Thomas Octavius Prichard
Encyclopedia
Thomas Octavius Prichard (1808–1847) was an English
psychiatrist
, one of the earliest advocates of "moral management", the humane treatment of the mentally ill.
Having served as superintendent for two years at Glasgow Royal Lunatic Asylum
, Prichard was appointed founding superintendent of the Northamptonshire County General Lunatic Asylum in 1838. Funded by public subscription, it was intended for "private and pauper lunatics". He built the number of patients up from 70 to 260 by 1844, claiming never to have to put patients under physical restraint. He saw non-restraint as part of "a system of kind and preventative treatment, in which all excitement is as much as possible avoided, and no care omitted": it is not clear whether he was influenced by the earlier work of Robert Gardiner Hill
. When the poet John Clare
entered the asylum in 1841, Prichard encouraged him to continue his writing.
Prichard resigned from the Northampton asylum in 1845 following allegations of professional misconduct. He opened a private asylum at Abington Manor
near Northampton
. Prichard died in 1847. The asylum was taken over by his cousin, Thomas Prichard (d.1878) who also married his widow (d.1852). She had been matron of the Northampton asylum and had five children from her first marriage.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
psychiatrist
Psychiatrist
A psychiatrist is a physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders. All psychiatrists are trained in diagnostic evaluation and in psychotherapy...
, one of the earliest advocates of "moral management", the humane treatment of the mentally ill.
Having served as superintendent for two years at Glasgow Royal Lunatic Asylum
Gartnavel Royal Hospital
Gartnavel Royal Hospital is a mental health facility based in the west end of Glasgow, Scotland. It provides inpatient psychiatric care for the population of the West of the City; covering Hillhead, Partick, Scotstoun, Yoker, Clydebank, Drumchapel, Bearsden and Milngavie...
, Prichard was appointed founding superintendent of the Northamptonshire County General Lunatic Asylum in 1838. Funded by public subscription, it was intended for "private and pauper lunatics". He built the number of patients up from 70 to 260 by 1844, claiming never to have to put patients under physical restraint. He saw non-restraint as part of "a system of kind and preventative treatment, in which all excitement is as much as possible avoided, and no care omitted": it is not clear whether he was influenced by the earlier work of Robert Gardiner Hill
Robert Gardiner Hill
Robert Gardiner Hill MD was born in Louth, Lincoln, of parents engaged in trade. He is normally credited with being the first superintendent of a small asylum to develop a mode of treatment where by the reliance on mechanical restraint and coercion could be made obsolete altogether, a situation...
. When the poet John Clare
John Clare
John Clare was an English poet, born the son of a farm labourer who came to be known for his celebratory representations of the English countryside and his lamentation of its disruption. His poetry underwent a major re-evaluation in the late 20th century and he is often now considered to be among...
entered the asylum in 1841, Prichard encouraged him to continue his writing.
Prichard resigned from the Northampton asylum in 1845 following allegations of professional misconduct. He opened a private asylum at Abington Manor
Abington Park
Abington Park, in the Abington district of Northampton, has lakes, aviaries, and a museum, as well as trees and grassy open spaces.The park contains the ruins of the former village of Abington, the site of a medieval manorhouse with a mill attached, mentioned in the Domesday book in 1086...
near Northampton
Northampton
Northampton is a large market town and local government district in the East Midlands region of England. Situated about north-west of London and around south-east of Birmingham, Northampton lies on the River Nene and is the county town of Northamptonshire. The demonym of Northampton is...
. Prichard died in 1847. The asylum was taken over by his cousin, Thomas Prichard (d.1878) who also married his widow (d.1852). She had been matron of the Northampton asylum and had five children from her first marriage.