The Express.
London, England, 1859-05-17 00:00:00

LUNATICS IN WORKHOUSES.

TO THE EDITOR OP THZ EXPRESS.

Eta,—A blue-book of eigbty pages contains a
suppiement to the twelfth report of the Commiasion of Lu-
nacy to the Lord Chancellor. It refers to the condition.
character, and treatment of lunatics in workhouses. The
large increase in numbers is noticed; instead of 6,800, there
were 7,666 between January, 1867, and July, 1868. The
violently insane are not kept in workhouses. The patio
compriw the idiotic and imbecile, and those afflicted with
melancholy or epilepsy—the most helpless and the most g-
etable of our fellow-creatures.

Of the metropolitan workhouses, the majority are of great
sirs, old, badly constructed, and in the midst of crowded

. .
localities. The deficiency of means of accommodation and
exercise for lunatics in them is a great evil. The commis-
./Oltere suggest that the best MOMS of providing foe the in-
sane poor who cannot be received into the present asylums
would be the erection of inexpensive bal ling§ adapted for the
validates of idiotic, chronic, and harmless patienta in direct
connection with, or at a c•mvtnlent distance from, the ex-
isting hatitutione. These auxiliary asylums would be later..
me di►ts between union workhouses and the principal cura-
tive asylums.
• • ' '• "

There are a few of the easgestkme, not of sentimental be-
nevolemos or meteor philanthropy, but of as official report
presented to the Lord Chancellor; eaggestious for the re-
medy of eras which ate justly mid to bs " truly disgraoefu
to a civilised and professedly Christian country."
Few, indeed, have penetrated Into the " Means ward"•
of our workhouse, bat those few could add their testimony
to that of the commissioner', and could tell of the rad end

heart•reodiog cares of misery to be met with there. In

soma there are pardel gleams of

sad intervals

of moos to Etas tbentell feel the sadness of their lot.

There waa one case of an honest and respectable woman
who had toiled at needlework till failing health and mind
warned her of her approaching fats in the union ; being
without Mends or mistime, there was no one to are her
from It ; the dread of her lot there and of the society she
should meet with after her quirt and solitary lodging hast-
ened the eril, and for years she was the inmate of a dell and
dreary ward, with a pauper nor" ahem 70 years of age, to
tend her and her fellow-euderers, till at het death reheard
her. In the tam' ward was one who had been kept six
months in bed by the will of the old nurse, who represented
her ma unable to g.e up. One matron (probably the only
paid woman in the house) cannot overlook these few
amongst the 600 or 600 fnma'ea nominally under her care:.

It is well known that music and pictures will materially
alleviate the dreary sadness of these sufferers' lives, and
visitors have belt recommended even in the asylum for
the Insane. Barely then there might at Inset be alleviations of
the present gate of thing@ if the facts were known. Con
oven paid attendants be trusted in such situations without a
much more frequent inspection and superintendenoe than is
possible at present, and might nct the presume of authorised
visitors prove a check upon their conduct as well as a comfort
and enjoyment to the poor inmates? The easing of expense
being so important In workhouse', why not admit a voluntary
Interest and sympathy which would, at all swats, cost
nothing.

Tbe_ sorrows of this most hopelessly effilee I clam of our
fellow creatures are not known, and some who do Des and
mourn over them dere not speak of than.

Perhaps I may be allowed to oak, in coeclasion, why so
many plans are frapsently beteg suggested es supplementary
to our poor-law system ? Night refugee, to supply the de-
ficiencies of lariat wards, god now auxiliary asylums instead
of insane wards. Tree enough that both are sorely needed ;
but with our enormous expenditure for the poor these things
ought not to be, need not be, god, I can almost venture to
say, in a few years will not 62.-1 am, ate.,
May 16. A VISITOR.

ATTORNEYS IN TIER Housz.—The new HOUSE of
Commons will contain saver. 4 solicitors. Mr. Stollland has
been returned for Boston, sheer he has been practis'ng for
many year., end is still in practice; so with Mr. liodgkinson,
at Newark. Mr. Barrow, a retired solicitor, hag been re.
turned for South Nottinghamshire. Mr. Murray, a solicitor,
of large practice in London, was at the bead of the poll in
Newcsetletuider•Lytne; and Mr. Bristow, a solicitor of
Onst welch, has been returned for Kidderminster. The fate
of this seat was very aisgular. Mr. Lowe was banished
from the borough and obliged to take refuge in the pox st
borough of Cabo. Mr. Ruddlertome was for a long time
in solo pomession of the geld, and, aa it was suppored, in
anch strength that no candidate 000ld be found to enter the
lists wriest him. Mr. Montagu Chambers was invited, but
decbned. preferring the forlorn hope of Greenwich to what
he considered the absolute hopeleseness of Kiddermin,ter.
But, on Ma r.fosal, Mr. Briptow, who was the manager of
his election affairs at Greenwich, bethought him he would
try hie own luck, and, to default of any other candidete,
went down only two or three days before the election, end
won by a considerable majority. We lore Mr. Mulling.,
who has retired from Cinsaceetre 6a consequence of failing
health. But the solicitors can I oast of a large accession .1
legielativ• strength by this °baba—Lew r 111461.