[9] These included: The legislation created a General Board of Commissioners in Lunacy for Scotland.
It also created district boards with the power to establish and operate publicly funded "district asylums" for patients who could not afford the fees charged by existing private and charitable "Royal Asylums".
[12] The aim of the legislation was to establish a network of "district asylums" with coverage throughout Scotland.
[13] The following asylums were commissioned under the auspices of the Commissioners in Lunacy for Scotland:[14] In addition the Southern Counties Asylum, which was intended to provide facilities for paupers, was erected on the site of the Crichton Royal Institution (which focused on fee paying patients) in 1849 but subsequently amalgamated with the Crichton Royal Institution.
[14] Likewise the Dundee District Asylum, which was intended to provide facilities for paupers, was established alongside the Dundee Royal Lunatic Asylum (which focused on fee paying patients) in 1903 but subsequently amalgamated with the Dundee Royal Lunatic Asylum.