Asylum Report 1870

1870 - 24^th REPORT OF COMMISSIONERS IN LUNACY - PP XXXIV
ENGLAND & WALES

COUNTY ASYLUMS

p 12: Case of Rees Price - A case of death from fractured ribs occurred at this [Carmarthen] asylum on 8^th January ... The Commissioners ... had themselves no doubt that the injuries had been inflicted by an attendant at the asylum , on the morning after the patient’s admission ... We have been informed that the attendant John Hughes has been dismissed. [There are details of injuries etc & also of the patient’s history - See also Appendix F]

p 13: At the Chester Asylum an attendant named James Blagg, whilst in a state of intoxication, violently assaulted a patient named G.I.. He was charged before the Chester magistrates, & sentenced to pay a fine of 10l., or to be imprisoned for three months.

If the prompt & vigorous course of action adopted by the visitors in this case were followed in other counties, there is little doubt that the number of assaults of this description would be greatly diminished.

p 17: There has been here an example of gross violence & cruelty committed upon a male patient by two attendants named William Wood & John Hodson, but, owing to prompt proceedings & careful investigation on the part of the superintendent & the committee of visitors, supported by the courage & intelligence of a patient who witnessed the assault, these men were indicted at the next assizes, and, solely upon the patient’s evidence, were found guilty, and each sentenced by Mr Justice Willes to seven years’ penal servitude.

[The victim’s name was William Wilson, 52, paralysed & feeble - The name of the witness was James Dutton - evidence is detailed]

p 19: The case of Santi Nistri - died in Hanwell Asylum [Middlesex] on 21^st October last, from the effects of fractured ribs & sternum - Special Inquiry held - no conclusion as to exactly how injuries were received but Commissioners were in no doubt that they had been received in the asylum. [see also Appendix G]

p 20:The circumstances attending the death of a man named W.E. who died in Hanwell Asylum [Middlesex] from the effects of scalds received in a bath was also the subject of a special inquiry.

He had been taken to the bath-room to be cleansed by an attendant named James Patterson, who, contrary to an express rule, first turned on the hot water & then left the room. On his return shortly afterwards, he found that the patient had got into the bath during his absence, & that he was scalded most severely ....[further details of case given]

In this instance the visitors dismissed the attendant Patterson, & also intimated to the night attendant [who was not named] that any future neglect of duty would be followed by his immediate discharge.

p 22: The following notice was forwarded by the superintendent of the Shropshire Asylum:

“The attendant, Lloyd Jones, was struck by an excited patient named Thomas
Lister; in the altercation which ensued some ribs of the latter were broken. The committee of visitors, after a full investigation of the case, deemed that undue violence had been used by the attendant, who was immediately dismissed”

p 26: In September last an inquest was held at this [North Riding] asylum on the body of a male patient, when the following verdict was returned:

“That the deceased [M.D.] met his death from being accidentally scalded through the gross negligence of attendants Henry Brockbank & William Tracey”. [Details of circumstances etc are stated]

P 27: The attendant Tracey was dismissed immediately, and after the coroner’s inquest was committed to York Castle & at the ensuing winter assizes was indicted for neglect & ill-treatment. He was found guilty but recommended for mercy. He spent 3 months in prison & was then discharged. Brockbank, the head attendant of the ward, received a severe reprimand & caution.

METROPOLITAN LICENSED HOUSE

Camberwell House p42.
On 25^th November last it was reported that a male patient, named Cansdale, was suffering from a broken rib. A special inquiry was held. From patient, who was in a state of dementia, they could obtain no information.

Another attendant, M, stated that he had seen Williams, the infirmary attendant, in a padded room dressing Cansdale who had dirtied his bed ... he looked through the door into the room & saw Williams twice lift up Cansdale, wrapted in the bed-clothes, & twice drop him on the floor. ... The Commissioners, having satisfied themselves of the truthfulness of the attendant M, considered the fact of the rough usage witnessed by him on the part of Williams towards Cansdale to be established, & he (Williams) was accordingly dismissed.

THE INSANE IN WORKHOUSES

p 51: Cases of fatal scalding

1) An imbecile woman, named Kempster, at the Newbury Union Workhouse - she was a person of dirty habits, & required to be frequently bathed - In the absence of the infirmary nurse she was placed in a bath of hot water by a young able-bodied pauper & an imbecile assistant.

2) At Frome union workhouse a patient, named Brewer, a harmless idiot, was having his usual weekly bath in the receiving ward. Brewer got into the bath &, finding the water too cold, another imbecile patient, intending merely to make the bath of a comfortable warmth for his successor, brought a bucket of boiling water from an adjacent boiler, & threw it accidentally over the shoulders of the patient Brewer.

p 53: Death of a patient from injuries sustained in the Chorlton Workhouse - The patient, named Callaghan, who was a carter, & 48 years of age, was demented, feeble & partly paralysed. Before arriving at Prestwich Asylum a fortnight earlier, he had been an inmate at Chorlton Union Workhouse, but having become violent & troublesome he was removed to the asylum in the care of the relieving officer. He was found to have chest injuries & subsequently died.

There was insufficient evidence to confirm how these injuries were sustained & no blame was attached to any particular individual. The jury returned an open verdict.

ILLEGAL RECEPTION & ILL-TREATMENT OF UNCERTIIFIED LUNATICS

p 62: The case of Miss Mercy Wood, of Bradford, a lunatic, who had for two years been illegally confined by Robert Dixon Smith, a quarry owner, in his house at Bradford, where all access to her was refused. He was committed for trial at the summer assizes at Leeds - she was removed by the police, for protection & care, to the union workhouse - a verdict of guilty was returned - details of sentence are unclear.

p 64: Thomas Lightfoot of Ancoats charged with alleged cruel treatment of his brother Samuel, 60 years of age & described as “blind, exceedingly deaf & idiotic”. Jury returned a verdict of “Not guilty” - details of evidence are given.

p 66: William Hall charged at Plympton, Devon with having cruelly beaten & otherwise cruelly ill-treated John Snawden, a lunatic under his charge. Hall was convicted & fined 10l. & costs, with the alternative of 2 months imprisonment - Snawden was sent to Devon County Asylum.

p 67: At Loughborough, William Wallace, a lunatic, was found in the house of Jane North, a widow - she was subsequently prosecuted for receiving a lunatic without an order & certificates, & for abusing & ill-treating him. She was convicted & sentenced to nine months imprisonment.

p 68: At Loughborough an aged & harmless lunatic named J Bagnall Wild was alleged to have been for upwards of 30 years under the charge, without legal authority, of Henry Black, a farmer at Sheepshed near Loughborough. Mr Wild was removed to the County Asylum - Black appeared at Leicestershire spring assizes - he was found guilty of illegal reception without certificate but nor guilty of cruelty - he was sentenced to two months imprisonment.

APPENDIX A - COUNTY LUNATIC ASYLUMS - Superintendents & Medical Officers

York, W Riding	Wakefield	Dr. J.C. Browne
Birmingham	Birmingham	T. Green (surgeon)
Bristol	Stapleton, nr Bristol	Dr. H.O. Stephens
Hull	Hull	F.W. Casson (surgeon)
London (city of)	Stone, nr Dartford	Dr. O. Jepson
Leicester	Humberstone	Mr J.E.M. Finch (surg)
Newcastle-upon-Tyne	Bensham nr Gateshead	F. Sutton (surg)
Norwich	St Augustine's Gate	Dr. H,G, Stewart

APPENDIX A - REGISTERED HOSPITALS

Devon	Wonford House, ~Exeter	Dr. T. Lyle
Gloucester	Barnwood House, Gloucester	Dr. A. J. Wood
Lancaster	Liverpool Lunatic Asylum	J. A. Stockwell (surg)
Lancaster	Manchester Royal Lunatic Hospital, Cheadle	G. W. Mould (surgeon)
Lincoln	Lincoln Lunatic Asylum	F. D. Walsh (surgeon)
Middlesex	St Luke's Hospital, Old St	Dr. Dickson
Norfolk	Bethel Hospital, Norwich	C. M. Gibson (surgeon)
Northampton	Northampton General Lunatic Hospital	J. Bayley (surgeon)
Nottingham	Nottingham Lunatic Hospital, The Coppice, Nottingham	Dr. W. B. Tate
Oxford	Warneford Lunatic Asylum, Headington Hill, Nr Oxford	Thomas Allen (surg)
Stafford	Charitable Institution for the Insane, Coton Hill	Dr. J. D. Hewson
Surrey	Bethlehem Hospital, Lambeth Road, S.E.	Dr. W. F. Williams
Surrey	Asylum for Idiot's, Earl's Wood, nr Reigate	Dr. G. W. Grabham
York	York Lunatic Asylum	Dr. F. Needham
York	The Retreat, York	Dr. J. Kitching
Berkshire	State Criminal Asylum, Broadmoor	Dr. J. Meyer
Kent	Fort Pitt, Chatham	Dr. T. Blatherwick
Norfolk	Royal Naval Hospital, Yarmouth	Dr. W. Macleod

APPENDIX A - PROVINCIAL LICENSED HOUSES - To whom licensed

Beds Springfield House, nr Bedford H Harris (surgeon)

Chester Hollingworth Hall, Hollingworth Mr E Rowlands

Cumb Leathes House, nr Penrith Dr T Head

Derby Wye House, Buxton Drs T & F K Dickson

Devon Kenton House, Kenton Miss E A Teague

Devon Plympton House, Plympton S Langworthy (surgeon)

Durham Dinsdale Park, nr Darlington Dr J W Eastwood

Durham Dunston Lodge, nr Gateshead W Garbutt

Essex Essex Hall, nr Colchester W Millard

Essex Witham T M Tomkin (surgeon)

Glam Vernon House, Broton Ferry Charles Pegge (surgeon)

Glos Northwoods, nr Bristol Dr J G Davey

Glos Fairford House, Fairford Daniel Iles

Glos The Croft House, Fairford Mrs Iles

Glos Sandywell Park, Dowdeswell Dr W H O Sankey

Glos Tusculum House, Mitcheldean Mrs Powell

Hants Westbrook House, Alton Mrs E Burnett

Herts Harpenden Hall, nr St Albans A G Rumball

Herts Hadham Palace Dr F M Smith

Kent North Grove House, Hawkhurst W Harmer & Dr W M Harmer

Kent Tattlebury House, Goudhurst S W Newington (suregeon)

Kent West Malling Place, nr Maidstone Dr T H Lowry

Lancs Marsden Hall, Burnley E A Bennett (surgeon)

Lancs Clifton Hall, nr Manchester Mrs Lomas & Mr D H Lomas

Lancs Haydock Lodge, Ashton Dr E Lister

Lancs Tue Brook Villa, nr Liverpool H Owen (surgeon)

Norfolk Heigham Hall, nr Norwich W P Nichols & J F Watson

(surgeons)

Norfolk The Grove, Catton, nr Norwich T J C Rackham

Northa Abington Abbey Retreat, nr Northampton Dr Thomas Prichard

Shrop Stretton House, Church Stretton W Hyslop

Shrop Grove House, All Stretton Mrs Bakewell

Som Brislington House, nr Bristol Drs F K & C H Fox

Som Longwood House, nr Bristol Dr G Rogers

Som Bailbrook House, Bath Easton J Terry (surgeon)

Som Upper House, Combe Down, Bath Miss B Long

Som Amberd House, nr Taunton Dr F H Woodforde

Som Downside Lodge, Midsomer Norton Miss M Short

Staffs Moat House, Tamworth J F Woody (surgeon)

Staffs Barr House, Great Barr, nr Birmingham Mrs Moore

Suffolk Aspall Hall, nr Debenham Miss Chevallier

Suffolk The Grove, Ipswich Dr B Chevallier

Suffolk Belle Vue House, Ipswich Miss S A F Walter

Surrey Lea Pale House, nr Guildford T J Sells (surgeon) &

Mrs Hewitt

Surrey Church Street, Epsom G Stilwell (surgeon)

Sussex Ticehurst Asylum Dr Samuel Newington

Sussex Church Hill House, Brighton Mrs Foreman

Warw Driffold House, Sutton Coldfield Dr G F Bodington

Warw Burman House, Henley in Arden Dr Wade & Dr S H Agar

Warw Arden House, Henley in Arden G R Dartnell (surgeon)

Warw Hurst House, Henley in Arden Mrs Phillips

Warw Midland Counties Idiot Asylum, Dr T B E Fletcher

Dorridge Grove, Knowle Common

Wilts Laverstock House, nr Salisbury Dr S L Haynes

Wilts Fisherton House, nr Salisbury W C Finch (surgeon) &

Dr J A Lush M.P.

Wilts Fiddington House, Market Lavington Dr C Hitchcock

Wilts Kingsdown House, Box Dr Jos Nash

Worcs Droitwich Asylum F I Bennett (surgeon)

Yorks E Marfleet Lane Retreat, Sculcoates J Brown

Yorks E Dunnington House, nr York R H Hornby

Yorks N Terrace House, Osbaldwick Dr J Ure

Yorks W Mount Stead, nr Leeds Dr G P Smith & Mrs Smith

Yorks W Greta Bank, Barnoldswick Mr James Parker

Yorks W Grove House, Acomb, nr York Mr Robert Pearson

Yorks W Lime Tree House, Acomb, nr York Samuel Nelson (surgeon)

Yorks W St John’s House, Wakefield Dr J G Atkinson

York Lawrence House, York W Pumphrey

APPENDIX B - PROVINCIAL

New Licences

1 Hollingworth Hall, Longdendean, Ches Mr C Rowlands

2 Kenton House, Kenton, Devon Miss E A Teague

3 St George’s Retreat, Burgess Hill, Misses Eccles, Lavery &

Sussex Parkinson

Licence expired

1 Leathes House, Penrith Dr T Head

Changes in Proprietorship

1 Dinsdale Park, nr Darlington Dr J W Eastwood is now sole licensee,

vice Dr Macktintosh

2 Dunston Lodge, Gateshead Mr W Garbutt is sole licensee

3 Longwood House, nr Bristol Dr G Rogers is sole licensee

4 Midland Counties Idiot Asylum, Dr T B Fletcher has become

Knowle Green sole licensee

5 Marfleet Lane Retreat, Sculcoates On the death of Mrs Campbell house licensed to Mr J Brown

6 Terrace House, Osbaldwick Dr Ure has become licensee

vice Mrs Tose

7 Laverstock House, Salisbury Dr S L Haynes is sole

licensee

8 Tattlebury House, Goudhurst Mr Robert S Newington has

become licensee, vice S W Newington

APPPENDIX F - Case of Rees Price, patient in Carmarthen Asylum - see p 12.

Persons examined at the Asylum

James Thomas Patient in Ward 1

David Evans ditto

George Morgan ditto

Jenkin Davis ditto

Evan Jones ditto

James Jenkins ditto

Alexander McCormick ditto

John Thomas ditto

David Jenkins ditto

James Fish Porter

Dr Hearder Medical Superintendent

Mr Evan Parry Davis Assistant Medical Officer

James Straker Head attendant

David Davies Attendant in Ward 1

Benjamin Thomas Attendant in Ward 2

Henry Davies Attendant in Ward 2

Benjamin Davies Messenger & Assistant Attendant in Ward 2

John Hughes Attendant in Ward 1

Persons examined at the Workhouse

Daniel Williams Relieving officer

Mr G G L Williams Medical officer of workhouse

Miss Sarah Beynon Workhouse matron

Ann Morgan A pauper nurse

Eliza Hodgin A pauper nurse

John Jones Police serjeant

William Jones A man who assisted the serjeant in removing Price

from the workhouse to the asylum

APPENDIX G - Case of Santi Nistri - Patient at Hanwell Asylum - see p 19

Persons examined

Dr Begley Medical Officer

Dr Lindsay ditto

Dr Hawkes ditto

Inspector Cullen Attendant

Inspector Martin ditto

Jesse Pendrey ditto

John Sutton ditto

John Harrison ditto

Charles Catmar Patient

Henry Etherington ditto

Eleazar Pickwick Fisher ditto

Stephen Slaughter ditto

IRELAND - 19^th Report

p 22: Londonderry Asylum - Case of Suicide - Patient Mary Byrne was said to have swallowed a portion of subacetate of copper - an inquest was held but no post mortem - verdict “ ... that Mary Byrne came to her death from some poisonous substance unknown to us”.

p 26: Richmond Asylum - 2 cases of suicide.

Esther Kinsella hanged herself at the Grangetown Auxiliary with her apron. John Leonard cut his throat with a chisel, taken from the tool-case of a carpenter.

APPENDIX C - Principal Officers of District Asylums - p 90

Resident Medical Superintendent - Physicians - Apothecary - Chaplain -

Clerks etc - Matron

1. Armagh - Robert M’Kinstry - Thos Cumming - nil - nil - Samuel Parkes -

Miss Furlong

2. Ballinasloe - Richard Eaton - Thomas Dillon - nil - Rev J C Walker(Prot)

& Rev J Kirwan(RC) - M Barret(clerk) & Joseph Leord(storekeeper) - Rose O’Callaghan

3. Belfast - Robert Stewart - H MacCormac - James Moore - nil - Samuel

Devinney - Mary F Stewart

4. Carlow - M P Howlett - Thos O’Meara - nil - Rev A B Perry(Prot) & Rev A Phelan(RC) - John Abraham - Lavinia Parson

5. Castlebar - J Edmundson - Myles J Jordan - nil - Rev W B Stoney(Prot) & Rev M Browne(RC) - John Gilham - Elizabeth Chance

6. Clonmel(parent) - Jas Flynn - W D Hemphill - Richard Graham - Rev F T Brady(Prot) & Rev P O’Meara(RC) - Edward O’Neile - F C Bell

7. Clonmel(additional) - William H Garner - W D Hemphill - Richard Graham - Rev F T Brady(Prot) & Rev P O’Meara(RC) - John Richardson - Caroline

Egan

8. Cork - Thomas Power - W C Townsend - nil - Rev W C Neligan & Rev Mr Dansford(Prot), Rev T Macafer(Pres) & Rev J O O’Riordan & Rev C Church(RC) - John P Duggan(storekeeper), William Connell(clerk) &

Geo Crofts(land steward) - Frances Eames

9. Down - G St G Tyner - John K Maconchy - nil - nil - Geo H Whiteside -

Sarah M Taylor

10 Ennis - William Daxon - Patrick Maxwell Cullinan - William Stamer - Rev

P Dwyer(Prot) & Rev J Vaughan(RC) - Francis Fitzgerald - Anna

Delahunty

11 Enniscorthy - Thomas Wildridge Shiell - Thomas Geo Cranfield - Philip M

Cooke - Rev Jno Corvan(Prot) & Rev S Cloney(RC) - Robt Henderson -

Anne J H Allen

12 Kilkenny - Barry Delaney - Lewis C Kinchela - John B Fitzsimmons - Rev W

de Montmerency(Prot) & Rev J O’Hanlon(RC) - Michael Curran - Joanna Ryan

13 Killarney - M Shine Lawlor - Walter Wm Murphy - O C M’Dermott - Rev E

Herbert(Prot) & Rev T Sheehy(RC) - J Wallace - M A Falvey

14 Letterkenny - James Alexander Eames - Henley Thorp - Benjamin Jolly -

Rev T Kemmis(Prot), Rev O Leitch(Pres) & Rev B Kelly(RC) - John

Speers - Eliza Malseed

15 Limerick - Robt Fitzgerald - Robt R Gelston - Samuel Hunt - Rev Benj

Jacob(Prot) & Rev M Fitzgerald(RC) - James Bodkin - Maria Raleigh

16 Londonderry - Edw Smith - B White - Wm J Eames - Rev W Craig(Prot), Rev

J Denham(Pres) & Rev M Tracey(RC) - Thomas Colhoun - Eliza Grant

17 Maryborough - Joseph Henry Hatchell - David Jacob - J B Macnamara - Rev

J M Hobson(Prot) & Rev J Kinsella(RC) - Joseph Pemberton - Jane J

Farrell

18 Monagan - J C Robertson - A K Young - James White - Rev W R

Bailey(Prot) & Rev J Bleckly(Pres) - Robert Coffey(clerk) & John

Patterson(house steward) - Emma Hudson

19 Mullingar - Henry Berkeley - J Ferguson - Wm Middleton - Rev C P

Reichel(Prot), Rev M Murphy(Pres) & Rev J Martin(RC) - John Newburn -

Cath Costello

20 Omagh - Francis J West - Henry Thompson - Francis Trenar - Rev R M

Swift(Prot), Rev J Mitchell(Pres) & Rev C M’Cawley - George Quaile -

Hannah Hudson

21 Richmond - Joseph Lalor - R Tuohill, J F Banks & J Hughes - T E Hayes -

Rev E Leeper(Prot) & Very Rev Wm Canon Brock(RC) - J Nunn(secretary) - M

M M’Grane

22 Sligo - John M’Munn - Wm S Little - John Lougheed - Rev Edw Day(Prot) &

Rev J Morris(RC) - Robert Browne - Margaret Benson

23 Waterford - Frederick MacCabe - P R Connolly - John Mackesy - Ven

Archdeacon J Alcock(Prot) & Rev E J Browne(RC) - Thos S Keary - Susan

O’Brien

APPENDIX C - SUPERANNUATION ALLOWANCES - p 105

Armagh Susan Smith Matron

Ballinasloe J B M’Kiernan Manager

ditto M A Callan Matron

ditto John Hegarty Attendant

ditto Bridget Meally Nurse

ditto Cath. Brennan Infirmary nurse

ditto Rose Carroll ditto

ditto John E Poyntz Apothecary

Belfast William Martin Attendant

Clonmel Wm Jas Sheill Visiting physician

ditto James Boland Head keeper

ditto John Hawks Tailor

ditto Mary Gaile Nurse

ditto Mary Doyle ditto

ditto Arthur Campbell Gate keeper

ditto Margaret Ryan

Cork Ellen Shea Assistant attendant

ditto Margaret Donnelly ditto

ditto Margaret Magrath ditto

ditto John P Duggan Store keeper

Kilkenny Anne Butler Laundress

Killarney Mary Sweeny Assistant nurse

Limerick J B Bouchier Apothecary

ditto Thomas Duggan House Carpenter

ditto Catherine Mullins Female attendant

ditto Bridget M’Mahon ditto

ditto Ellen Lyons ditto

Londonderry Thomas M’Court Gardener

ditto Andrew Ramsey Gate keeper

ditto Alex. M’Kinley Weaver

Maryborough Eliza Abbott Matron

ditto Robert Lewis Gardener

ditto Susan Lewis Gate keeper

ditto Fredk. Galbraith Hall porter

ditto Thomas Pilsworth Apothecary

ditto Thomas C Molloy Clerk & storekeeper

Omagh Hannah Duggan Nurse

ditto James Brien Attendant

Richmond Catherine Wrigley Matron

ditto Bridget Briscoe Nurse

ditto Bridget Tighe Housemaid

ditto Cath. Timmons Nurse

ditto John Reilly Gate porter

ditto Mary Hoey Nurse

ditto John Mollan Physician

ditto Ellen Reilly Deputy nurse

ditto Mary Lynch Nurse

ditto Pakenham Beatty Apothecary

ditto Catherine Doyle Deputy Nurse

ditto Mary Short ditto

ditto Jane Carr Nurse

ditto Eliza Williams ditto

ditto Eliza Norton Infirmary matron

ditto Catherine Byrne Deputy Nurse

ditto Peter Nolan Attendant

ditto Eliza Cahill Nurse

ditto Edward Melia Attendant

ditto C Buggy Nurse

ditto J Kelly Attendant

ditto T Rynhart ditto

Sligo Anne Earls Female attendant

Waterford Captain J Dodds Manager

ditto Michael Chambers Attendant

ditto Patrick Walsh Attendant & shoemaker

ditto Catherine Dunn Nurse

ditto Mary Smyth Laundress

APPENDIX C - SUPERANNUATION ALLOWANCES LAPSED DURING YEAR

Clonmel Catherine Butler

ditto