Report of the County Lunatic Asylum at Prestwich : presented to the Court of Adjourned Annual Session holden at Preston, 27th December, 1877, with an account of the receipts and payments of the treasurer of the said asylum.

  • Lancaster County Lunatic Asylum at Prestwich.
Date:
1878
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report of the County Lunatic Asylum at Prestwich : presented to the Court of Adjourned Annual Session holden at Preston, 27th December, 1877, with an account of the receipts and payments of the treasurer of the said asylum. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    exceptions, are on a fair way towards recovery. These facts again testify in the most striking manner the 'paramount advantage of early treatment. Throughout the year the Asylum has been tilled to its utmost capacity ; the accommodation provided by the additions to No. 4 male, and No. G female Wards, were occupied as soon as com¬ pleted. Notwithstanding that every effort has been made to cope with the ever-increasing demand for admission by the transfer of chronic cases to the Workhouses, and to the care of their friends, we have been obliged to refuse admission to no less than 89 Patients during the past year. This is a matter for regret, when once the natural flow of Lunacy towards the Asylum is checked by deficiency of accommodation, the stream becomes diverted into other channels. Parish officials are furnished with an excuse to retain their cases in Workhouses, or these Patients are removed at a great distauce from their friends to such other Asylums as are willing to receive them. So long as our existing Asylums are crowded with a mass of incurable Patients, there can be no effectual remedy to this state of affairs, and therefore it is hoped that the further provision for the chronic insane, embodied in the suggestions of the Lunac}^ Accommodation Committee, will speedily be carried out. It gives me much pleasure to report the continued efficiency of all the officers, and their devotion to the best interests of the Asylum, and the welfare of the Patients. To the Attendants upon whom devolves the immediate and constant care of the