Twentieth annual report, for 1866 : presented to the Committee of Visitors, January 18th, 1867; and to the Court of General Sessions, April 16th, 1867 / Kent County Lunatic Asylum, Barming Heath, Maidstone.

  • Kent County Lunatic Asylum.
Date:
1867
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Twentieth annual report, for 1866 : presented to the Committee of Visitors, January 18th, 1867; and to the Court of General Sessions, April 16th, 1867 / Kent County Lunatic Asylum, Barming Heath, Maidstone. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    G Death of Upholsterer. Earth Closets, &c. Increase in Attendants. Amuse¬ ments, &c Gas in Chapel. employment in the Asylum he had received serious injuries from dangerous patients, which had doubtless accelerated his resignation. He was considered a deserving man, and the Committee shewed their appreciation of his services by granting him a superannuation allowance of £24 a year. It is with regret that I have to notice the death, from Pul¬ monary Consumption, of James Pledge the Upholsterer, which took place earty in May. Attempts have been made, by the introduction of Earth Closets, to utilize a portion of the Asylum sewage; w^e have not however been successful in preventing the exhalation of offensive smells from them. An ingenious apparatus, the invention of Mr. Edward Hoar, called a “ Water-Trap Closet/’ having the sameohject in view,will shortly be introduced for trial. An increase in the number of attendants has taken place, to meet the requirements of the increase in the number of patients, and a second night nurse has been appointed on the female side of the main building. The exertions of the Officers have been continued throughout the past year to afford the patients all the recreation possible. The Theatrical Entertainments are kept up with much anima¬ tion by Mr. Stevens, who is ably assisted by the Medical Officers, Messrs. Spencer and Hughes; as well as by Mrs. Stevens and other friends, and on the last occasion some of the patients took part in the performance. Weekly Headings have been commenced in the Concert Eoom, similar to the Penny Headings, which are calculated greatly to instruct as well as amuse the patients. A handsome Christmas tree adorns the Wards, and the distribution of the prizes from it is looked forward to with much pleasure, and it is in contemplation, as soon as the additional work common to this period of the year has been got over, to give occasional lectures of a Philosophical nature. Gras is being laid on to the Chapel, which will enable a Week¬ day Evening Service to be held here instead of in the Wards as formerly, an arrangement not found to be satisfactory.