Insanity and Allied Neuroses

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1884. Excerpt: ... lunacy, or in consequence of it, must be relieved by the guardians, or other local authorities who are charged with the administration of relief to the poor; but the relief, on the other hand, must be afforded in the particular manner which is pointed out or prescribed by the law as adapted to the peculiar circumstances of their unfortunate condition. Whenever it is requisite or proper to do so for the purpose of care or treatment, they ought to be sent to the county or borough asylum, or, in default of such accommodation, to some registered hospital or licensed house; but where it is not necessary to adopt that course, they may either be kept in the workhouse or be lodged with relatives or friends, or be boarded out, or otherwise maintained as may be deemed most suitable.... thus, in respect of their lunacy, pauper lunatics come under the jurisdiction of the Commissioners in Lunacy, whilst in respect of their pauperism they come under the jurisdiction of the Local Government Board. The county and borough asylums in which the numerous class of pauper lunatics are for the most part confined, are comparatively a recent creation. Anterior to 1808, the only enactments affecting pauper lunatics were the provisions of vagrant acts, authorising the detention of dangerous maniacs in chains if necessary, rather with a view to the protection of the public than for their own benefit. Then successive legislation left it to the option of the justices as to whether they should provide asylums or not, and it was not till 1845 that stipulation was made, rendering it incumbent itpon the justices of every county or borough, not already provided with an asylum, to obtain one either separately or jointly with other counties or boroughs. From the seventh annual report ...