Investigations_and_inquiries Kew_Asylum

woodcut 1876

despite initial grand plans , ideals, kew asylum had difficult , chequered history resulting in several inquiries, including royal commission. first inquiry occurred in 1876, 5 years after kew opened. notable inquiry occurred in 1907 after severe outbreak of typhoid fever, @ time thought have been virtually eradicated in melbourne. inquiry in turn led amendments lunacy act, improvements kew (and state s other asylums) , planned construction of mont park asylum.

zox royal commission

public outcry @ treatment of insane in colony s lunatic asylums increased in 1870s, fueled articles , woodcuts in magazines , writings of vagabond in argus. officially known royal commission on asylums insane , inebriate 1884–1886, royal commission chaired ephraim zox required inquire , report upon state , condition of asylums insane , inebriates, both public , private. royal commission made sixty 5 recommendations in final report. number of commission s recommendations implemented prior presentation of final report, others implemented through lunacy amendment act 1888 , recommendations not implemented until proclamation of lunacy act 1903 in 1905.

the commission recommended criminal patients kept apart other patients, male criminally insane patients moved j ward of ararat asylum , female dangerous patients sunbury asylum.

the commission recommended inebriates , idiots housed in asylums separate insane led construction of kew idiot ward , various inebriate asylums.

the zox commission further recommended increasing role of medical doctors @ asylums , medical men have sole , exclusive right determine whether fellow citizens sane or insane. medical expert therefore stands in position of witness, jury , judge . prior (and in instances, time after) zox commission, many superintendents @ asylums did not have training in insanity.