Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1875 edition. Excerpt: ...as near a contiguity to it as possible would be advantageous, for the sake of the physician's constant attendance; but the chronic lunatic may very well dispense with his visits. Supervision by a paid staff of inspectors we hold to be indispensable in such a freeair system; and we believe it to be the most practicable and the most advantageous, both for the sake of the lunatic and for the sake of the asylum itself. The visitation of private patients at present is a mere delusion, once a year being the average amount of visits paid to them. In the case of pauper boarders they would demand more careful supervision than even the better class of patients: hence a large increase of the inspectors is indispensable. It would require time to get such a system into working order, but it would, when once established, be so elastic, that no new rules or regulations would be demanded. The office of such inspectors should not only be that of supervision, but they should also have the duty of distributing the patients. We do not think that the cottage system, pure and simple, is the best adapted to the class of patients such as are found in the neighbourhood of important cities; for instance, Colney Hatch and Hanwell number among their inmates a large majority of town-bred lunatics. These would not necessarily be benefited by being placed in cottages in rural districts. Their habits and associations are all connected with town life. The country lunatics, again, would live more happily amid the fields, and in the midst of rural occupations among which they may take a part. Following the admirable example of Gheel, the inspector should have the power of placing out the pauper-lunatics in such houses and situations as would be best fitted for them. The...
