QUESTION. OBSERVATIONS. (Hansard, 1 August 1879)

§ LORD O'HAGAN,

in rising to call attention to the Report of the late Irish Lunatic Inquiry Commission; and to ask a Question, said: My Lords, some time ago, I ventured to make a statement to your Lordships—perhaps, at too great a length—as to the miserable condition of some thousands of imbeciles and idiots amongst the poor of Ireland, and I presented a Bill designed for the improvement of their condition. On that occasion my noble Friend opposite (the Duke of Richmond and Gordon) promised, on behalf of the Government, that the subject should receive their prompt attention, and, feeling that it would so be dealt with more effectually, I withdrew the Bill. I am bound to say that the undertaking was not forgotten. A Commission was issued to inquire 1822 generally as to Lunacy in Ireland; the Commissioners were very competent and able men, and they have produced a masterly Report, giving proof of great industry and conscientious care, and containing a large mass of important information. It concluded with wise and humane suggestions. So far, useful progress has been made; but months have elapsed, and I am not aware that anything has been done to carry those suggestions into practical effect. Your Lordships will, therefore, perhaps, forgive me if I invite your attention to them, and indicate in a few words the pressing importance of adopting, with such modifications as may seem desirable, the beneficial changes which are made imperative by the lamentable state of multitudes of our fellow-beings. Let me ask the attention of the House to the case of neglected lunatics in Ireland. It is the most pressing, as it is the most deplorable. In the year 1857 a Royal Commission ascertained that there were 3,352 lunatics at large, of whom no fewer than 1,583 were returned as "neglected." And this Report informs us that within the last 20 years the number of that class increased by more than 100 per cent—from 3,352 to 6,709—without, in the opinion of the Commissioners, any diminution in the proportion of those who may still be classed as neglected." So that, at this moment, there would appear to be 3,352, neglected lunatics" in Ireland. "What is the life of these wretched people? How does it affect their families and the country around them? Your Lordships will best understand the answer from the details of an individual case described in a letter which is contained in the Report of the Inspectors of Lunacy, and embodied in the Report of the Commissioners— On approaching a small farmhouse at a place called—near—in the county,—I heard a most peculiar howling noise, and, to my horror, when I came near the house I saw a lunatic stark naked, confined to a room and looking through the wooden bars that closed the windows, for there was no glass whatever. He is about 19 years of age, and I heard from his mother that up to 10 or 11 years he was a most intelligent boy; but at that age he suddenly lost the power of speech and became moody and abstracted, wandering about the fields alone, and constantly uttering a low muttering noise, and with incessant tendency to mischief. By careful watching the family prevented him injuring himself or others, until, of late, he has got so strong and unmanageable, and his inclination 1823 for destruction is so great, that they have been obliged to confine him in the room I have described. He breaks the window directly it is glazed, tears his bedclothes into shreds, and will not allow a stitch of clothing to remain on his body; besides, his habits are most disgusting. It is really a sad case, and the more so as there are two grown-up sisters in the house. Now, my Lords, this is only one of nearly 4,000 cases, which, may be better or worse according to the circumstances, but none of which are protected by any intervention of the law from exhibiting themselves in as shocking an aspect. The Commissioners themselves state the results of their own observations in very startling words— We took occasion, ourselves, to visit several of these cases in different parts of the country. Some of them we found in a deplorably neglected condition; others disturbing the arrangements of a whole family, the head of which would willingly contribute a small sum towards maintenance in some suitable place of refuge. It admits of no doubt that many a case, if taken in hand at an early stage, might have been restored to society instead of lapsing into hopeless incurable insanity. Serious evil often results from the freedom with which idiots of both sexes are permitted to wander abroad, often teased and goaded to frenzy by thoughtless children, often the victims of ill-treatment or the perpetrators of offences far worse. Surely such a state of things should not be permitted to continue, and especially as it may be mitigated, even if it be not removed. The legislation of Ireland is sadly behind that of England in this unhappy matter. In both countries—as, indeed, throughout the world—there was long a grievous indifference to the most afflicted of the human race. Only when the life of George III. was threatened by a lunatic in England did Parliament interfere, and send the insane to gaols. Only in 1838, when it was discovered that gaols were not fit receptacles for them, was provision made for committing them to asylums; and only in the Consolidating Act of 1853 were provisions made for such inspection and report as were needful for their protection and the safety of their neighbours. I lament to say that Ireland was left without even the benefit of the Act of 1799 until 1838, and that the advantages which the Act of that year gave to England were not extended to her lunatics until 1867; whilst you will scarcely believe that the salutary reforms of 1853 have not to this hour been made operative in Ireland. On this, the Commissioners observe in their Report— 1824 The interests of the public, no less than of the insane, require that means should be adopted to ascertain that all of that class are properly eared for. This can only be done by substituting the visit of a medical man for that of the constable, and a professional report for the incomplete return that is now made. If it were the duty of the dispensary medical officer to visit and report upon the condition and treatment of every 'lunatic' within his district, as it is the duty of district medical officers, in consideration of a moderate fixed remuneration, to visit and report upon the condition of pauper lunatics in England, incalculable benefit would be conferred both upon the patients and the general public. The visit of the medical man, instead of being received with suspicion or hesitation, would be welcome as that of a friend, in most cases known to the family, to whom all necessary information would be freely communicated. By such means, too, the statistics of lunacy at large might be made as complete as are those of the asylums. My Lords, need I say more to press on the consideration of this House and of the Government the absolute necessity of applying a remedy to an evil so enormous—and this, especially, when such a remedy has been applied, and applied successfully, to a large extent in this country? The want of identical legislation, when the needs and conditions of England and Ireland require and justify it, is of incalculable mischief. A Bill which your Lordships passed yesterday evening, affording to the commercial community in Ireland the protection which England obtained in a former Session, illustrates that mischief; but the disparity in the matter with which I am dealing now is far more unwarrantable and of far greater evil. I do not mean to detain the House; but I must entreat the Government to give speedy consideration to the general recommendations of the Report which affects nearly 20,000 lunatics. They propose the classification of asylums for the purpose of curative treatment, the care of chronic cases, and the allocation of workhouses as auxiliaries for the benefit of the quiet and harmless amongst the insane. These, and other suggestions, they urge with great force and persuasiveness, and they very emphatically remark that there is no hope of effective change except through the interference of the Executive. They point to the recommendations of the Royal Commission of 1857, and a Committee of the House of Commons in 1858, largely identical with their own, and show how they have been equally disregarded. I trust that it may not be so again. I think that this earnest 1825 counsel of men of high authority, backed by the evidence of most faithworthy witnesses, and capable of being followed with facility if attention be only given to it, will not again be neglected and contemned. The Commissioners and the Inspectors of Lunacy differ as to material points on the modus operandi. The Inspectors desire the extension of the district asylums. The Commissioners do not agree with them, and that extension is suspended. I cannot judge between them. The Inspectors are men of high position and large experience, and the Commissioners have every title to be favourably heard. But no time is to be lost in settling the controversy. The poor lunatic suffers whilst it is not authoritatively settled, and I trust and hope that the Government will recognize the responsibility this Report unquestionably casts upon them, and take such measures as will do away with the social mischief which it so painfully discloses. I conclude, my Lords, by asking whether any proceedings have been taken or resolved on to carry into effect the suggestions of the Commissioners?