Report of the medical officers of the Lunatic Asylum for the County of Lancaster : instituted 28th July 1816 1850.

  • Lancaster County Lunatic Asylum.
Date:
1850
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report of the medical officers of the Lunatic Asylum for the County of Lancaster : instituted 28th July 1816 1850. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    The Lunacy Commissioners visited the Asylum in October last, and made the following Report:— “ Lancaster Asylum, Oct. 15, 1849. “ Since the last visit of the Commissioners, on the 29th August, 1848, 243 patients have been admitted (110 being in bad or feeble health at the time of admission), 127 have been discharged, and 103 have died,—19 deaths being ascribed to disease of the brain, 18 to paralysis, 15 to consumption, 11 to epilepsy, and the rest to various other causes. “ There are now 768 patients in the Asylum, of whom 382 are males, and 386 are females. Forty-five of these (24 males and 21 females), are recorded as being under medical treatment. No patient is subjected to mechanical coercion. About 14 of them appear to have been recently placed in seclusion, during various short periods of time ; but there were only two (namely, one of each sex) secluded at the time of our visit. “ The patients were tranquil during our progress through the wards (with the exception of the two who were secluded), and appeared to be very comfortable. The body-clothing was good, the bedding clean and apparently ample, and the day-rooms, bed¬ rooms, and galleries well ventilated and in very good condition. “ The new domestic offices (which are exceedingly spacious and convenient) are now in use. The Church-service is read every Sunday, and is attended by from 230 to 240 of the patients. Prayers are also read twice a week, and are attended by about 100 of the patients of both sexes. About 630 of the patients are employed (the number of females rather exceeding that of the males) in various ways, and invariably with good effect. “ The dietary, which had previously been somewhat diminished during the summer months, has, throughout this year, continued