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ARSENIC AS A COLOURING MATTER.
ment many months; indeed, all the sores are not yet healed. For this case I get nothing more than the 304th part of £ l7 10s., or Is. 1½d. Compare this with the payments made to my colleagues, who have not performed any operations of importance during the last two years and a half, (excepting in one instance-tapping a woman;) whilst I have had to amputate a limb above the knee, remove part of a hand, a tumour of importance from a child’s side, resect an elbow-joint, and operate for strangulated hernia. One gentleman has a salary that gives him 2s. 2¼d. per order; a second, 4s. 11½d.; and a third, 16s. 3¼d.; and I have but 18. 3 3/4d. My Lords and Gentlemen, I pray you will no longer permit The poor-rates of the country, as me to be cruelly misused. well as the payments from the Consolidated Fund, ought to be impartially, and not, as in my case, capriciously administered. On remonstrating privately with two members of the board of guardians on the iniquitous treatment I receive, one replied, "Icannot help it; we are mere automatons; the board above rules all." The other said, "Fixing the salaries rests with the Poor-law Board, and not with us." This bears out the belief I previously expressed, that the law has entrusted to your honourable Board the power to regulate our salaries, (see 4 and 5 Will. 4, c. 76, s. 46.) I entreat you, therefore, to removee the oppression under which I groan, and which I do not deserve. The only charge that can be brought against me is that I seek a reform of the abuses that exist in the medical department of the Poor-law. I desire only that the Poor-law medical officers may be enabled to do their duty to the four millions of the labouring classes entrusted to their care. We live in an age of reform; the Government of the country is called a Reform Government; the existence of your honourable Board sprung from reform; surely, then, I ought not to be persecuted for humbly endeavouring to follow in the footsteps of the great I beseech you to uphold me by giving me a men of this age. salary commensurate with the duties I have to perform. If you cannot do this, I beg you will say so, that I may lay my case before counsel, and ascertain if it be probable the Court of Queen’s Bench can afford me any redress ; if not, I will then present an humble address to her Majesty in Council, and pray she will graciously be pleased to grant me assistance, that I may be enabled to do my duty to her poor without robbing
my family. I have the honour to be, my Lords and Gentlemen, Your most obedient servant, leiICHARD GRIFFIN. RICHARD The Poor-law Board.
a
leading article, appropriately denominated " palatial prisons,
therein to immure the insame poor of England," and that fewer patients now leave such public institutions restored to psychical health compared with the insane colony of Gheel, notwithstanding its admitted deficiencies, particularly in some important appliances elsewhere available, it seems full time
seriously tu inquire whether more judicious and less expensive proceedings than those now too generally adopted could not be pursued advantageously, not only throughout Great Britain, but
in almost every continental country. Having personally visited numerous lunatic establishments in different districts in Europe, and very recently Sweden and Denmark, where spacious new asylums-viz., five in the former country, to contain 1500, and four in the latter, to receive 1000 inmates, and analogous to structures lately built in England or France-have just been erected, or are in the course of completion, and in which nearly the same mode of management is now, or will be, pursued, I would advert to the limited benefits in regard to cures generally obtained compared with those observed at Gheel. There, free air, out-door agricultural occupations, domestic or previously familiar habits, the individuality of inmates, (not like machine-moving units,) and all avoidance of any prison uniform discipline, appear the chief characteristics, at the same time that proper surveillance, and medical and hygienic treatment are alsocombined; whereas at various modern institutions it is often the reverse. Consequently, contrasting both systems, and likewise judging impartially from their ultimate curative effects, I feel justified in expressing a deliberate conviction that similar agricultural colonies for the insane should be formed forthwith in the United Kingdom. Not only would lunatic retreats, like Gheel, become highly beneficial to a very large portion of the insane poor in these islands, especially to a number of chronic and harmless cases, but considerable sums of money, now often expended uselessly, if not injuriously, in bricks and mortar, might thus be saved, decidedly to the pecuniary advantage of county-ratepayers; besides which such a modification as that here recommended could not act detrimentally to the cause of real charity; nay, it would even prove to many afflicted pauper sufferers through mental alienation truly salutary and humane. In conclusion, I may add that Gheelois experience certainly pleads strongly in favour of the above proposition. I remain, Sir, yours faithfuly, JOHN WEBSTER, M.D. Brook-street, Oct. 1857. JOHN
ARSENIC AS A COLOURING MATTER.
INSANE
COLONIES. To the Editor of THE LANCET. To the Editor of THE LANCET’ interest SIR,-The you still continue to take in the public SIR, -My friend, Dr. Parigot, of Brussels, having, in his valua- health, evinced in your Analytical Sanitary Commissson, leads ble communication to your journal last week, alluded to some re- me to trouble you with the following remarks, if worthy your marks of mine respecting the statistics of Gheel, I shall feel attention. obliged if allowed to say a few words in explanation of the Sometime back, it was stated that some persons suffered number of cures reported by me to have been effected at that with all the symptoms of arsenical poison when using rooms most interesting colony for the insane. In my Notes on Belwith a certain green paper, (arsenite of copper;) then papered in when men-
gian Asylums, published the Psychological Journal, we had children’s balls coloured with the same in a state of that locality, the figures correctly quoted were obtained I now wish to draw your attention to the envelope. powder. from an official return kindly supplied by the resident secre- enclosed, as being coloured with the same poison. I boiled a tary, M. Yereslet, whereby it appeared the total entries of new small portion of that now sent in dilute muriatic acid, using patients-curables and incurables included-during the pre- Reinsch’s process, when my copper was entirely coated with vious year, ending on the 1st of September, 1856, amounted to arsenic. 137; while 29 were discharged convalescent; or about 22 per After all that has been said on the former matters, we might 100 admissions. Had the cases considered curable at their have thought that human life would have been more protected first reception, or those in whom the mental malady was recent, from this poison; such seems not to be the case. The paper, been only taken into calculation, no doubt the recoveries would as you will see, is not even protected (slightly) by being glazed, have reached a higher proportion, and thus assumed a still and as the gum is usually moistened by the tongue, a portionmore favourable aspect, as now distinctly pointed out by Dr. of the arsenic must be removed thereby. But I wish to point out where evil is more likely to be pro. Parigot, and derived from his own experience during the period he occupied the important office of inspecting physician at duced, and followed by fatal results. Children, especially Gheel. infants, are often quieted and amused by having these things In Bethlem Hospital, where cases deemed curable, or patients given them to play with, and of course are as often carried to who have not been insane beyond twelve months only are ad- mouth; hence they are liable to be poisoned, and the cause mitted, recoveries often averaged about 60 per cent., and last not even suspected. I am, Sir, most respectfully yours, year they exceeded that rate, or 62 cured per 100 admissions. At Colney Hatch and Hanwell, where the residents comprise R. BATEMAN,
tioning
Assistant to Dr. J. R. R, Pretty. Pretty. Bayham-terrace, Camden-town, nearly the same category as at Gheel, late returns from these Sept. 1857. asylums indicate a ratio of cases considerably under that ob, tained at the Campine colony. But such consequences are not P.S. The manufacturer has been cautioned; hence I do not surprising ; and I much fear, should the two large English re- wish to mention his name. ceptacles just named be made more extensive, to contain an THE CATTLE DISEASE IN CORNWALL,-During the past. augmented population of lunatic inmates, their sanative influences may even show less satisfactory results than at present. few days the disease has again made its appearance. Mr. Considering the immense sums-seldom under X210 per Harry, of Treesa, and Mr. William Williams, of Trene.
natient-frequently expended in producing what
378
vnn
have in
Henry
thick, have lost several bullocks, affected by this malady.
,
my family. I have the honour to be, my Lords and Gentlemen, Your most obedient servant, leiICHARD GRIFFIN. RICHARD The Poor-law Board.
a
leading article, appropriately denominated " palatial prisons,
therein to immure the insame poor of England," and that fewer patients now leave such public institutions restored to psychical health compared with the insane colony of Gheel, notwithstanding its admitted deficiencies, particularly in some important appliances elsewhere available, it seems full time
seriously tu inquire whether more judicious and less expensive proceedings than those now too generally adopted could not be pursued advantageously, not only throughout Great Britain, but
in almost every continental country. Having personally visited numerous lunatic establishments in different districts in Europe, and very recently Sweden and Denmark, where spacious new asylums-viz., five in the former country, to contain 1500, and four in the latter, to receive 1000 inmates, and analogous to structures lately built in England or France-have just been erected, or are in the course of completion, and in which nearly the same mode of management is now, or will be, pursued, I would advert to the limited benefits in regard to cures generally obtained compared with those observed at Gheel. There, free air, out-door agricultural occupations, domestic or previously familiar habits, the individuality of inmates, (not like machine-moving units,) and all avoidance of any prison uniform discipline, appear the chief characteristics, at the same time that proper surveillance, and medical and hygienic treatment are alsocombined; whereas at various modern institutions it is often the reverse. Consequently, contrasting both systems, and likewise judging impartially from their ultimate curative effects, I feel justified in expressing a deliberate conviction that similar agricultural colonies for the insane should be formed forthwith in the United Kingdom. Not only would lunatic retreats, like Gheel, become highly beneficial to a very large portion of the insane poor in these islands, especially to a number of chronic and harmless cases, but considerable sums of money, now often expended uselessly, if not injuriously, in bricks and mortar, might thus be saved, decidedly to the pecuniary advantage of county-ratepayers; besides which such a modification as that here recommended could not act detrimentally to the cause of real charity; nay, it would even prove to many afflicted pauper sufferers through mental alienation truly salutary and humane. In conclusion, I may add that Gheelois experience certainly pleads strongly in favour of the above proposition. I remain, Sir, yours faithfuly, JOHN WEBSTER, M.D. Brook-street, Oct. 1857. JOHN
ARSENIC AS A COLOURING MATTER.
INSANE
COLONIES. To the Editor of THE LANCET. To the Editor of THE LANCET’ interest SIR,-The you still continue to take in the public SIR, -My friend, Dr. Parigot, of Brussels, having, in his valua- health, evinced in your Analytical Sanitary Commissson, leads ble communication to your journal last week, alluded to some re- me to trouble you with the following remarks, if worthy your marks of mine respecting the statistics of Gheel, I shall feel attention. obliged if allowed to say a few words in explanation of the Sometime back, it was stated that some persons suffered number of cures reported by me to have been effected at that with all the symptoms of arsenical poison when using rooms most interesting colony for the insane. In my Notes on Belwith a certain green paper, (arsenite of copper;) then papered in when men-
gian Asylums, published the Psychological Journal, we had children’s balls coloured with the same in a state of that locality, the figures correctly quoted were obtained I now wish to draw your attention to the envelope. powder. from an official return kindly supplied by the resident secre- enclosed, as being coloured with the same poison. I boiled a tary, M. Yereslet, whereby it appeared the total entries of new small portion of that now sent in dilute muriatic acid, using patients-curables and incurables included-during the pre- Reinsch’s process, when my copper was entirely coated with vious year, ending on the 1st of September, 1856, amounted to arsenic. 137; while 29 were discharged convalescent; or about 22 per After all that has been said on the former matters, we might 100 admissions. Had the cases considered curable at their have thought that human life would have been more protected first reception, or those in whom the mental malady was recent, from this poison; such seems not to be the case. The paper, been only taken into calculation, no doubt the recoveries would as you will see, is not even protected (slightly) by being glazed, have reached a higher proportion, and thus assumed a still and as the gum is usually moistened by the tongue, a portionmore favourable aspect, as now distinctly pointed out by Dr. of the arsenic must be removed thereby. But I wish to point out where evil is more likely to be pro. Parigot, and derived from his own experience during the period he occupied the important office of inspecting physician at duced, and followed by fatal results. Children, especially Gheel. infants, are often quieted and amused by having these things In Bethlem Hospital, where cases deemed curable, or patients given them to play with, and of course are as often carried to who have not been insane beyond twelve months only are ad- mouth; hence they are liable to be poisoned, and the cause mitted, recoveries often averaged about 60 per cent., and last not even suspected. I am, Sir, most respectfully yours, year they exceeded that rate, or 62 cured per 100 admissions. At Colney Hatch and Hanwell, where the residents comprise R. BATEMAN,
tioning
Assistant to Dr. J. R. R, Pretty. Pretty. Bayham-terrace, Camden-town, nearly the same category as at Gheel, late returns from these Sept. 1857. asylums indicate a ratio of cases considerably under that ob, tained at the Campine colony. But such consequences are not P.S. The manufacturer has been cautioned; hence I do not surprising ; and I much fear, should the two large English re- wish to mention his name. ceptacles just named be made more extensive, to contain an THE CATTLE DISEASE IN CORNWALL,-During the past. augmented population of lunatic inmates, their sanative influences may even show less satisfactory results than at present. few days the disease has again made its appearance. Mr. Considering the immense sums-seldom under X210 per Harry, of Treesa, and Mr. William Williams, of Trene.
natient-frequently expended in producing what
378
vnn
have in
Henry
thick, have lost several bullocks, affected by this malady.
,