1855 Cornwall Quarter Sessions and Assizes Table of Contents 1. Epiphany Sessions .................................................................................................................... 1 2. Lent Assizes ............................................................................................................................ 24 3. Easter Sessions ...................................................................................................................... 58 4. Midsummer Sessions ............................................................................................................. 70 5. Summer Assizes ..................................................................................................................... 92 6. Michaelmas Sessions ........................................................................................................... 134 Royal Cornwall Gazette, 5 and 12 January 1855 1. Epiphany Sessions These sessions were opened on Tuesday last, at Bodmin, before the following magistrates: J. KING LETHBRIDGE, ESQ., CHAIRMAN Lord Vivian. J.H.T.H. Peter, Esq. Sir Colman Rashleigh, Bart. E. Stephens, Esq. N. Kendall, Esq., M.P. E. Coode, jun., Esq. C.B. Graves Sawle, Esq., T.G. Graham, Esq. M.P. G.M. Williams, Esq. R Foster, Esq. Augustus Smith, Esq. J. Tremayne, Esq. Rev. T. Pascoe. J.S. Enys, Esq. Rev. Vyell Vyvyan. W. Hext, Esq. Rev. R. Buller. F.J. Hext, Esq. Rev. T. Phillpotts. H. Thomson, Esq. Rev. A. Tatham. D.P. Le Grice, Esq. Rev. E.J. Treffry. N. Kendall, Esq. The Rev. Charles Matthew Edward Collins, of Trewardale, qualified as a magistrate; and Mr. E. Gilbert Hamley, took the oaths on his appointment as Coroner. The following gentlemen were sworn on the Grand Jury:— Messrs. C.M. Parks, St. Enoder, foreman; F. Arthur, St. Breock; H. Biddick, St. Dennis; G. Brabyn, St. Breock; L. Biddick, St. Breock; J. Coad, Lanhydrock; J. Davey, St. Austell; W.J. Geake, St. Columb; R. Glanville, St. Austell; T. Hicks, jun., St. Columb; W. Hawkey, St. Dennis; W. Jago, St. Austell; T. Jane, Lanhydrock; S. Johns, Lanhydrock; W.M. Knapp, Wadebridge; J. Knight, St. Columb; J. Littleton, Lanhydrock; R. Martin, St. Austell, Elias Martin, St. Austell; W. Nicholls, St. Columb; J. Osborne, St. Dennis; J. Parnell, St. Austell; J. Penhall, St. Austell. The following gentlemen also answered to their names:— Messrs. W. Ford Geake, St. Columb; W.T. Polkinhorne, St. Columb; W. Truscott, St. Columb; R. Trebilcock, St. Columb; J. Varcoe, St. Dennis; J. Warne, St. Columb, H. Williams, St. Columb; J. Wills, St. Breock; J. Williams, St. Breock. —The Queen’s Proclamation having been read, the CHAIRMAN delivered his [charge to the Grand Jury—not transcribed]. THE COUNTY GAOL. VISITING JUSTICES’ REPORT.—The Visiting Justices had much pleasure in reporting the continued good order and cleanliness of the Goal and Bridewell. The prisoners were exceedingly healthy; and the Infirmary was unoccupied; but the number in custody during the past year had exceeded the usual average. [The remainder of the report not transcribed] COUNTY ASYLUM.—This being the Sessions at which the annual reports of the Asylum are read, the CHAIRMAN read the following:— THE REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS IN LUNACY. Cornwall County Asylum, August 17th and 18th, 1854. Since the last visit of the Commissioners on the 2nd of May last, 27 patients have been admitted, 17 have been discharged, and 29 have died; 6 dying from dysentery and diarrhoea, 3 from paralysis, 3 from disease of the brain, and the rest from various other causes. There are now 220 patients in the asylum, including three who are out on leave. Of these, 11 of each sex are private patients, and 94 males and 124 females are paupers. Twenty-one patients are registered as being under medical treatment, three as having been placed under mechanical restraint, and two secluded during the last week. Since the last visit of the Commissioners, there appear to have been 13 instances of mechanical restraint, and 41 instances of seclusion, having reference to 26 patients. We observe that the great mortality in this asylum continues to be partly referable to dysentery and diarrhoea. The visitors, as we have understood, have given notice of their intention to apply to the next Quarter Sessions for a grant of £1400 to enable them to warm and ventilate the asylum, and to floor the lower wards with wood instead of the present paving of stone, &c. We think it advisable to move all the patients from the ground floors into the upper wards as far as is practicable, and to use every exertion to improve the ventilation, especially of the single rooms, and the recesses or places set apart for the sinks and water closets. At the time of our coming to the asylum an offensive odour issued from an empty room formerly used as a laundry, and also from a water closet or sink in one of the female wards. The causes of these smells should be at once ascertained and removed, and the refuse vegetables should no longer be thrown into an outhouse near the kitchen. All the wood that has become rotten in the Asylum should be removed and replaced with dry sound wood, and the ceiling of one of the large upper rooms, which fell down some time since, should be immediately restored, and the room itself brought into use. We are informed that lavatories will be erected throughout the asylum; but until these are completed, we recommend that some washing basins be provided for those patients who now wash in tubs and troughs. The wards would generally be much improved by more furniture being placed in them, and by the straw beds being diminished. We think that more cheap publications of a cheerful character are very desirable. At present by far the greatest proportion of books are of a religious tendency only, and these were in the hands of patients afflicted with melancholia. All the female patients, without distinction, should be taken beyond the small airing grounds for exercise regularly, and they should be regularly bathed, which is not the case at present. The visitors do not at present contemplate the introduction of gas into the asylum. The male attendants have been recently supplied with new dresses in addition to their wages, and the female attendants are also to have new dresses shortly. As the visitors are about to make some alterations in the asylum, we recommend to their consideration whether it may not be advisable to remove all the bars, iron doors, and wire work, from the premises, and generally to render the female parts of the Institution as convenient and comfortable as may be. Some of the windows do not open sufficiently to admit a proper quantity of air. The religious exercises and amusements are the same as heretofore. We are gratified in observing the clean, comfortable, and orderly condition of the male wards, and the adjacent grounds. B. W. PROCTOR, ) C. GASKELL, ) Commissioners in Lunacy. Mr. D. P. Le GRICE asked, if the patients were to be removed from the lower floors to the upper, why should the lower floors be boarded? Sir COLMAN RASHLEIGH said there is not sufficient room in the upper galleries to take them. Mr. KENDALL said there must be a great number of patients in the lower part. MEDICAL OFFICER'S REPORT.—The following report was also read by the Chairman:— To the Committee of Visitors. Gentlemen,— l respectfully submit for your consideration the report of the asylum for the year 1854. During the past twelve months 95 patients have been admitted, viz., 47 males and 48 females. Of these 8 may be considered to have been in an almost hopeless state when they entered. There remained in the establishment on the 30th December 1853, males 117, females 113, total 230. Admitted in 1854, males 47, females 49, total 96; total under care 326. Males. Females. Total. Discharged, Recovered.. 15 19 34 Relieved 6 4 10 Relieved 4 0 4 Died 19 23 42 Total, discharged and dead, 90; remaining under care December 31st, 1854,—236, of whom 14 males and 11 females were private patients. The re-admissions amount to 9 males and 6 females. It is a matter of regret to me that I have to inform you that the deaths exceed in number those of last year by eight. Of these forty-two cases the apparent cause of death may be considered under the following heads:— From affection of the brain and spinal cord as by organic disease, inflammation, and cerebral pressure, one of these patients being affected with atrophy,— six have died from affection of the respiratory organs, two being cases of phthisis, four deaths. From asthma associated with disease of brain, thoracic affection and mania, four deaths. From abdominal affection, as by dysentery, protracted diarrhoea, peritonitis, and tympanitis, associated in the different cases with pulmonary affection, organic disease of the brain, epilepsy, and paralysis, eleven deaths. From constitutional or cachectic debility, associated in the different cases with pulmonic and abdominal affections, mania and paralysis, four deaths. From coma and narcotism with dysenteric affection, and in one of these with mania, two deaths. From general paralysis with mania, two deaths. From scrofula and mania, two deaths. From the debility of age, associated in the different cases with gangrene, bronchial and intestinal irritation, five deaths. From epileptic paroxysm, and one of these with hemorrhage, two deaths. From general dropsy and bronchitis, one death. Total, forty-two deaths. With regard to other causes affecting the health of the patients, the past year has been less trying than the previous one, and