Article

Stephen Lett

Published Online December 13, 2007

Last Edited December 16, 2013

Stephen Lett, psychiatrist (b at Callan, Ire 4 Apr 1847; d at Kingston, Ont Oct 1905). Having served as assistant medical superintendent of the insane asylums in Malden and London, Ont, 1870-77, he lost out to R.M. BUCKE for the post of London's medical superintendent.

Lett, Stephen

Stephen Lett, psychiatrist (b at Callan, Ire 4 Apr 1847; d at Kingston, Ont Oct 1905). Having served as assistant medical superintendent of the insane asylums in Malden and London, Ont, 1870-77, he lost out to R.M. BUCKE for the post of London's medical superintendent. A lasting antipathy developed between the 2 imperious men and resulted in Lett's transfer to a post at the Toronto asylum. In 1883 he briefly administered the Hamilton asylum until named first superintendent of the Homewood Retreat in Guelph, Ont. He was a specialist in the early treatment of addiction and his gradual withdrawal therapy for "opium neurosis" proved popular with his upper-crust clientele; however, his late-blooming success was cut short by a neurological disorder contracted in youth.