VPRS 7490 Asylum Records

This series consists of a collection of records from the Sunnyside Licensed House (VA 2860), Camberwell (for the records dated 1916 onwards it is assumed these were maintained by the St Helens / Pleasant View Licensed House (VA 2848) as Sunnyside ceased to exist in 1916). These records were created and maintained separately, however the records have been placed together to form one series to reflect a record keeping system in operation and for ease of reference. These are the only records recovered to date.The following records are included in the series.Units 1 - 2 Case BooksFrom at least 1845 and the proclamation of An Act for the Regulation of the Care and Treatment of Lunatics (8 & 9 Vic c.100), each asylum was required to maintain a Casebook of patients. The book was to be kept in such form as the Governor in Council was from time to time to direct. As soon as possible after the admission of any patient and periodically thereafter, the following details were to be entered into the Casebook:the mental state and bodily condition of every patient on admissionthe history of his/her case recorded from time to time while he/she continued to be a patient in the asyluma correct description of the medicine and other remedies prescribed for the treatment of his/her disorderand in the case of death an exact account of the autopsy (if any) of the patient.Information recorded in the case histories included:Personal Details- date of admission- admission number- name and address of nearest relative- by whom brought to the asylum- previous residence- age and sex of patient- whether married, widowed or single- if any family- occupation- habits of lifeMedical Details- form of insanity- duration of present attack- if disordered before/if disorder hereditary- specific signs of insanity- if suicidal- if dangerous and destructive- a brief description of bodily condition- the history of his/her case recorded from time to time while he/she continued to be a patient in the asylum- a description of the medicine and other remedies prescribed for the treatment of his/her disorder.The casebooks usually record whether a patient was transferred elsewhere, discharged or died in custody. A copy of the post-mortem report was sometimes included in cases of death.These books were to be regularly inspected by an Inspector or other officer appointed under the provisions of the prevailing legislation. It was expected that a full account of the mental and physical condition of the patient would be entered in the casebook on admission of the patient with a further note to be made at the end of each month at least for the first six months and subsequently a full note every six months. However such thorough and accurate notes were not always maintained.In later years the format of the casebooks was altered slightly. Reference was made to the admission number of the patient and a photograph of the patient on admission was often included. Additional information such as extracts from the required medical certificates and a copy of the Medical Superintendent's report on the mental and physical condition of the patient were often incorporated and additional space was provided for recording the history of each patient.In 1912 the format of case histories was changed from bound casebooks to looseleaf folio format. The new format facilitated the transfer of case histories with the patients when they were sent to other institutions.Unit 3 Discharge RegisterThis volume registers all discharges from Sunnyside in chronological order of discharge. Although Sunnyside ceased to exist from around 1916, the volume continued to be maintained as a discharge register until 1949. It is presumed it was maintained by the St Helens / Pleasant View Licensed House (VA 2848) which commenced in 1916. Each entry in register is allocated a sequential number. Details recorded include :date of dischargedate of last receptionnumber in Register of Patientsnamesexdischarged (recovered, relieved, not improved)removed and to what Hospital or Licensed Housediedcause of deathage at deaththose present at deathThe register is signed by the Inspector-General for the Insane.