Chapters in the History of the Insane in the British IslesTuke, Daniel Hack
History
Chapters in the History of the Insane in the British Isles
Tuke, Daniel Hack
Mental health laws -- Great Britain; Mental illness -- Great Britain; Mentally ill -- Care; Psychiatric hospitals -- Great Britain
In 1841 the infirmaries at each end of St. Luke's were fitted up for the
reception of male and female patients. In 1842 a chaplain was appointed,
and the present chapel set apart for worship. Open fireplaces were
placed in each of the galleries. The old method of coercion was
abolished; padded rooms were made available for the treatment of the
paroxysm; additional attendants were hired; and an airing-ground was
laid out and set apart for the use of the noisy and refractory patients.
Wooden doors were substituted for the iron gates of the galleries, and
the removal of the wire guards from the windows inside of the galleries
added much to their cheerfulness. The bars on the doors of the bedrooms,
and the screens outside the windows of the galleries were also ordered
to be removed. In 1843 the reading-rooms for the male and female
patients were completed, and a library containing two hundred volumes
was supplied by the kindness of the treasurer; an amusement fund was
established for the purchase of bagatelle and backgammon boards, and
other games for the use of the patients. In 1845 the hospital came under
the provisions of the Lunacy Act (8 and 9 Vict., c. 100). Since the
Lunacy Act of that year, the affairs of the hospital have been subjected
to the control of the Commissioners, in addition to that of the House
Committee and Board of Governors. Gas was introduced in 1848 into the
hospital. In 1849 the pauper burial-ground at the back of the hospital
was closed.[99] Numerous improvements have been made in recent years,
especially in regard to the appearance of the galleries. The next
improvement will be, I hope, to build a third St. Luke's, in the
country.
FOOTNOTES:
[57] Dugdale's "Monasticon," vol. vi. pt. ii. pp. 621, 622. Rot. Claus.
de ann. 4 Hen. IV. Videsis bundell. de beneficii Alienig. de anno 48
Edw. III. Et. Pat. 11 Edw. II. p. 2, m. 24. The Hospital or Priory of
Bethlem must not be confounded with the Priory of St. Mary Spital, or
New Hospital of our Lady without Bishopsgate, founded 1197.
The following were Masters or Priors of the Hospital: Robert Lincoln, 12
Rich. II.; Robert Dale, 1 Hen. IV.; Edw. Atherton, 15 Hen. VI. He was
clerk of the closet to the King. John Arundel, 35 Hen. VI.; Thomas
Hervy, 37 Hen. VI.; John Browne, later in the same year; John Smeathe or
Sneethe, 49 Hen. VI. John Davyson was removed 19 Edw. IV., when Walter
Bate and William Hobbes were made custodes, with benefit of survivorship
as Master to either (Dugdale, _op. cit._, p. 622).
[58] French, _crèche_, a manger.
[59] Argent, two bars sable, a labell of five points, throughout gules,
on a chief azure, an estoile of sixteen points, or, charged with a plate
thereon, a cross of the third between a human skull, in a cup on the
dexter side, and a basket of bread, _i.e._ wastell cakes, all of the
fifth, on the sinister.
[60] Stow, edit. 1603, p. 452. On Bethlem, see p. 166.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account