Abstract
In 1844 the Poor Law Commissioners followed up a dispute with the Guardians of Leicester Union regarding the care of Pauper Lunatics by appointing Dr Samuel Hitch, an Assistant Poor Law Commissioner, to survey the treatment and condition of the pauper insane in Leicester and Birmingham Workhouses. At Leicester he exceeded his brief and surveyed the 13 insane on outdoor relief, 29 in the workhouse and 23 in the asylum. As such it is one of the earliest surveys of an area. This paper describes the dispute, the report and considers its aftermath.
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