Report of the Committee of Visitors of the Lunatic Asylum for the City and County of Bristol, as presented to the Town Council on the first January, 1864, together with the reports of the medical superintendent and chaplain / Bristol Lunatic Asylum.

  • Bristol Lunatic Asylum.
Date:
1864
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report of the Committee of Visitors of the Lunatic Asylum for the City and County of Bristol, as presented to the Town Council on the first January, 1864, together with the reports of the medical superintendent and chaplain / Bristol Lunatic Asylum. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    The produce of the Farm and Garden (some green crops excepted, which suffered from the dry summer) has been abundant. The more important potato crop has raised heavily and generally free from disease. It is anticipated there will be a surplus of potatos for sale, after the supply of our own wants. The expence of manure is the main obstacle to good culture of the land, and ex¬ perience has amply demonstrated that the Farm is productive only when well dressed, and that scanty manuring is a very false economy. Manure can readily be obtained from Bristol at a small original cost, but hauling by means of hired carts and horses, is both expensive and uncertain. It is believed a horse and cart would soon pay the outlay of the purchase money in reduced haul¬ ing and other expences. Various articles of useful furniture have been provided for the Corridors, &c., and plaster brackets fixed to the walls, on which it is intended to place figures, vases and other pleasing, but inexpen¬ sive objects. Yet much in the way of decorations remains to be accomplished before this Asylum will in these matters be on a level with similar institutions. A cornice and vallance is to be placed over each window in the associated Dormitories, which will greatly add to the domestic appearance of the apartment, a strip of Dutch carpet in the centre of each Dormitory would be an additional comfort. Large deal tables and benches are the only articles of furniture provided for the Day-rooms, which have in consequence a bare and comfortless appearance, with little of the character of sitting-rooms. Benches are highly objectionable in wards inhabited by epileptic and irritable patients, and dangerous from the facility with which they are overturned, and as a single restless patient disturbs all the other sitters, a fertile source also of quarrelling and disagreements. It is with much satisfaction the Superintendent records the assent of your Committee to provide comfortable chairs for the Day-rooms throughout the Asylum. Possibly a reader of this Beport may ask, how can insane persons (especially of the humbler classes) receive benefit from curtains, pictures, vases, flowers, singing birds, &c., distributed through the wards of an Asylum? objects to which they have not been aceus- Farm and Garden Culture. Furniture Decorations, and their utility.