Voluntary patients in asylums / by Stanley Haynes.

  • Haynes, Stanley.
Date:
[1869]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Voluntary patients in asylums / by Stanley Haynes. 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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    those who have left asylums would be humanely treated out of them as in them, and the sensitive convalescent would not be taunted and viewed with suspicion by those about him, and no stigma would attach to him, because it would be known that in many cases physical debility or disease has caused the appearance of mental symptoms instead of the more ordinary signs of corporeal disorder. In conclusion, I wish to protect myself from those who may think I urge an extended system of boardership in asylums from interested motives; my objects are to alleviate ST:d0fering, diminish danger, and protect valuable lives, and my endeavour has been to show how boarders could be received into all classes of institutions for the insane in all parts of Great Britain, if not throughout the British empire; for I know no sufficient reason why the scheme I have sketched out could not be adopted in India, Canada, Australia, and all other of our possessions. That I am not unduly pre- judiced in favour of asylum superintendents, but that the subject has been regarded from the public point of view also is, I venture to hope, proved by the precautions I have out- lined against any abuse. Many, no doubt, wiU think that in all cases a medical certificate of the boarder's mental condi- tion should be obtained, but it is not required in Scotland, nor do I deem it necessary or advisable, because the majority of those who seek asylum treatment only manifest their true state by their own perceptions, and are consequently in such a condition that nothing conclusive can be certified of them ; besides which, the giving of any certificate would place the certificant in a very painful position with the boarder: further, I do not suppose any person would attempt to become a boarder in an asylum unless he felt he required treatment and rest in one. APPENDIX. 1. Definition of Patient (8 & 9 Vict., c. 100, b. cxiv ). Every person received or detained as a lunatic or taken care or clmrgc of as a lunatic. De- finition of Lunatic. Lunatic shall mean every insane person, and every person being an idiot or lunatic or of unsound mind. Fn/s Lvnacy Acts, 1864, p. 305. 2. Op. cit., p. 509. It shall be lawful for the proprietor or superin- tendent of an} licensed houso, with the previous asseut in writing of two or