Transcript
“Royal Courts of Justice
April 3d 1882
My Lords –
Permit me to draw your attention to the Workhouses – On Saturday April 1st I left the Poplar Workhouse – Female Lunatic Department after a wretched sojourn there of 12 days – I have not to complain of the Doctor – or other officials they did what they could for me & sympathised – but what comfort can a poor lady who is suffering from an internal strain, in a place where the beds are so narrow, short & hard that one cannot lie in even turn without falling out, as was my case the second night – The food was is very well for workhouse fare, but was too coarse for me to digest, & the other patients cried & begged to go home – most miserable company –
This Lunatic Ward is considered a trial place to ascertain if persons are “Lunatics” – It is a means of for relations to get out of the way all those who are in their way – or who from any cause are do disposed – They thrust in any one who is low spirited – nervous, or excited, affirming these persons are suffering from “delusions” or wish “to commit suicide” – These unfortunate beings who have simply the aches & pains common to human nature are detained whether willing or unwilling, & can be conveyed to a Lunatic Asylum & “put away” without any one’s knowledge –
It is, as more than one patient said to me – enough to drive them mad – They sit still from morning to night & count the hours & cry – we all cried one morning.
May I ask (if this is a free country) what right have such institutions to exist?
What right have ^members of^ a free nation to be considered “lunatics” because they do not all think – feel – & do alike
– What right have persons to be told they have “delusions” simply because they cannot prove all they assert?
– What right have persons to ma<ke> their fellow creatures lives harder and bitterer than they already are?
– I was told that at the regular Lunatic Asylums they beat the Patients with wet cloths – so as to leave no mark
– The more one sees of the English nations – the more one feels what brutal creatures they naturally are
– It ought to be made criminal for any one to be called a “Lunatic”
– In many cases they give the patient something to excite or upset them & then say they are mad
– I have the honr
to remain yr. humble servant
Catherine Bonchin Phillimon
I must also observe that as Patients are admitted all hours of the night – the Wards are never quiet – ought they to be admitted after 10pm?”