Star.
London, England, 1827-08-24 00:00:00

ItKPORT.

The Saute? Coatstmer appointed to inquire into the State of the
Pauper Lunatics in the County of Muldlesex, to consider the pro-
priety of extending the provisions of 14 Geo. 111. e. 49. to Pau-
per Lunatics, and of the consolidation of all Acts relative to
Lunatics and Lunatic Asylums, and of making further Provision

relative thereto—have, pursuit to the Order of the House, cow
*sidered the subject to them ATel red, and agreed to the follow-
ing Rarest:
In the course of their inquiry into the state of the Pauper Luna-
tics of the County of Middlesex, she attention-of your Committee
has been particularly directed to the treatment of the Male Paupers
of the parishes of Marylebone, &. George, Hanover-square, and
St. Pancras, who have been or are confined la the White House at
Bethnal Green, belonging to Mr. Warburtuerhe evidence thereon
is specially submitted to do consideration of the House.

From the Registers of the Visitors appointed by the College of
Phy-icians, and front other testimony. your Committee might in-
ter, that however great its defects may be, Mr. Warburton's esta-
blishment has hitherto beer: considered at good as the generality of
licensed houses where Paupers ate received in the neighbourhood
of the metropolis; but if the White House is to be taken as a fair
specimen of similar establishments, your Committee cannot too
strongly .r too anxiously express their conviction, that the greatest
possible benefit win accrue to Pauper Patients by the erection of a
County Lunatic Asylum.

The Select Committee of 1815, called the attention of the House
to the following abuses its the management of the houses for the
reception of Lunatics:

r. Keepers of the Houses receiving a much greater number of
persons in them than they are calculated for; and the consequent
want of accommOdatiou for the patients, which greatly retards
recovery.
" 2. The insufficiency of the number of keepers in proportion to
the number of persons intrusted to their care, unavoidably leading
to a proportionably greater degree of restraint than the patients
would otherwise require.
" 3. The union nf patients who are outrageous with those who
are quiet and inoffensive.

"4. The want of medical assistance so applied to the malady foe
which "the persons are confined.
" S. The detention of persons whose minds do not require
confinement.
" 6. The insufficiency a the certificates on which patients see
I recetved intomadlsouses.

" 7. The defective visitations of private madhouses, under the
provision' of the 14th Gees. 111. C. 19."

The evidence taken before your Committee leaves no doubt that
these observations are still applicable to licensed houses where
paupers are received in the neighbourhood of the metropolis, and
they are appreheasive that similar abuses elsewhere prevail, as 'oo
improvement has taken place in the law. It has been clearly esta-
blished in evidence, that there is no due precaution with respect
to the certificates of admission, to the consideration of discharge,
or to the application of any curative process to the mental malady.
Your Committee therefore repeat, adept, and confirm, the recom-
mendations of the Committees of 1807 and 1815, and they trust
that every effort will be made during the recess, by all rivens
concerned in the control and management of their establishments,
to imptuve the condition of the unfortunate lunatics committed to
their charge ; and they further 'recommend, that legislative mea-
sures of a remedial character should be introduced at the earliest
period of the neat Session. Thy have therefore In consequence
prepared a Series of Propositions, which they beg to offer as the
basis of future Legislation. Your Committee have purposely
omitted any statement of fines and penalties, conceiving such
poiuts may more properly be considered when any Bill or Bills
shall be introduced.
Your Committee are aware that some expense may be incurred
by the system of visitation they recommend, but the appropriation
of the fees on licences (which might perhaps be increased) and
fines levied, would defray a considerable part of such expense;
and your Committee confidently anticipate that the additional sum
required will not be considered of importance, when compared
with the great and practical benefits to be derived front an ex-
tended and improved system of regulating and visiting Lunatic
Asylums.

I.—That it is expedient to repeal the Acts of 17 Geo. 2. e. S.
20 and 21.--48 Geo. 3. c. 96.-51 Geo. 3. c. 79.-55 Gm. 3.
c. 46.-56 Geo. 3. c. 117.-59 Geo. 3. C. 127.-5 Gm. 4. C. 71.-
39 and 40 Geo. 5. C. 94. And to consolidate Into one Act of Par-
liament the provisions of the same, and to make such further
provision* as will facilitate the erection of County Lunatic Asy-
lums, and improve the treatment of Pauper and Criminal Lunatics.
-

Il.—That it is expedient to repeal the Acts of 14 Gen. 5. c. 49 ;
19 Geo. 3. e. 13: IN Geo. 3. c. 91. And that an Act of Par-
liament should be passed, under the provisions of which all houses
for the reception of insane persons, except County Pauper Lunatic
Asylums, &. Luke's, and Bethkot hospitals, should be licensed
and regulated; and that the following provisions should furnt the
ground-work of such Act.

lll.—That it is expedient that the. Secretary of State for the
Home Department do, on the day of In every year,
by an instrument under his hand and seal, appoint persons,
of whom not less than five ahan be Police Magistrates, together
with five Physicians, to be Visitors within the cities of London
and Westminster, within seven miles thereof, and within the county
of Middlesex; and that the Secretary of State for the Home De-
partment do appoiot a clerk to attend such Board of Visitors, and
to recotd their proceedings.

V.—That such Visitors do meet at least four times in each year,
and at such meetings the said visitors (five to be a quorum, two
of whom at the least to be Magistrates) shall, if they think fit,
grant licences to all persons requiring the same. for keeping houses
for the reception of two or more Lunatics, within the cities of
London and Westminster. and within seven miles thereof, and
within the county of Middlesex, such licences to be for une year
from the date thereof; and that in case the said Visitors shall think
fit to refuse any licence so applied for, they shall state their reasons
in writing, and deliver a copy of such licence to the person so
applying.
V. —That in other parts of England. and Wales, the Magistrates
assembled in Quarter Sessions, shall, if they think et, grant licences,
such licences to be for one year, to all persons requiting the same,
for keeping houses for the reception of two or more lunatics in their
respective counties ; and that the clerk of the peace or his deputy,
in each county, shall act in the same msrinet within his county. as
the clerk to the Board of Visitors, within the cities of London and
Westminster, within seven miles thereof, and within the county of
\iiddlesex, and that in case the Justices of Quarter Sessions shall
think fit to refuse any license so applied for, the lessons of such
refusal or suspension shall be delivered in writing to the party

• V'l.—That previous to the granting of any such licence, the per-
son requiring thq same, 'ball give one month's notice in writing to

the clerk of the said London Visitors, or the Clerk of the Peace or
his Deputy (as the case may be) accompanied by a plan of the house
proposed to be licensed. which plan shall be afterwards deposited
with the clerk of the visitors, or Clerk of the Peace; and the pro-
prietor, if licensed, whenever he shall make any alterations in his
house, shall transmit an amended plan of the same, containiog all
such alterations laid down thereon, to the clerk of the said London
Visitors, or Clerk of the Peace, or his Deputy, as the case may be.
VlL—That previously also to the granting of any such licence,
three at le-ast of the said London visitors (one of whom shall be a
Magistrate) ; or if not is London, &c. any two Magistrates real-
dent in the neighbourhood, and a physician, or surgeon, •r licensed
apothecary, shall visit such hou-r, and shall report to the Board of
London Visitors or Court of Qoatter Sessions, as to the fitoess of
such house for the reception of Lunatic Patients, the number
which it is capable of containing, and its conformity to the plan
delivered.
VI IL—That every person concerned and interested In the house
to be licensed, *ball be named in the licence, and shall be responsi-
ble for the management of such boos-; and that one person so
terested shall he actually resident In such house, if it contain fifty I
patients, and in houses containing less than fifty patients, the name,
of the actpel resident superintradant shall be inserted Male licence. 1
IX.—Thar in all parts of England ind Wales, except Lontlitn,
Ste. the Magistrates, in Quarter SessiMis assembled, shall appoint
for each licensed house within their district two Magistrates and
one physician, or surgeon, or licensed apothecary, to act as visitors.
X —That every Amuse an licensed be inspected by three
Visitors (one of whom to be a Magistrate), or by the vi-
sitors appoieted at Quarter Sessions, as the case may be, at least
four times in every year, and at all other such rime, as they shill
think fir, at any hour of the day or night; such London or country
Visitors to be attended by the ( leek of the London Visitor,, or
Clerk of the Peace or his Deputy, who shall make a minute of
state and condition of the house, conspiring every room thereof
with the plan deposited, and ascertaining by personal inspection
the state of each apartment, of the number of the keepers regularly
employed, and of the number of patients confined therein at the
time of such visit, which minute shall be afterwards fairly tran-
scribed into a proper book or register; and in case the London
Visitors, or Visiting Magistrates and Physicians, shall find Cause
of complaint against the proprietor of such hou.e, the Clerk shall
transmit a copy of such complaint to the proprietor, who may be
summoned, if it be th ught necessary, to attend the neat Quarterly
Meeting of such London Visitors, or the Quarter Sessions of the
County, as the case may be, to examine relative to such complaint.
XI —That on a special application to the Secretary of State for
the Hume Departmeist, relative to Lunatics or Lunatic Asylums
in the country, he may appoint any of the shove London Visitors,
together with any Physicians or Magistrates of the county from
whence the complaint shall come, according as the nature of the
cater may require, to make such inquiries as be shall think fit to di-
rect, and to report to hint thereupon.
Xll.—Tbat no:keeper of any house licensed for the reception of
Lunatics shall receive any Lunatic, except a Pauper Lunatic, with-
out first having an order in wilting model tM hand of the person
by whose direction such Lunatic is sent to his house; in which or-
der !hall M atated the degree of relationship or circumstance of
connexion between such person and the Lunatic, and the name,
Iplace'of residence, former occupation, date of the commencement
of illness of the Lunatic, and the Asylum (if any) in which the
Lunatic shall have been previously confined, and also a certificate
under the hand of two Members of the College of Physicians or
College of Surgeons, or licensed Apothecaries,
who shall hat
such Lunatic is a proper person to be confined, anti the day on
Which be shall last have been 'Reamed by them; nor shall the
keeper of any Lunatic Asylum receive any person line his estab-
lishment, if such last examinatiott shall not have taken place within
the fourteen days next preceding; but the keeper of any licensed
house shall be authorised to receive a Pauper Lunatic under an or-
der from any Magistrate, tegether with a certificate of insanity,
vetoed by the usual medical attendant, the rector, vicar, or curate,
and Oft of the overseers pf the poor of the parish to which such
Pauper Lunatic belongs:
XI I I.—That within three days after receipt of such order and
certificate, • copy thereof shall he transmitted to the Clerk of the
London Visitors, or to the Clerk of the Peace or his Deputy (as
the case may be), who shall enter the same in a regbter to be pro-
vided for that purpose; and that such Clerk shall make therefrom
a register, containing the true name of each Lunatic so returned to
him, and the Asylum in which such Lunatic is confined, which
last-mentioned register shell be open to the inspection of any person
requiring to see the same.
XlV.—That whenever 100 patients or upwards shall be con-
fined in any one house, there shall be a resident medical attendant.
who shall keep a register of the cases of all the patients under Ms
care, the treatment and system pursued with regard to their mental
and bodily disorders, and the medicines prescribed or administered;
and that each register shall be open to the inspection of the London
Visitors, or visiting Magistrates and Physicians in the country, and
I there shall be inserted in sack register by the proprietor or superin-
tendant, or medical attendant of such asylum, the name of every
patient under Coercion, and the nature, degree, and duration of
I such coercion.

XV.—That wherever there are less than 100 patients confined,
there shall be daily medical attendance, and a similar register kept,
which shall be open to inspection in like manner.
XVL—That no convalescent patient shall be employed as as.
sistant keeper about Me persons of other patients.
XVlL—That the overseers of the poor and medical attendant
appointed by each parish shall have liberty to visit the pauper
lunatics of their respective parishes at all hours of the day or night.
X VllL—Tbat all County Magistrates, in addition to the
Visitors or Visiting Magi , shall have liberty to visit all
houses licensed for the reception of Lunatics within their respective
counties, between the hours •f eight in the morning and eight in
the evening.
XI X.—That in every case of the death of any patient in such
licensed h•mse, a Cot otter's Inquest shall be held upon the body :
and if such Coroner shall see fit, he shall direct the body robe ex-
amined by a medical man not belonging to the establishment.
XX.—That in case the London Visitors, ol' Visiting Magistrates
and Physicians, appointed at Quarter Sessions, who shall visit the
licensed houses, shall have reason. on examination after tura seite.
rote eisits, to believe that any patient confined in a.iy of these house.,
has recovered the use of his faculties, they shall make a report
thereof to the next quarterly or other meeting of the said London
Visitors, or to the Magistrates at htiarter Sessions, as the case may
be, who shall have power to order the discharge of such Lunatic,
with or without further examination, due notice having been given
to the keeper of such Asylum, of the intention on the part of the
Visitors to apply for such discharge.
X XL—That in order to provide fur the due care •f such Lena.
tics as are confined separately, it is expedient that every person who
shall receive into his house for hire (such house not being licensed)
any one Lunatic, shall, within three days atter the arrival of such
Lunatic, transmit to the Clerk of the Commissioners or Clerk of
the Peace of the County (as the case may he), a copy of the order
and certificate; without which, such as in the case of licensed
houses, no such Lunatic shall be received; and cut the first of
January, or within three days thereof, in every year, he shall trans-
mit to such Clerk a certificate, signed by two medical men, de-
scribing the then actual state and condition of such Lunatic; and
in case of the death, removal, or discharge of such Lunatic, he ►hall
fotthwith notify the same to such Clerk. which said orders, certi-
ficates, and notifications. shall be duly entered in a register to be
kept for that purpose; and that the said Clerk shall make there-
from a separate register, containing the true name of each Lunatic
so separately confined, together with the place of confinement,
' which last-mentioned register shall be open only to the inspection
of the Secretary of State, London Visitors, or Chairman of Quarts;
Sessions, is their respective counties, and to such persons as are au-
thorised to inspect the same by an order under the hands of the
Secretary of State or Chairman of Quarter Sessions, in their re-
spective counties; and that every such house shall be subject to
the same visitation as licensed houses, which, however, shall only I
take place by order of the Secretary of State, London Visitors, or
Chairman of Quarter StlSiollf, in their respective counties. I,

X X 11.—Th a all Lunatics confined in custody of their relatives
and friends, or of a Committee appointed by the Court of Chancery,
shall not be registered, and shall not be subject to visitation, except
by the authority of the Secretary of State for the Home Depart-
ruem, who shall be empowered, on special application, to appoint,
if he shall think fit, visitors for such purpose in the same manner as
for special visitation of Lunatics or Lunatic Asylums in the country.
Your Committee beg leave to conclude their Report bj re-
raving the House to the Appentliz,-containing the evidence and
other Parrt.