In the 1870s, schizophrenia was barely on the radar; it was classified as a form of dementia. (The term "schizophrenia" didn't come around til a lot later.) So you may do some research on how dementia was treated during that time.
You may also want to check out William Chester Minor and The Professor and the Madman. Around the time you're writing, Minor just walked out into the London streets, shot a man in cold blood for no discernible reason, and then turned himself into the police. He was found not guilty by reason of insanity, although he did spend the rest of his life in an asylum. (Though a surprisingly posh one; he had a two-cell suite with a full library. Though he did come from money.)
Private care is probably a good option and actually not particularly expensive given the very low labour costs at the time and the lack of actual treatment available. Asylums are generally for the criminally insane or people abandoned by their families and in most cases (i.e. unless the patient was wealthy) pretty horrible places. If his staff are directly answerable to Holmes, the likelihood of abuse is less.
Also, although Broadmoor was high security by definition, visitors were permitted if a patient's mental state was up to it, and he/she agreed to see the person. Dr Murray visited Minor IIRC. And Crowthorne is on a train line from London.
At that time, what we now call schizophrenia was generally classified as dementia praecox; that might be a useful search term to use? On the whole though, yes, Victorian asylums were horrible places; dumping grounds for the sick and inconvenient rather than theraputic places. If there's any money available, private care is the best option; retire him to a little cottage somewhere quite with a 24-hour carer, and keep him out of harm's way.
It's worth remembering that Holmes was not averse to bending the rules a little, especially after he had gained friends in high places. (See, for instance, the Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton; A Scandal in Bohemia etc.) In the pre-Watson era, he probably had less influence, but I would imagine would have been just as unconcerned about following British law to the letter, and may well have decided that if the police were unable to tie the boy to the crimes, he wouldn't bother them with unnecessary details...
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In the 1870s, schizophrenia was barely on the radar; it was classified as a form of dementia. (The term "schizophrenia" didn't come around til a lot later.) So you may do some research on how dementia was treated during that time.
You may also want to check out William Chester Minor and The Professor and the Madman. Around the time you're writing, Minor just walked out into the London streets, shot a man in cold blood for no discernible reason, and then turned himself into the police. He was found not guilty by reason of insanity, although he did spend the rest of his life in an asylum. (Though a surprisingly posh one; he had a two-cell suite with a full library. Though he did come from money.)
Sorry I can't be of more help.
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On the whole though, yes, Victorian asylums were horrible places; dumping grounds for the sick and inconvenient rather than theraputic places. If there's any money available, private care is the best option; retire him to a little cottage somewhere quite with a 24-hour carer, and keep him out of harm's way.
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https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/71149S,
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In the pre-Watson era, he probably had less influence, but I would imagine would have been just as unconcerned about following British law to the letter, and may well have decided that if the police were unable to tie the boy to the crimes, he wouldn't bother them with unnecessary details...
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