asylum in the king-
dom where greater care was taken of patients that Colacy
Hatch.

Mr. SPOONER thought that what had been stated by
Mr. Fitzroy showed that the expense of ...plums ought to
be national, and not local, as he had showed that difficulties
were thrown in the way of improvements in consequence of
the pressure of rates. He hoped the noble ►ord, the Home
Secretary, would take the subject into his consideratien.
The house then went into committee on the bill.

On clause 33,
Mr. KENDALL moved to add a proviso giving power to
the committee of ♦isitors, with the sanction of the Secre-
tary of State, to purchase any land or buildings upon such
terms as the Secretary. of State shall approve.
After some dilemma, the amendment was withdrawn,
Mr. WALPOLE saying he would take it under consider-
ation whether he could introduce a clause on bringing up
the report which would answer the object.
The clans* was then agreed to, as was also clause 34.
On clause 44,

Sir J. DUCKWORTH suggested that words be inserted
giving power to the committee of visiton to chirp an ex-
tra sum in respect of the use of the building for paupers
loom neighbouring counties, or for persons who were not
fouPers.

Mr. WALPOLE said ha would consider the subject, and
had no objection to insert a clause on bringing up the
report.
On clause 56 a discussion arose as to whether the superin-
tendent of the asylum should be a medical man. Many
hon. members expressed an opinion against this; but ulti-
mately the clause as it stood was agreed to.
On clause 62,
Mr. KENDALL moved to substitute " two" for " three"
in the number of visiting mavistrates.
After a conversation the amendment was agreed to.

Mr. FLOYER moved the omission of elms' 94, and some
subsequent clauses, and the substitution of the following
It shall be lawful for the board of guardians of the union
from some place or parish in which any psuper lunatic bas
been seat to an ssylum, registered hospital, or licensed
hones, or in which any pauper lunatic has been so adjudged
to be settled, to charge the expenses of the examination of
such pauper lunatic and of his conveyance to the asylum,
hospital, or house, and the amount of such monies as may
at any time be paid in pursuance of such before-mentioned
order, to such parish or place in such union, or upon the
common funds of the union, in such manner as the ex-
penses of the relief of such pauper would have been charge-
able if relieved on account of common sickness and not as a
lunatic, by any law or laws now or hereafter to be in force
in respect of the relief of the poor."
_ _

Sir J. GRAHAM suggested that as this would open a
very wide question, that of the law of settlement generally,
the committee should not now enter on it, as it was impos-
sible it could be dealt with in the present session.
After a conversation the original clause was agreed to.
The remaining clauses were agreed to, and the house re-
sumed.

Idr.WALPOLE proposed to fig the farther consideration
of the bill for Monday nest.

FACTORIES BILL.

Mr. COBBETT proposed to fix the second reading of this
bill for Wednesday next.
Mi. T. BUNCOMBE recommended that the bill should
be withdrawn, as there was no chance of its passing this
session.

Mr. SPOONER mite the same suggestion.
Mr. COBBETT said he had oonsulted the order-book,
sad found there was no day open. He would, therefore,
consent to the postponement of the bill, with the distinct
understanding that he only did so until neat session.
The order was then discharged.

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA BILL.
The horse then went into committee on this bill.

Mr. BLACKETT, at the request of Sit C. Wood, post-
poned a new clause, of which he had given notice, until the
Winging up of the report.
Si, C. WOOD said as it was desirable to gat this bill up
Assam as possible to the Lords, he would:take the report the
Stat thing at the evening sitting to-morrow, and the third
reeding the first thing on Friday.
The house then resumed.

DUTIES ON HORSES BILL.
This bill was mad a secoad time.

HACKNEY CARRIAGE DUTIES BILL.—THE
CAB STRIKE.
On the motion for the second reading of this bill,
Colonel SIBTIIORP said he was not down in time to put
a question at the sitting of the house, owing to his not being
able to get a cab. (Laughter.) lie had since heard com-
plaints of inconvenience to a most alarming extent which
had been suffered by individuals coming up to town from
the country. The Under-Secretary of State had taken •
deep interest in the management of thew vehicles ; he be-
lieved the bill which he had carried through the house had
been solely for the public good and convenience; and he
trusted that the hon. gentleman's attention would be di-
rected to the drivers of those vehicles, for he never saw
such a set of ruffians in his life ; they were all alike from
Temple-bar to Regent-street. They kept the middle of the
streets ; three or four of them drove abreast ; and they used
language of the most disgusting nature to unprotected
females. He called on the government by no means to give
way to them. (Hew.) Ile considered that the greatest
blame attached to the proprietors; they ought to be found
out. The proprietors ground the drivers down to the ut-
termost farthing, so that they could hardly earn • liveli-
hood at all. lle wished to know when the bill would be
proceeded with.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the
bill would be proceeded with tomorrow ; but the gallant