John Charles Bucknill
Encyclopedia
Sir John Charles Bucknill FRS (1817–1897) English mental health reformer. Father of judge Sir Thomas Townsend Bucknill
QC MP.
, Leicestershire, and educated at Rugby School
and at University College, London. He served as an assistant to his father, a surgeon, and began formal medical training in Dublin, transferring after a year to the University of London.
Bucknill believed that insanity
was a brain disease that could be treated with medication. He became acquainted with Dr. John Conolly
's work at the Hanwell Asylum
in Middlesex
where no restraints were used to control agitated patients. Bucknill became an ardent supporter of this procedure. He had a special interest in the Lunacy laws and the protection of the civil rights of patients.
He qualified as a doctor in 1840, obtained a Licentiate in the Society of Apothecaries and membership in the Royal College of Surgeons
. He worked as a surgeon's dresser at University College Hospital and began private practice in Chelsea. From 1844–1862 he was medical superintendent at Devon County Asylum.
In 1875, Bucknill traveled to America. He visited ten asylums in the United States and three in Canada, reporting his findings in a book titled Notes on Asylums for the Insane in America. He praised the private Pennsylvania Hospital
in Philadelphia, McLean in Boston, and Bloomingdale in New York, but was sharply critical of the public asylum, Blockley in Philadelphia and the New York City asylums on Ward's and Blackwell's Islands. He approved of the National Hospital for the Insane in Washington (now St. Elizabeth's). He also met Dorothea Dix
in Washington and saw her again when she visited England.
During his American visit he was invited to attend the annual meeting of the Association of Medical Superintendents of American Institutions for the Insane
(forerunner of the American Psychiatric Association
) held in Nashville in 1875. He and the Superintendents disagreed about the practice of non-restraint for agitated patients. The Superintendents were unanimous in the opinion that they could not manage the hospitals without restraints. Bucknill offered a wager of 100 pounds if anyone would visit public British asylums and find restraint in use. There were no takers. The Association elected him their first honorary member.
In 1853 he founded the Journal of Mental Science, which he edited until 1862, and was co-founder of the journal Brain
. He was elected fellow of the Royal College of Physicians
in 1859 and gave their annual Lumleian Lectures
in 1878. He was knighted in 1894.
Eventually, he retired from London to Bournemouth and lived the life of a country gentleman. He died in 1897.
Thomas Townsend Bucknill
Sir Thomas Townsend Bucknill MP QC was an English judge of the Victorian and Edwardian eras, a Member of Parliament and a Privy Councillor.-Biography:...
QC MP.
Biography
Bucknill was born in Market BosworthMarket Bosworth
Market Bosworth is a small market town and civil parish in Leicestershire, England. It formerly formed a district known as the Market Bosworth Rural District. In 1974 it merged with the Hinckley Rural District to form a new district named Hinckley and Bosworth...
, Leicestershire, and educated at Rugby School
Rugby School
Rugby School is a co-educational day and boarding school located in the town of Rugby, Warwickshire, England. It is one of the oldest independent schools in Britain.-History:...
and at University College, London. He served as an assistant to his father, a surgeon, and began formal medical training in Dublin, transferring after a year to the University of London.
Bucknill believed that insanity
Insanity
Insanity, craziness or madness is a spectrum of behaviors characterized by certain abnormal mental or behavioral patterns. Insanity may manifest as violations of societal norms, including becoming a danger to themselves and others, though not all such acts are considered insanity...
was a brain disease that could be treated with medication. He became acquainted with Dr. John Conolly
John Conolly
John Conolly , English psychiatrist, was born at Market Rasen, Lincolnshire, of an Irish family. He spent four years as a lieutenant in the Cambridgeshire Militia and lived for a year in France before embarking on a medical career.He graduated with an MD degree at University of Edinburgh in 1821...
's work at the Hanwell Asylum
Hanwell Asylum
The County Asylum at Hanwell, also known as Hanwell Insane Asylum, and Hanwell Pauper and Lunatic Asylum, was built for the pauper insane and is now the West London Mental Health Trust ...
in Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex is one of the historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. The low-lying county contained the wealthy and politically independent City of London on its southern boundary and was dominated by it from a very early time...
where no restraints were used to control agitated patients. Bucknill became an ardent supporter of this procedure. He had a special interest in the Lunacy laws and the protection of the civil rights of patients.
He qualified as a doctor in 1840, obtained a Licentiate in the Society of Apothecaries and membership in the Royal College of Surgeons
Royal College of Surgeons of England
The Royal College of Surgeons of England is an independent professional body and registered charity committed to promoting and advancing the highest standards of surgical care for patients, regulating surgery, including dentistry, in England and Wales...
. He worked as a surgeon's dresser at University College Hospital and began private practice in Chelsea. From 1844–1862 he was medical superintendent at Devon County Asylum.
In 1875, Bucknill traveled to America. He visited ten asylums in the United States and three in Canada, reporting his findings in a book titled Notes on Asylums for the Insane in America. He praised the private Pennsylvania Hospital
Pennsylvania Hospital
Pennsylvania Hospital is a hospital in Center City, Philadelphia, affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania Health System . Founded on May 11, 1751 by Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Bond, it was the first hospital in the United States...
in Philadelphia, McLean in Boston, and Bloomingdale in New York, but was sharply critical of the public asylum, Blockley in Philadelphia and the New York City asylums on Ward's and Blackwell's Islands. He approved of the National Hospital for the Insane in Washington (now St. Elizabeth's). He also met Dorothea Dix
Dorothea Dix
Dorothea Lynde Dix was an American activist on behalf of the indigent insane who, through a vigorous program of lobbying state legislatures and the United States Congress, created the first generation of American mental asylums...
in Washington and saw her again when she visited England.
During his American visit he was invited to attend the annual meeting of the Association of Medical Superintendents of American Institutions for the Insane
Association of Medical Superintendents of American Institutions for the Insane
The Association of Medical Superintendents of American Institutions for the Insane, also known as The Superintendents' Association, was organized in Philadelphia in October, 1844 at a meeting of 13 superintendents, making it the first professional medical specialty organization in the U.S...
(forerunner of the American Psychiatric Association
American Psychiatric Association
The American Psychiatric Association is the main professional organization of psychiatrists and trainee psychiatrists in the United States, and the most influential worldwide. Its some 38,000 members are mainly American but some are international...
) held in Nashville in 1875. He and the Superintendents disagreed about the practice of non-restraint for agitated patients. The Superintendents were unanimous in the opinion that they could not manage the hospitals without restraints. Bucknill offered a wager of 100 pounds if anyone would visit public British asylums and find restraint in use. There were no takers. The Association elected him their first honorary member.
In 1853 he founded the Journal of Mental Science, which he edited until 1862, and was co-founder of the journal Brain
Brain (journal)
Brain is a neurological journal published by Oxford University Press. It was edited by John Newsom-Davis from 1997 to 2004. Under his editorship it became one of the first scientific journals to go online. Since 2004 the journal is edited by Alastair Compston, Professor and Head of Department of...
. He was elected fellow of the Royal College of Physicians
Royal College of Physicians
The Royal College of Physicians of London was founded in 1518 as the College of Physicians by royal charter of King Henry VIII in 1518 - the first medical institution in England to receive a royal charter...
in 1859 and gave their annual Lumleian Lectures
Lumleian Lectures
The Lumleian Lectures are a series of annual lectures run by the Royal College of Physicians of London, started in 1582 and now run by the Lumleian Trust. The name commemorates John Lumley, 1st Baron Lumley, who with Richard Caldwell of the College endowed the lectures, initially confined to...
in 1878. He was knighted in 1894.
Eventually, he retired from London to Bournemouth and lived the life of a country gentleman. He died in 1897.