1. The Reverend Samuel Marsden and the Beginning of the Mental Health Services
- Author
-
Eric Cunningham Dax
- Subjects
03 medical and health sciences ,Psychiatry and Mental health ,0302 clinical medicine ,Nothing ,Law ,030212 general & internal medicine ,Governor ,Cruelty ,Settlement (litigation) ,Psychology ,Mental health ,030227 psychiatry - Abstract
Remarkably little is recorded to suggest that lunacy was regarded as a problem in the transports, by the reported suicides or the reactions to starvation, privation and cruelty in the early years of settlement [1]. Nevertheless, in 1787, Phillip, the first Governor of New South Wales, was specifically directed to exercise powers regarding the insane. Part of these orders were: “Wee have thought fit to entrust you with the care and commitment of the said ideots and lunaticks and their estates” [2]. From then onwards nothing is heard of “the lunaticks” until after Samuel Marsden was given official duties in this field.
- Published
- 1993
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