Subjects of inquiry
The issues the commissioners were to minute or report on were:
with respect to county houses:
section seven
The then condition of the house ... and the patients, ... the
number under restraint and the reasons thereof ... such
irregularity (if any) as may exist in the certificates ...
whether the suggestions (if any) of the County visitors had or
had not been attended to, and also any "informality" in the
licence.
with respect to county asylums:
section thirty one H
Whether "the provisions of the law" had been carried out as to
the construction, visitation and management of the County Asylum,
and also as to the regularity of admissions and liberations of
patients
with respect to county asylums and all licensed houses (London and
county)
section eight B
"whether there has been adopted either in whole or in part, any
system of non-coercion, and if so the particulars of such system,
and by what means practised, and whether by medical treatment or
otherwise, and what has been the result thereof"
sections nine C and
thirty three K
"the classification or non-classification of patients, the number
of attendants in each class, and, so far as practicable, the
proportionate number of attendants before and since the adoption
of non-coercion, if such system shall have been adopted."
sections ten D and
thirty four L
"the occupations and amusements of the patients ... and whether
the same be in-door or out-door ... and the effect ... indoor
and out-door respectively, on the condition, as well mental as
bodily of the patients."
section eleven E
"the condition, as well mental as bodily, of the pauper patients
(if any), when first received ... and whether the condition has
been such as to prevent or impeded the ultimate recovery, either
mental or bodily, of such patients, and also as to the dietary of
the pauper patients"
Reporting
section thirty eight P
The visiting commissioners were to report on any hospital visited
(under section 38)
in the manner the Home Secretary and/or the Lord Chancellor saw fit.
section seven
On visits to County houses they were to make a minute of the
issues specified in
section 7
in the Visitors Book of each house.
sections:
thirty one
H;
eight
B;
nine
C;
thirty three
K;
ten
D;
thirty four
L and
eleven
E
The other issues I have listed under
subjects of inquiry
were to be "stated by their report
in writing" with respect to each visit to each County or London
house and each County Asylum.
sections twelve
F and
thirty seven O
Each report on a County or London house or a County Asylum,
signed by the visiting commissioners, was to be delivered to the
London clerk who was to enter it into a book kept for the
purpose. Lists of patients etc in each County Asylum required to
be collected under s.36/N (4S.#.#) were to be similarly signed,
delivered and entered in the book
In practice the visiting commissioners entered a minute of all specified
issues in the Visitors Books of the County Houses (See
Parry-Jones, W.L. 1972
pp
144-145 where he reproduces such a minute) and one assumes delivered a copy
of the same to the clerk.
Payment of commissioners and other financial matters
section thirty nine Q
Every commissioner was to be paid travelling and other expenses
whilst employed in executing the duties of his office provided
that only two should be paid them for a visit outside the london
area.
section forty R
Every physician, surgeon and barrister commissioner was to be
paid £1 an hour (exclusive of expenses) when employed in
executing his duties as to houses, hospitals and asylums situated
within the
London area
[The same rate as under the 1832 Act] and
£5.5/- a day for every day employed in executing his duties
as to
those outside the London area, provided that only two should be
paid for a visit outside the London area.
section forty two T
To be paid from normal funds.
section forty four ?
The Treasury could advance money "by way of imprest" to the
Metropolitan Commissioners, for carrying into effect the
provisions of the various Acts. This money "to be accounted for
by the said Commissioners in their next Account".
© Andrew Roberts 1981-