A descriptive notice of the Sussex Lunatic Asylum, Haywards Heath (opened 25th July, 1859) / by C. Lockhart Robertson.

  • Robertson, C. Lockhart (Charles Lockhart), 1825-1897.
Date:
[1859?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A descriptive notice of the Sussex Lunatic Asylum, Haywards Heath (opened 25th July, 1859) / by C. Lockhart Robertson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    superintendent of a new asylum, is the organizing of the staff of the officers and servants (including the rules and regula- tions) of the estabhshment, pre\dous to the removal of the patients to their new home. The arrangement of the duties of the staff requires that he should first view, in detail, his own d\ities and responsibihties ; vmless he himself realizes the extent, and strives to discharge the obligations of the vocation he has entered on, all the arrangements and plans of builders, upholsterers, and other ai-tificers employed on the fabric will avail but little towards the great object of the foundation, the care and relief of human suffering in its most abject and distressing form. These duties and these responsibilities have been so ably stated by one whose pre-eminent success in the study and treatment of mental disease needs not my praise, that I make no apology in this place for quoting his opinions in full. The medical superintendent, says Dr. Conolly, himself should deserve the fuUest confidence of the govern- ing body, and should possess it. His authority cannot be impaired without detriment to the asylum, through every part of which his influence must be continually in operation. The task undertaken by him is one of considerable physical and mental labour. A daily visit to several hundred insane per- sons, each requiring to be accosted so as to do some good, and to do no harm, is itself singularly exhausting to any officer whose heart is really in his duty ; and the multiplicity of claims on his attention throughout the day aflfbrds his mind scarcely any intervals of repose. Unavoidable excitements occur, and sometimes he is engaged in scenes of violent agitation sud- denly arising, and where his interference is indispensable. Whatever therefore is needlessly done to harass or depress the mind of an officer engaged in such a duty disqualifies him to some extent for his important undertaking; for vigilantly superintending the whole working of the a-sylum, and for con- soling, enlivening, animating, and by undisturbed kindness and calmness ever guiding, supporting, and controlling more or less directly the minds of all the rest of the establishment. It is to him that the whole house must at all times look for the principles by which every thing done in it is to be regu- lated. His supposed or his known wishes should be present to the mind of every officer and every attendant in every variety of accident, and his character of mind and heart ever in their view. Indifference on his part must lead to negli- gence on the part of those who execute his commands; severity exhibited by him must lead to brutality on the part of the attendants. His steady disco\iragement of neghgence,