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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 77

The Insane

The Insane.

Turning now briefly to a subject which affects the self-respect of the community, it is with great pleasure that we see the Government is changing the name of our asylums into that for "hospitals for mental diseases." I would urge it now to make some further changes. I would suggest that they should build an annex to our principal hospitals, which should be used by persons who feel that they are becoming mentally afflicted. These persons might be allowed to enter such buildings as patients voluntarily without being in any way certified to, and should be discharged when cured of their mental ailment. I would urge also that in those cases of mental disease where it is necessary that a certificate signed by two medical men should page 16 be given the document signed might be altered as follows:—
  • "The Hospital for Mental Diseases Act, 1882," Sections 5, 6, 19, and 25; and "The Hospital for Mental Diseases Act Amendment Act, 1891," Section 2.
  • Certificate that a Person is Suffering from Mental Disease, and a Proper Person to be Detained Under Care and Treatment.
I, the undersigned, being a medical practitioner in actual practice, hereby certify that I, on the___day of___, one thousand eight hundred and ninety-___, at___, separately from any other medical practitioner, personally examined___, of ___, and that the said is suffering from such-and-such form of mental disease within the meaning of this Act, and a proper person to be taken charge of and detained under care and treatment; and that I have formed this opinion upon the following grounds, viz.:—
(1.)Facts indicating mental disease observed by myself.
(2.)Other facts (if any) indicating mental disease communicated to others.
On the above facts I advise that he be taken—
(1.)To the Hospital for Mental Disease.
(2.)To the annex attached to the Hospital.

This annex to the hospital would practically serve the purpose of an intermediate place between the general hospital and the special hospital.