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MISCELLANEOUS.

---------___----------JOINT…

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JOINT COUNTIES ASYLUM, CARMARTHEN. A quarterly meeting of the committee of visitors of the Joint Counties Lunatic Asylum, Carmarthen, was held at the institution on Thursday, the members in attendance being :— For Carmarthenshire- Viscounq Emlyn, in the chair; and the Rev T. Evans, Henllys, Llan- dovery; for Cardiganshire—Mr W. O. Brigstocke and Drs. Lloyd and Enoch Davies for Pem- brokeshire-Drs. Griffiths and Stamper and the Rev. Lewis James. DISCHARGING A LUNATIC. There was a protracted discussion on an alleged irregularity in regard to a discharged patient, the clerk of the Carmarthen Union com- plaining that she had been left at the relieving officer's house whilst he was hunting about the borough with a view of taking the necessary steps for her re-admission.—In reply to the chairman, the clerk (Mr Morgan Griffiths), said there was a technical illegality she was taken to the asylum under an urgency order, and another order ought to have been made within seven days.—The medical superintendent (Dr. Hearder) remarked that one of the medical certificates had too early a date for the magistrates' order to be acted upon, and the judicial order was irregular because one of the medical certificates was dated too early.— The clerk to the union wrote stating that the head attendant refused to allow the female atten- dant to accompany the patient on the day in question to the magistrates' clerk's office for an order, and the relieving officer was obliged to obtain assistance elsewhere, and the lunatic was left at his house, and the union was put to extra expense by the need that existed for the hire of a conveyance, &c. As regards the irregularities, the guardians were not concerned. They com- plained that the authorities of the asylum should have thrown the responsibility of the care of the lunatic on the relieving officer.-The superinten- dent said they were dealing with a new Act of Parliament, the provisions of which had not been worked out yet, and very likely this was the first case of difficult nature that would come before the Commissioners in Lunacy. Notice of the urgency order was sent on the 24th NiJv. to the Commissioners, and on the 23rd* j Dec. they wrote, stating that from what they had learned from the husband of the patient the petition, according to section 29, appeared to be irregular, and consequently the order was irregular also. The patient was admit- ted under section 11. To the commissioners the case did not appear to he an urgency case, and therefore the superintendent would not undertake the responsibility of keeping the patient, so she was discharged at three o'clock on Saturday, a head male attendant and a nurse taking her to Carmarthen. They called at the relieving officer's house, but he was not at home, so the head atten- dant made enquiries for him in the town, leaving the nurse and the patient (who was a quiet woman) at his house. The relieving officer shortly afterwards returned, when the head male attendant accompanied him to get a woman to look after the patient. A woman having been secured, the relieving officertold the asylum nurse that she might go. The patient was re-admitted into the asylum in proper form before se^en o'clock the same evening. In reply to various questions, the superintendent said he would have been liable to a misdemeanour under Section 315 if he had detained her in the house until Monday before the necessary legal formality had been gone through.—Dr. Enoch Davies I hope if anything occurs similarly in the Cardiganshire unions the superintendent will not hand the lunatics over to the police but to the relieving officers of the union. —The Chairman I hope he will do what the law tells him.—Dr Enoch Davies I hope he will do what is reasonable and rational in spite of the law.—The Chairman: I think it is our duty to instruct our officials to do what is within the law. I should be sorry for it to go outside this committee that we should be above the law or act contrary to the law. The Rev L. James There has been no hardship. The patient was brought back in a few hours. The Chairman: f Will this resolution meet your views, gentle- men ?— That the committee, having considered the letter of Mr Rowland Browne, clerk to the Carmarthen guardians, with reference to the case, and have heard Dr Hearder's explanation, are of opinion that the course adopted by the medical superintendent was the right one, and they wish to point out that all inconvenience would have been avoided bad the relieving officer of the Carmarthen Union given his immediate attention to the application of the patient's husband before the urgency order had been applied for. Dr Da\ i<?s: We have no right to censure any of the union's officers. The Chairman We do not, but he deserves it. We could point out what he ought to have done. I think the man behaved very badly, if it is true that he did not attend to the matter for three days. Dr Griffiths We are not in a position to pass a vote of censure, because the official is not here to answer for himself. -Eventually Dr Griffiths proposed, Dr. Lloyd seconded, and it was resolved that Dr Hearder's explanation of the course he adopted was a right one, the clerk being authorised to communicate this fact to Mr Rowland Browne. BURNING FATALITY. Some time ago a Pembrokeshire pauper patient died from the effects of burns received by falling into a fire, and the committee censured three of the female attendants for not reporting the loss of a key which locked the fire-guard, which should have hindered the accident, the attendant who had been in charge of the ward having previously been discharged by the superintendent. RELIGIOUS MINISTRATION. On the report of the chaplain, the Rev. Jonathan Marsden, Vicar of Llanllwch, being presented, Dr Griffiths asked Are Nonconformist ministers allowed to officiate iu the chapel ? The Superintendent: No application has as yet been made. RATE OF MAINTENANCE OF PATIENTS. In reply to the Chairman, the Superintendent said the balance in hand was 21,970 13334d, which included all the amounts from unions, the actual balance in the bank being 2657. On the motion of Mr Brigstocke, seconded by Dr Griffiths, it was agreed that the minimum rate of maintenance of private patients fur the present year be 8s 5!d. Last year it was 8s. The charge for paupers to be 8s 2d. Last year it was 7s 7d. Notice was given that the committee would apply for t400 to the county councils for build- ing, repairs, and alterations.

—■■■= PEMBROKESHIRE HUNT STEEPLECHASES.

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