Reports for the year 1863 / St. Luke's Hospital for Lunatics.

  • Saint Luke's Hospital for Lunatics (London, England)
Date:
[1864]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Reports for the year 1863 / St. Luke's Hospital for Lunatics. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    into the country, and with very gratifying results, many dating t eir return to mental convalescence from these expeditions. The usual winter fortnightly Balls are now being held j these gatherings are always anticipated with much pleasure, and on iio occasion has any breach of decorum occurred to mar the happiness of the assembly ; the evening’s amusement is iveisified by singing, many of the patients and servants proving themselves excellent vocalists. The practice of sending out Patients to walk in the streets, having been found to act beneficially, is continued, and many of the convalescing Male Patients are allowed to go out in couples without an Attendant, and in some cases alone; in one in¬ stance a forfeiture of the promise to return in time for tea oc¬ curred, and then the Patient voluntarily came back the following evening, apologising for the anxiety he had occasioned. Many Patients are allowed to go home with their friends for the day, this treat is much enjoyed, and contributes materially in our opinion to mental restoration. The Wards on the Male side have been much improved by the introduction ot Carpets in place of the Coir Matting, with which the floors were formerly covered ; this improvement has been effected at no inconsiderable cost, but the increased cheerfulness of ther ooms amply compensate for the outlay thus incurred. We have to thank George Bishop, Esq., one of the Governors for valuable presents in the shape of Birds, Plants, &c. ; such gifts are much ajipreciated by the Patients, often pro vino- a source of benefit to them, Divine Service is performed daily in the Chapel as usual; the Harmonium purchased last year being presided overby one of our Patients, who, previous to his admission, had been Organist to •one of the London Churches, he has bestowed considerable pains m organising a Choir, and the whole of the responses are now chanted. The four new windows mentioned in the report of last year have been supplied ; the portions of the building where they have been placed, formerly dark, are now light and cheerful; the appearance of the Hospital from the street is also much improved by the substitution, and we hope that we shall yet see this beneficial alteration carried out on a more extended scale.