The Sun.
London, England, 1856-03-05 00:00:00

ST. PANCRAS WW:IIII011.5E.

OFFICIAL* INVESTIGATION BY THE COM
ISSIONERS IN LUNACY.
Yesterday, a general meeting of the directors and
guardians of the poor of the parish of St. Pancras was
held in the vestry-hail, King's-road, Camden-town, for
the purpose of receiving the report of J. Gaskell, Esq.,
who has been investigating the insane wards of the work.
house, under the special instructions of the Commis-
sioners in Lunacy. 11. Fairer, Esq., F.S,A., senior
churchwarden, took the chair.
Tee report states that one portion of the insane wards,
designated " Little Bethleni," are very objectionable,
and that no improvements have been made in the other
wards occupied by the idiotic and insare, being us4d
both as day rooms and dormitories ; that they are low,
dark, and gloomy apartments. "The central padded.
room used by the men remains very imperfectly venti•
fated and unfit for use." In the previous report of the
commissioner, the warns are described as " inconve-
niently crowded," time then contained 13 men and 26
women ; " to-day," says the report, "I found in them 21
man and 45 women, G of the latter being placed in the
Little Bethlem." Eight patientsareunprovided with beds.
Two men slept on beds placed on the forms, and 2 OR the
floor of the padded-room, one of which is unfit for use.
Four women who are unprovided with bedsteads sleep
on beds cast upon the floor. With a view at once of di-
minishing the overcrowding, and of promoting more suit-
able accommodation and treatment, the report recom-
mends the removal of S inmates named to an asy:um.
T'ne report expresses regret that previous suggestions of
the commissioners have been utterly disregarded. After
again setting forth at length these recommendations, the
report continues, "Comparing the foregoing recommen-
dations with the state of the workhouse as presented to
me this day, I find—
" 1. No book is kept in conformity with the first re-
commendation, and from the want of such a record I
could not ascertain the number of the patients admitted
into the lunatic ward', or the rate of mortality in them.
"2. No lists of the patients are made in the female
wards.
"3. The instruments of restraint are not removed. I
found strait waistcoats in both wards, and no account
of restraint or seclusion is kept.
"4. No diminution of the number of inmates in the
idiotic wards has taken place. On the contrary, they
have been nearly doubled.
"5. Suitable chairs have not been provided. Many
of the women I found seated on the beds, arid eleven cf
theta were confined to bed.
"This enumeration of instances, in which no regard
whatever has been paid to the means formerly pointed
out to ameliorate the condition of the insane and idiotic
inmates of the St. Pancras workhouse, may convey some
idea of their present condition ; but it is difficult to con-
ceive er describe the many evils which now exist, and
which, if allowed to continue, must inevitably lead to
most disastrous results."
In a department of the female ward which is crowded
to excess, and occupied both night and day by dirty
patients, the nurse in charge is in the habit of washing
and drying portions of the bed and other linen ; the ven•
tilation in this room has been closed, to prevent " bad
smells entering from the neighbouring churchyard." The
nurse adds that the stench was unbearable, and that she
burnt vinegar, with which she was freely supplied for the
purpose. One of the patients frequently vomited in conse-
quence of the sickening smells. After alluding to the
irregularity with which the meals are served, and con-
demning the practice of sending raw meat into the wards
to be cooked, the report alludes to the noxious smells is
the men's ward, which is described as arising from a
lodgment of foul water under the flooring. One of the
padded rooms was dilapidated, and the bedding satu-
rated with urine. The beds are dirty and defective.
The waterclosets are described as being badly supplied
with water, and the supply of water is generally defec-
tive. The women's wards are described as being in a
disorderly state, owing to their being overcrowded, and
from the want of all proper conveniences. Several
bottles of medicine were carelessly left within reach of
the patients, many of whom were melancholic and some
suicid ; none of them were provided with suitable
books of amusement, arid means of exercise is defective.
The report hero urges on those who ere responsible for
the care and treatment of these unhappy patients, to
provide a due degree of protection to those who, by
reason of their infirmities, are incapable of making
correct statements and preferring just complaints as to
their several wants and necessities. Referring to the
promised vigorous measures of improvement about to be
adopted, reference is requested to the previous sug-
ge,hons of the commissioners. ,
The report, after detailing other evils existing in the
inner wards of St. Pancras workhouse, concludes by
drawing attention to the following, which they recom-
mend :-
1. That no recent case of insanity be detained in the
workhouse.

2. That chronic cases, on whom restraint or seclusion
are imposed, be removed to an asylum.
3. That the number of Inmates in the idiotic wards be
forthwith diminished.

4. That more means of ezercise and occupation be
provided, and that a larger number of patiente be al-
lowed to attend Divine service.

5. That a lath be supplied to tt,e women patients.
6. That better means of washing be pros i led for the
men, aud a larger supply of towels and sheets for both
wen gn I women.

7. That suitable beds, to prevent bed•eare4, he pur-
chased.

8. That better means of cleansing s,,iled podding be
adopted, and a lar4er I umber of hed-ticks be supplied.
9. That the wire work be removed from the windows
in the men's war].

10. That the women be supplied with suitable books.
Ile report WM received, and a committee of five
members were appointed to investiate the statements
made in the renort ; and all instruments of restraint
were ordered to be at once removed, and not used with-
out the order of tlot medical officer.

Die Clerk was directed to inform the Commissioners
of the couree adopted.
TILE POOH-LAW BOARD AND THE STATE OF TUB

W01:1110U9I:.

Mr. riIBBAILD t't.n read a letter front ti.e Poor law
Board, expressing their confident as,uranc3 that the
directors wilt allow no time unnecessarily to efap4e
bef.re they take measures to remedy the serious evils
whirls are shown ley Dr. Bence Jones's rep.rt to exist
at the St. Pancras workli,use. Mr. liibbsrd stated
that he bad inftx:ned the Poor-law B ,ard that the vestry
end alre:tdy passtd a resolution for the removal of the
,chools front the w,,rkhousp.
Tile Board then atijouraed.