§ MR. TOTTENHAMasked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Under what circumstances the claims of the Assistant Resident Medical Superintendents of the Irish Lunatic Asylums were overlooked in the recent appointment of Resident Medical Superintendent of the Carlow Asylum; and, whether the gentleman who received the appointment had any special qualifications justifying their supercession, or had ever served as an assistant in any lunatic asylum?
§ MR. W. E. FORSTERIn answer to the first part of the hon. Member's Question I have to say that the claims of the assistant resident medical superintendents of the Irish Lunatic Asylums were not overlooked in making the appointment alluded to in the Question. They all received careful consideration. The gentleman who was appointed was intimately acquainted with the asylum and its duties, from the fact of his having attended thorn during the time that his father acted as visiting physician, and discharged the duties of that office when he was absent on leave. The Question seems to imply that some gentleman was superseded when the appointment was made. That is not the fact. These officers have no claim to these appointments. The appointments are made by the Board of Governors, and all applications are duly considered.