VPRS 7395 Case Books of Male Patients

This series consists of volumes that record Case history information regarding male patients of Beechworth Asylum (1867-1905) and Beechworth Hospital for the Insane (1905-1912) (VA 2842). The Case Books in this series only record details of patients admitted until March 1912, although notes were added to some cases up until 1942.From 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 admission- the history of his/her case recorded from time to time while he/she continued to be a patient in the asylum- a correct description of the medicine and other remedies prescribed for the treatment of his/her disorder- and in the case of death an exact account of the autopsy (if any) of the patient.Information recorded in the case histories includes personal and medical details as follows:- date of admission- admission number- name and address of nearest relative- by whom brought to the asylum- previous residence- age and sex- marital status- occupation- habits of life- form of insanity- duration of present attack- if disordered before/if disorder hereditary- specific signs of insanity; if suicidal- if dangerous and destructive- bodily condition- case notes- description of the medicine and other remedies prescribed for the treatment of his/her disorder.The Case Books 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.In later years the content of the Case Books 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.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 1912 the format of case histories was changed from bound Case Books to a looseleaf folio format, known as Patient Clinical Notes. The new format facilitated the transfer of case histories with the patients when they were sent to other institutions. Patient Clinical Notes are registered as a separate series.

本系列由多卷档案组成，记录了1867年至1905年的比奇沃思精神病院（Beechworth Asylum）与1905年至1912年的比奇沃思精神病治疗医院（Beechworth Hospital for the Insane）的男性患者病例历史信息（档案编号：VA 2842）。本系列中的病例簿（Case Books）仅收录1912年3月及之前入院患者的相关信息，但部分病例的补充记录可延续至1942年。
早在1845年《精神疾病护理与治疗监管法案》（An Act for the Regulation of the Care and Treatment of Lunatics, 8 & 9 Vic c.100）颁布之时，各精神病院就被要求建立患者病例簿，具体格式需由总督会同行政局随时指定。任何患者入院后需尽快且此后定期向病例簿录入以下信息：患者入院时的精神状态与身体状况；患者在院治疗期间的病例随访记录；为治疗其精神障碍所开具的药物及其他治疗手段的准确说明；若患者死亡，则需附上患者的尸检报告（如已实施）详情。
病例历史中记录的个人与医疗细节包括：入院日期、入院编号、近亲属姓名与住址、送诊人员、既往居住地、年龄与性别、婚姻状况、职业、生活习惯、精神疾病类型、本次发病时长、是否曾出现精神紊乱、是否存在遗传性病态精神史、特定精神疾病体征；是否存在自杀倾向、是否具有攻击性与破坏性、身体状况、病例备注、为治疗其精神障碍所开具的药物及其他治疗手段的说明。
病例簿通常会记录患者是否被转院、出院或在院身故。部分死亡病例中还会附寄尸检报告副本。
在后期，病例簿的内容略有调整。新增了患者入院编号，且通常会附上患者入院时的照片。此外还会补充收录所需医疗证明的摘录、医务主管关于患者精神与身体状况的报告副本，并为每位患者的病例记录预留了更多书写空间。
此类病例簿需由巡检专员或根据现行立法任命的其他官员定期核查。规范要求患者入院时需完整记录其精神与身体状况，且至少在入院后前六个月需于每月末补充记录，之后每六个月需补充一次完整记录。但此类详尽准确的记录并非总能得到严格执行。
1912年，病例历史的记录格式从精装装订的病例簿改为活页对开格式，即患者临床记录（Patient Clinical Notes）。新格式便于患者转院时随其一同转移病例档案。患者临床记录作为独立档案系列进行登记。