§ MR. BLAKEsaid, he wished to ask the Chief Secretary for Ireland, Whether he has any objection to state if the Irish Government, before appointing persons to the office of Resident Physician to the District Lunatic Asylums, requires satisfactory proof that they have acquired a practical knowledge of the treatment of insanity; and whether candidates are examined as to their fitness to be entrusted with the care and treatment of the insane by the Inspectors of Asylums, and a Report made thereon to the Lord Lieutenant.
§ SIR ROBERT PEELsaid, in reply, that full and ample inquiry was always made as to the efficiency of the medical men appointed to Lunatic Asylums. He might mention that on a recent occasion the former Resident Physician of the Waterford Asylum was appointed to the Asylum at Castlebar, and the vacancy thus created had been filled, or was about to be filled, by the appointment of Dr. M'Kay, a gentleman whom the hon. Member himself bad very strongly recommended. The Inspectors of Lunatic Asylums always endeavoured to obtain accurate information as to the qualifications of future Resident Physicians before the appointments were made by the Government.