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Family, community and the Victorian asylum: a case study of the Northampton General Lunatic Asylum and its pauper lunatics

Smith, C. (2006) Family, community and the Victorian asylum: a case study of the Northampton General Lunatic Asylum and its pauper lunatics. Family & Community History. 9(2), pp. 109-124. 1463-1180.

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Family community and the Victorian asylum a case study of the Northampton General Lunatic Asylum and its pauper lunatics
Family_community_and_the_Victorian_asylum_a_case_study_of_the_Northampton_General_Lunatic_Asylum_and_its_pauper_lunatics.pdf - Accepted Version
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Abstract:
This article explores how the medicalization of poverty in 19th-century aetiologies of insanity provided the basis for which the Northampton General Lunatic Asylum became an option for the relief and treatment of the poor. It is argued that the poor, their communities and poor law officials, by being key to the process of committal, were partially responsible for the asylum population and the role that the asylum played in the local community. The article explores how important poverty was in asylum admissions and, from an analysis of the length of stay of those entering the asylum, the number of patients for whom the asylum provided short-term respite. Using case histories of patients, the article argues for the asylum to be seen as part of the poor law process that discriminated between the deserving and undeserving poor.
Creators:
Smith, C.
Faculties, Divisions and Institutes:
?? EHSMT ??
Date:
1 November 2006
Date Type:
Publication
Page Range:
pp. 109-124
Journal or Publication Title:
Family & Community History
Volume:
9
Number:
2
Number of Pages:
16
Language:
English
ISSN:
1463-1180
Status:
Published / Disseminated
Refereed:
Yes
Related URLs:
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