Sirs, In The Lancet of Jan. 13th there appeared an advertisement for an assistant medical officer at the Caterham Asylum of the Metropolitan Asylums Board. Having had experience of that Board I should like to point out for the benefit of intending applicants a few of the conditions under which the assistant medical officers at their asylums work. On entering upon my duties I was taken to my quarters by the steward, who apologised for the lack of accommodation offered me, explaining at the same time that such conditions were only temporary. My “quarters” consisted of one room in which I slept, the same room had also to serve me as an office, dining-room, as well as for the reception of personal visitors, and indeed for every use that it is possible to put a room to. All that was temporary as far as I was concerned consisted in the facts that on committee days a screen was taken from the room, so that visitors could see the bed and the fact that I had a knob put on the door after I had occupied my quarters for three weeks. Since I left there have been improvements at that particular asylum. The junior assistant medical officer now shares in a common dining-room and has consequently only to use his bedroom for an office and living-room generally. The medical superintendents at their asylums are not allowed to write testimonials. The Metropolitan Asylums Board, however, accept testimonials from other asylums. Such conditions prevailing one is not surprised to find that after years of service under the Board promotion is impossible elsewhere, and as the Board is not enamoured with the idea of promoting its own men the assistant medical officers find themselves in an awkward position. At other asylums it is the practice to allow the assistant medical officer the use of spare bedrooms in which to lodge a visitor, it being recognised that life in asylums is somewhat monotonous. In my time when a visitor arrived his host laid himself down on his couch (if he had one, I had not) and with his clothes on was happy that his brother from Scotland or a medical friend from America had come to see him. They were the only visitors whilst I served the Metropolitan Asylums Board. Now, the Metropolitan Asylums Board will no longer allow any visitor to be the guest of their assistant medical officer overnight.

Would intending applicants for the post advertised kindly apply to any of the Metropolitan Asylums Board's medical officers for information?

I am, Sirs, yours faithfully,

F.J.S.