Hi All, I am researching a Victorian 19th century criminal case. In the trial manuscript one of the witnesses said that she encouraged the wife to get the local magistrate to authorise her husband's admission into hospital. Now the husband was ill in bed and my question is: Was it normal for a wife in 1863 to have to get a magistrate's permission before her husband could be admitted to hospital? I should stress the husband was physically ill, not mentally ill. Any thoughts/comments will be gratefully received. Anne Hanson [email protected]

Was it perhaps a way of side-stepping a husband's wish that he not be admitted to hospital? I could say more about male patients but.... Denise ----- Original Message ----- From: "Anne Hanson" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Sunday, June 19, 2005 1:34 PM Subject: [AVNE] A strange query > Hi All, > > I am researching a Victorian 19th century criminal case. In the trial > manuscript one of the witnesses said that she encouraged the wife to get > the > local magistrate to authorise her husband's admission into hospital. Now > the > husband was ill in bed and my question is: > > Was it normal for a wife in 1863 to have to get a magistrate's permission > before her husband could be admitted to hospital? I should stress the > husband was physically ill, not mentally ill. > > Any thoughts/comments will be gratefully received. > > > Anne Hanson > [email protected]