General hospitals and mental diseases

Out-patients suffering from mental disorders have been for long treated at St. Thomas's Hospital and elsewhere. The results of experience have shown that good work has been done in relieving many sufferers and in avoiding the necessity for asylum care in not a few cases. The quarterly court of governors of the Newcastle Infirmary has decided to institute such a department, as reported by the Newcastle Evening Chronicle of Nov. 1st. Dr. G. H. Hume, in bringing forward the motion, pleaded for the fundamental ideas of prevention and cure, and it has been decided that a physician, qualified as the rules require and occupying an appointment in a public asylum in Northumberland or Durham, should attend at the infirmary one day in each week and prescribe for the out-patients placed under his care.