A history of the York Lunatic Asylum : with an appendix, containing minutes of the evidence on the cases of abuse lately inquired into by a committee, &c. ; addressed to William Wilberforce

Front matter

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Chapter I

Origin of the Asylum — Dr. Hunter requested by the Committee to attend as Physician — Admission of affluent patients — Dr. Hunter allowed fees — Objections of Mr. Mason and Dr. Burgh — Lupton's fund instituted — Increase of private mad-houses — Quaker's Retreat — Dr.Best admitted as pupil to Dr. Hunter — Number of patients during the life of Dr. Hunter. Page 9 to 24. >

Chapter II

Dr. Best appointed Physician — Proposition from the Magistrates, to unite the Asylum with an establishment under the 48th, George III. rejected — New controversy relative to the Asylum — Public attention excited — Mr. Green's case — Mr. Higgins's statement of Vicars's case — Decision of the Governors. Page 25 to 32.

Chapter III

Influx of New Governors on the 10th of December, 1813— Committee of Investigation appointed. Page 33 to 37.

Chapter IV

The Fire. Page 38 to 42.

<J CONTENTS.

Chapter V

The Committee of investigation of abuses make a report— Westfs and Exilby's cases — Committee of inquiry into the rules and management appointed — Misapplication of the funds- Probable amount — Anarchy and disorder in the house — Inadequacy of the buildings and accommodations— Great mortality— Concealment of deaths — Report of the Committee of rules and management— Bardwell's case — Cells discovered by Mr. Higgins — Discussions at the Quarterly Court in April, 1 S 14 — Visitors appointed — Case of neglect attested by Mr. Samuel Tuke. Page 43 to 66.

Chapter VI

Petition against Mr. Rose's mad-house hill — Counter-petition. Page 07 to 68.

CHAPTER VIT.

Projected alterations in the rules — Two Physicians, or one- Annual Subscribers— A Chaplain — Fanaticism has not been proved to be a cause of Lunacy. Page 69 to 77.

Chapter VIII

Proceedings of the General meeting, in August, 1814 — New rules adopted — All the officers removed except the Physician — Election of new officers. Page 78 to 87.

Chapter IX

New attendants engaged— The burning of a set of books Instances of concealment recapitulated — A book of the burnt set discovered— Dr. HiiiUer's supposed profits. Page 88 to 93.

CONTENTS. 7

REMARKS IN CONCLUSION.

Employment and amusement are necessary for the patients — Remarkable cessation of mortality since July, 1814 — Edinburgh Review on Mr. Samuel Tuke's book — Conclusion. Page 94 to 09.

Appendix

Page

Dr. Hunter's letter, recommending a Salary in lieu

Dr. Hunter's letter on the introduction of Dr. Best. - 3.

The Report of 1813. 4.

Mr. Higgins's Statement in the case of Wm Vicars. • 6.

Evidence in the case of Martha Kidd ..... 8.

■ George Arundell ... - 21.

Rev. J. B. Schorey ... 22.

■ Mr. James Wilson ... 41.

■ . Richard Thirkell - - - - 44.

■ John Thirkell 45.

Copy of a Petition to the House of Lords ... 46.

Prayer of Mr. Higgins's Counter Petition .... 49.

List of the Governors ........ 50.

■ 11 Contributors to Lupton's Fund - - . - 52.

HISTORY

OF THE

"FORK JLUNATIC ASYLUM.

Chapter I

History of the Asylum, during the Life of Dr. Hunter,

HIS charitable institution originated in a public advertisement, dated the 7th August, 1772, signed by the late Lord Archbishop Drummond, and twenty- tour gentlemen of the comity of Y ork, including the late Dr. Hunter. Sensible of the deplorable situation of many poor lunatics in this extensive county, who have no other support but what a needj parent can bestow, or a thrifty parish officer provide, they recommended a subscription towards erecting a public edifice, for the reception of such unhappy people. On the 27th August, 1772, a very respectable meeting Was in consequence held at the Castle — the Archbishop in the chair ; and his Grace, after explaining the nature of the meeting, proposed a subscription for the erecting a suitable building for the reception of lunatics, " being either parish poor, or belonging to distressed and indigent, families."

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This proposal was unanimously approved of; the sura of 25001. was immediately subscribed, and a Committee appointed to further the view of the subscribers. An inquiry was shortly afterwards made, by the Committee, into the number of lunatics within the three Ridings of the county of York ; and the returns made were " so numerous and alarming," that the Committee called a general meeting on the 30th of July, 1773, when it was resolved that the late Alderman Carr should be desired to give in a plan of a building, the body of which might contain 54 patients, with the power of extending two wings backward on any future occasion.

On the 25th August, 1773, Mr. Can's plan was approved of, and agreed to be carried into execution ; and an advertisement was directed to be published, calling for further subscriptions and benefactions ; and " signifying to the public that the surplus money already subscribed, and also ■all future subscriptions and benefactions, are intended to be placed out at interest, and the produce applied towards the tieli ef of parishes and private persons in indigent circumstances sending patients ; and that the principal zcill be applied in enlarging the building, for the reception of more patients, if

wanted."

This is a quotation verbatim from the Order-book ; but

such pains have been taken to obliterate it, that there was

great difficulty in deciphering the passage.

The obliteration will appear less extraordinary, on reference to Dr. Hunter's subsequent assertions, that the public fund was never considered to extend beyond the building of the house, and keeping it furnished and repaired, and that parishes were not to be relieved. (See his letter in the Appendix, p. 2.)

Some doubts may be started as to the genuineness of the obliterated passage, and whether it might not have been erased by order, before the meeting separated. It is therefore necessary to quote the advertisement which appeared in pursuance of the obliterated resolution, and in which, though the trainer of the advertisement has altered *the resolution of the meeting, there is a sufficient recognition of the obliterated passage. The advertisement runs thus : —

" The overplus of the money now subscribed, and all future subscriptions, will be applied in enlarging the building, if requisite ; and in the mean-time will be placed out at interest ; and the produce applied towards the relief of parishes, and private persons in indigent circumstances, by whom patients shall be sent in."

In another advertisement, dated 25th August, 1772, it is stated, " The surplus-money arising from this subscription, after defraying the expenses of the necessary buildings, &c. will be applied towards constituting a fund for the maintenance ot the patients."

And in a subsequent advertisement, dated April 24, 1777, " Should the subscriptions fortunately exceed the charge of the necessary buildings and furniture, in that case the overplus-money will be converted into a fund for lessening the weekly payments of the patients."

On the llth March, 1774, Drs. Hunter, Withers, Swainston, and Wallis, reported as follows : —

" Upon the supposition that 54 patients will constantly be in the house, we are of opinion, that f one head keeper, one matron, three men servants, and three women servants, with the assistance of such patients as are quiet and governable, will be sufficient for all the necessary business

* In the original resolution, a fund for the poor is the prominent object ; aDd buildings are secundary. In the advertisement the order is reversed.

t The number of attendants in ly 13, was precisely the same for 200 patients as the four Physicians in 1771 had thought necessary for 54.

b2 of the house. As much depends upon the care and abilities ol the House Apothecary, we recommend to the Committee to procure a person for that office, who has been brought up at Bedlam, or St. Luke's."

In April, 1777, an advertisement appeared in the newspapers, stating, that the expense of the main building, and of the necessary offices, had so far exceeded the estimate, that they could not be finished and furnished in the plainest manner, nor could the bills already brought in be fully discharged, without an additional sum of money.

In the same month, an " Earnest Application" was addressed to the public, concerning the state of the Asylum, soliciting donations. It is here stated, " That no attending Physician or Surgeon will receive either fee or reward, as long as the Hospital continues to receive only paupers, or persons in low and indigent circumstances, agreeable to the original design of the charity "

On the 20th of September, 1777, apartments were opened for the reception of ten patients, at 8s. per week each ; and the following salutary rule was adopted at the meeting that day : — " No keeper or hired servant of the Asylum to accept any money or other gratuity for his or her own use, on the behalf of any patient, on any pretence Whatever."

On the 21st of September, (the day after the Asylum was opened,) a meeting of the Committee took place ; — • present — Dr. Hunter, Mr. Johnson, Re . Mr. Preston two Messrs. Jubb, and Dr. Wallis. On this occasion, the following n solution was pass d :—

" It is the sense of this Committee, that it is most proper to have one Physician only, for the Asylum, and Dr. Hunter being desired to attend as such, he consented thereto."

In this resolution, as in a former one, there are some erasures ; and the clause " until the next general meeting" seems to have formerly concluded the sentence : — " though there is considerable difficulty in ascertaining precisely what the words have been. — In point of fact, however, Dr. Hunter's appointment by this Committee, although never confirmed, must have been acquiesced in by the Governors at large.

The whole of the donations having been exhausted in the buildings, there remained no fund for the maintenance of the patients: and hence the indigent were virtually excluded. —A jealousy began to exist in the minds ot the public, that as the additional sums from time to time subscribed, continued to be expended in buildings, the intention of the foundation would be wholly frustrated. Lady Gower and other benevolent ladies, therefore, about the year 1778, contributed liberal donations to the charity, Under this express condition, that the money should be applied "for the relief of' patients only ,-" (i.e. not laid out in buildings.) By means of these donations, there was established in the year 1778 , a fund called the " Reduction Fund;" the principal of which was vested in the public funds; and the dividends were to be applied in reducing the weekly payments of those patients, in low circumstances, who pay for themselves, and have no parish relief.

Still, however, the assistance aftorded by this fund was extremely inadequate to the purpose ; the Weekly charges were higher than persons in distressed circumstances could afford to pay ; and many parishes would not be at the expense of maintaining their paupers in the Asylum. Hence the number of patients continued to be small. — This state of the institution led to an important change of system. It was determined at the August meeting, 1784*, that

* 1784 is the date of some useful directions for the subordinate officers and jervante.

a limited number of patients of a " superior" or u opulent" class, or as they are sometimes described, patients " in easy circumstances,''' or " of a better condition,''' — sbould be admitted at a suitable rate of payment ; — in order " to create the means of relieving the necessitous."

This plan, though unexceptionable in itself, was liable to abuses, and required extreme vigilance in its execution. A resolution was at the same meeting passed, that a Committee of 7 should be appointed, the Physician to be one; and that any two of this Committee should have the power of fixing the payments of the patients. Till this period, Dr. Hunter had been Physician gratis ; and had he continued so, the vigilance of the Committee might have been a sufficient guard against abuses. But after opulent patients had gained admission, it was soon discovered that it would be highly unreasonable to expect from the Physician a gratuitous attendance on these, who, as it is observed, " would in another place have been his own private patients."

Dr. Hunter was therefore requesfedhy the Governors at the August meeting 1785, " to do justice to his own in^ terest by receiving from the friends of such patients the reasonable emoluments of his profession :" and by one of the rules it was ordered " that such patients shall pay reasonable fees to the Physician for his attendance."

From this period, the influence of the Physician upon the Committee must have been injurious ; and after three or four years we cease to hear of any Committee.

To what number the opulent class was originally restricted docs not appear ; it certainly was limited ; hut a blot of ink has obliterated the word in the Order-book : No doubt the Physician would be inclined to admit as many opulent patients as possible.

The salutary regulation against the taking of presents.

by the servants was presently repealed. It had been or-< dered that a board should be put up in the Hall to pro* hibit any money being given ; but on the 7th July, 1785, it was resolved that this Order, " and the proceedings therein had been rescinded."

Tli ere is a resolution soon after this period of rather a curious nature.

" The Committee having taken into their consideration the present improved state of this Asylum, and the present stock of the County Hospkal at York, are of opinion, that the Annual Sermon * which has for many years been preached by some benevolent clergyman, may after this year be discontinued ; and that it would be desirable that the same favour be for the future desired for the benefit of the County Hospital."

Dr. Hunter had not enjoyed for more than two years the privilege of taking fees, when he requested the Governors to allow him as an experiment, a salary of l 200 I. for one year, in lieu of fees. The Doctor's letter on (his occasion deserves attention, and is inserted in the Appendix, page 1.

This proposition appeafs to have originated in upright fts well as prudential motives. Though the patients of the highest class have been termed " affluent," the amount of their payments has doubtless been exaggerated by report ; and the amount probably never averaged more than a guinea and a half per week for each patient.

It >s not uncommon for patients possessing an incorao of from 300 1. to 5001. per annum, to be placed in such establishments at a payment of a guinea or a guinea and a half per week : deprived of those comforts to which

* The Sermon always produced from 80/. to 120/. :— but probahly the friends of opulent patients might revolt at the mention of a Charity Sermon;

they have been accustomed. It is not probable that those who from mercenary motives place their friends in such establishments as the Asylum, at a payment of less than 1001. per annum, for board, lodging, and medicines, would be liberal in their fees to the Physician. Dr. Hunter would find a difficulty in obtaining even those " moderate and reasonable" fees which the Governors had sanctioned. « Hitherto," (observes the Doctor, in a long explanatory letter, dated 5th January, 1788) " these fees have been moderate indeed." Unless, therefore, the Physician were to violate the rules of the Institution, and abuse the confidence of the Governors, by appropriating to himself a portion of the payments to the Charity, there was no alternative but the proposition of a fixed salary. Dr. Hunter hints broadly at the temptations thrown in his way by the existing plan. " Taking fees at the discretion of the attending Physician from patients of better condition, may at a future period be attended with bad consequences." And again, in his letter of the 5th January, 1788, speaking of fees. — " I do not approve of a discretional power of that nature being in the hands of any man." In return for the abolition of fees, the Doctor advised, that the payments of the affluent patients should be increased, for the benefit of the general fund ; and that from this fund an equitable and determinate sum should be given to the Physician, in the room of fees.

This proposal of Dr. Hunter was adopted for a year; at the end of which, probably the income of the Institution was found inadequate to meet the salary. It is also well known that Earl Fitzwilliam and others of the old Governors, objected against a salary to the Physician from the funds, conceiving that the attendance on the poorer classes ou°-ut

to be gratis. On one or both of these grounds, probably

the Governors on the 23d August, 1788, requested the

Physician, " henceforth to receive such moderate and reasonable fees from the class of affluent patients, as he was

ACCUSTOMED TO RECEIVE HERETOFORE."

It was about this period that the late Rev. Mr. Mason, (Precentor of York) Dr. Burgh, Mr. Withers, and other respectable individuals, were alarmed at the growing influence of the Physician over the proceedings of the Go- Ternors. They contended that as parish paupers were originally objects of the charity, the system of charging for the paupers the full amount of their actual maintenance, and of reducing the payments of those indigent patients only who did not receive parish relief, was contrary to the design of the original donors, and was in effect to exclude parish paupers from the Asylum. On the other hand, Dr. Hunter, and the Governors speaking his language, with some reason maintained, that it was more in the true spirit of charity to relieve necessitous individuals, than to ease and accommodate the opulent proprietors and inhabitants of a parish. The Doctor had also a further objection, which with him had doubtless considerable weight, after he had begun to study the accommodation of affluent patients. " I am convinced, (he says) that at no time the payments from the parish poor should be reduced ; as under such an alteration, the house would be immediately filled with the lozcest and meanest of the poor, to the exclusion of those of a middling rank and in low circumstances, for whom the Asylum was originally constructed."

In the admission oi the opulent patients, and their emoluments to the Physician, Mr. Mason and his friends imagined they saw the Asylum converted trom a public charity, into an hotel, for the reception of persons ot condition only. — It appeared to them that the promised advantages did not arise from this change in the constitution ; and that the sum appropriated from the surpluses of the affluent to the

1*

belief of the poor, bore no due proportion to the incoffi* arising from the former — hence, they suspected that Dr. Hunter did not content himself with fees, but applied a part of the income of the charily to his own use. — ■ The Doctor however had the address to persuade the Governors that these objections arose not from pure or charitable motives, but from personal hostility. The Governors had no suspicion of Dr. Hunter's integrity ; they disregarded the remonstrances of Mr. Mason and Dr. Burgh ; and the effect produced was only to confirm the power and influence of Dr. Hunter.

It was in 1788 that Mr. Mason published his " Animadversions on the present Government of the York Lunatic Asylum."

At the Annual meeting in August 1788 it was resolved, " that the thanks of this Court be given to Dr. Hunter, the Physician, for his great attention to all the interests of this institution, especially for his assiduous care and successful treatment oi' the patients ; and, particularly at this time, for the disinterestedness of his whole conduct from the first establishment of the Asylum to the present day."

Resolved " That the Governors present rely upon the candour of the Subscribers to give credit to their assurances, that no sinister motives ever have influenced or ever can influence their conduct. They trust that all the regu * lations they have established, and the whole oeconomy of the institution, have merited the approbation of every Subscriber ; and they hope that all will agree with them in opinion, that such Governors as profess themselves friends to the Asylum, uould express their good-will to it much better by attending in their places at the times of meeting, and there giving their advice for the regulation and improvement of the institution, than by prejudicing the minds of the public by their misrepresentations."

Dr. Hunter shortly afterwards published an anonymous answer to Mr. Mason, in a " letter to the Governors."

To Mr. Mason, however, and his friends, the public and the supporters of the charity are indebted for the fund called Lupton's fund, which promises to be of essential service.

The late Rev. Dudley Rockett, (a friend of Mr. Mason) was executor of Mr. Lupton, who left a considerable sum, at the disposal of his executor, to charitable uses Mr. Mason, on the 1st October, 1789, introduced Mr. Rockett to the Governors as an intended donor to the charity. Mr. Rockett as executor of. Lupton, gave a benefaction of 4001. : and Mr. Mason himself 100 1. — " to be appropriated SOLELY for the maintenance of Lunatic parish paupers, and other indigent lunatics withiu the City, Ainsty, and County of York." * The dividends were directed to

* These are the words of the original entry in the Order-book ; but after a period of 6 years, Dr. Hunter prevailed on the Governors to erase and alter a part of the clause. Mr.Mason, though a poet and a gei rus, was, it seems, slovenly and obscure in his use of adverbs; and the Court of Governors is found after an interval of 6 years, sitting in critical judgment ou Mr. Mason's style, and shifting the adverb to the end of the sentence.

It now stands thus — " to be appropriated for the maintenance of Lunatic Parish Paupers, and other indigent Lunatics within the City, Ainsty, and County of fork ONLY." A Memorandum appears in the margin that the alteration was made in consequence of a verbal order of a General Court, August, 28, 1795. Tin' accurate reader will consider how far the declared intention of Lupton's executor is varied by this alteration. His favourite object certainly was — either — solely the maintenance of lunatics — in opposition to expenses of buildings and furniture ,* or solely the maintenance of parish

PAUPERS AND OTHER INDIGENT LUNATICS — ill opposition to thatof the affluent.

But as the seutence now stands, it mighr in future be supposed to be the particular and pointed object of Lupton's fund to confine its benefits to the " City, siinsty, and County of York only." 1 This though one of its objects, was com. r/arativeiy subordinate.

accumulate until the Archbishop of York for the time being should think the fund so considerable that the dividends might be applied to the intended purpose. Mr. Wilberforce, Mr. Henry Thornton, Dr. Burgh, and others, shortly afterwards contributed to the same fund. — (See Appendix p. 5-2.)

The creation of a fund like this, solely for the benefit of the poor, and to be brought into operation, not at the will of the donors, but at some future and indefinite period, at tli e discretion of the Archbishop of York, can scarcely be attributable to any other than pure and benevolent motives. It was not calculated to affect tiie system of Dr. Hunter, till long after Hunter himself would probably be no more. Vet a jealousy was entertained of the fund — In 1791 a rule was passed, excluding future contributors to Lupton's fund and the Reduction iund, from the privileges of Governors, on the alleged ground, that these funds are " intended for partial and not for general purposes." The objects of these funds, however, are precisely those of the original foundation of the charity. — Luptou's fund soon ceased to be noticed in any advertisements, or reports, relating to the charity; nor were the names of contributors to it made public.

In August 1794 a motion, "that a statement of Lupton's fund, from its commencement to the time being, be annually published, together with the general state of the Asylum," was rejected as " till of improprieties!" Under all these discouragements, the fund is gradually though silently accumulating, and it now consists of 74501. 3 per cents consolidated.

In the year 1790, Dr. Hunter advertised in the newspaper a " House of Retirement, for p< rs ns of condition only," although he had lately declared in a letter to the Governors, that the Physician's establishing a house pf

Lis own " would e\idently counteract the design of the original foundation of the Asylum."

This measure was effected without any notice on the part of the Governors; except a proposal by Mr. Mason in October 1790 that the assertion (which still continued to be made in the quarterly advertisements) — that " thit institution is intended to lessen the number of private madhouses*," — should in future be omitted. Mr. Mason's motion was negatived !

A circumstance, apparently of a trivial nature, was about this period remarkable for the event to which it led. In the year 1791, a female of the Society of Friends was placed in the Asylum ; and her family residing at a considerable distance, requested some of their acquaintance to visit her. The visits of these iriends were refused, on the ground of the patient not being in a suitable state to be seen by strangers— and, in a few weeks alter her admission, death put a period to her sufferings. This circumstance, related by Mr. Samuel Tuke, in his " Description of the Retreat,"

* Two public, and numerous private mad-homes, in York and the vicinity have been established — all of them apparently owing their cxibteo.ee to the York Asylum. — The following is a list for 1815.

The Quaker's Retreat — (in the East Riding.)

The Appendage to ditto. — (in the Suburbs of York.)

Hunter's House of Retirement — (now Dr. Best's.)

House on Barker Hill— (Dr. Best.)

House at Clifton — (Dr. Belcombeand Mr. Mather.)

Barker's, in the Groves — (Ditto.)

Midgeley's House, on Lord Mayor's Walk.

House at Upper Helmsley — (Mr. Beal.)

House in Gillygate — (Mr. Backhouse.)

House at Acoinb — (Mr. Taylor.)

House at Osbaldwicl — (Mr. Hornby.)

House at Heslington — MC. Atkinson.)

House at Acomb— (Mr. Skipwith.

is stated to have first suggested to the Quakers, the propriety of attempting an establishment for persons of their society — which it was shortly afterwards determined to institute.

Mr. Mason and his friends for some time continued their endeavours, to procure some improvement in the management of the Asylum ; but their efforts were ineffectual. A specimen or two may suffice.

At the August meeting 1793, Mr. Withers moved that an annual subscription of one guinea and upwards be admitted, for the benefit of the Asylum. This was negatived.

At the August meeting, 1794, Dr Burgh moved " that a Committee be appointed, to inqure into the state of the charity, with respect to its constitution, its management, its receipts and disbursements, from its commencement, and that they be required to report the same at the next general annual court." This was also negatived.

From this period, the opponents seem to have abandoned the matter as hopeless. From Lupton's Fund they might indeed expect some advantage at a future and remote period. " Cast thy bread upon the waters, and thou shalt find it after many days" — might afford them some consolation; yet what assurance had they that this fund, being connected with the Asylum, would not be perverted from its intention, and brought under the sole controul of the Physician ? It cannot be doubted, therefore, that Mason, and Burgh, and Withers, quitted the world under an impression that their labours in this benevolent cause had been worse than useless, having been repaid only by obloquy and misrepresentation.

1794 is the latest period in which we hear of any opposition to the plans of Dr. Hunter ; it is also the latest period in which we hear of visitors. From 1782 to 1794 visitors had been occasionally appointed ; Dr. Hunter being however, usually one. From the period that the Governors of the Asylum ceased to be watched, the very name of visitation appears to have been unheard of.

About the year 1795, an extensive wing was added to the building 1 — In 1797 Mr. Surr was elected Steward, and Mr. Atkinson, Apothecary: those offices having before been united in one person — In 1798, Dr. Hunter was induced to wish for an assistant in the superintendence of the Asylum, and of his various private places of confinement for lunatics. On the 14th of October, 1798, Dr. Hunter communicated to the court his intention to instruct a medical gentleman in the practice of the Asylum, and " to communicate to him only, the forms of the medicines prepared by himself." The Doctor stated that he judged this proceeding necessary to obviate any inconvenience that might arise Jrom his death or retirement. The court recom* mended the proceeding to the consideration of the Annual meeting, being of opinion that the proposed communication would contribute to the greneral good of such persons, as might at ajuture time become the objects oj the charity.