[513]. The Commissioners appointed by the College act within London and seven miles compass, and within the county of Middlesex:—Query, why not in the adjacent counties of Kent, Essex, and Surry, in which they have but a limited jurisdiction?
[514]. If any alteration be necessary on this subject, we should suggest the joining in Commission the legal Commissioners of Lunatics, named by the Lord Chancellor, with the Medical Commissioners, elected by the College; the former might acquire experience in judging of the ever varying forms of lunacy, and the latter would gain legal assistance in the execution of their duty.
[515]. The case of Mary Mills in 1806, (1 Collinson, 530, and Annual Register, 1806) shews that some additional strictness is necessary in comparing the number of registered lunatics with the number actually confined.
[516]. Public Lunatic Asylums may be considered as divisible into three classes, viz. 1. Those which are entirely eleemosynary, or are supported partly by an income, funded or landed, but arising from benevolence, and partly by voluntary contributions,
2. Those which are supported, partly by voluntary contributions, and partly by pensionary patients, paying according to a certain gradation of rank,
3. Pauper Lunatic Asylums founded under Mr. Wynne’s act, at the expense of the county, and where the patients are supported by their parishes.
Most Eleemosynary Lunatic Asylums, either for want of sufficient funds, or of room to accommodate all the lunatics who apply, exclude epilepsy and idiotsy, making occasional exceptions, where the friends of the patient can afford to pay the expense of maintenance. County Pauper-lunatic Asylums are compelled to receive both these classes of patients, if considered dangerous, but not otherwise.
[517]. In Scotland by 55 Geo. 3, c. 69. In Ireland by 57 Geo. 3, c. 106; 1 Geo. 4, c. 98; 1 and 2 Geo. 4, c. 33.
[518]. See an Essay on Madness, by Dr. Johnstone.
[519]. Reeve on Critinism; Phil. Trans. 1808, III; and Edinb. Med. Journ. v. 31.