200 Years Ago Today 4

George Wallet, Bethlem Hospital's Steward, told the Committee on Madhouses that the intention was to put the “bad patients” in the basement of the new hospital and the “convalescents” on the other floors. Mr Wallet said that Dr Monro, the Hospital's Physician, had only visited the patients in the galleries once in the previous three months. In contrast, the apothecary, Mr Haslam, visited every day.

Mr Wallet told the Committee of the changes he had made since starting work at the Hospital in February 1815: “I observed a good many patients were kept in bed; I desired they might be taken up and dressed, and taken to the fire; I mentioned it to the apothecary; he thought it proper it should be done; I believe the women were kept in bed very much” .