The forty-fifth annual report of the visitors of the County Lunatic Asylum, Stafford : for the year ending December 31, 1863.

  • Staffordshire County Lunatic Asylum.
Date:
[1864]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The forty-fifth annual report of the visitors of the County Lunatic Asylum, Stafford : for the year ending December 31, 1863. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    1 was found dirty and 9 wet. 18 men and 22 women were reported to have had fits during the night. The system of night-watching is the same as before reported, and is said to answer well. The average attendance at Chapel is now 172 men and 145 women, and 54 male and 35 female patients are daily taught in the school. The employment returns show an average of 185 men and 135 women, as regularly employed ; upwards of 100 of the men work on the grounds, between 30 and 40 in the shops, and the rest are employed in the ward and offices. The majority of the women work at their needle, and assist in the galleries, but upwards of 20 are regu¬ larly employed in the laundry. We are glad to find that the practice of sending parties of the patients beyond the precincts of the Asy¬ lum property is still continued, and that the number of patients having this privilege has been increased. On Thursdays, patients of both sexes are assembled on the lawn in front of the Asylum, where they dance to the music of a brass band, and amuse themselves in various ways ; about 180 patients are generally present at these meetings. Dr. Bower evidently devotes his best efforts to pro¬ mote the comfort of the patients, and we are glad to observe that his endeavours to improve the more impul¬ sive and excited class, have so far been attended with success. We have no doubt that by a persevering use of the same means, the general tone of these patients will be raised, so that the present distinction of a refractory class, and the use of the special wards for them, may be ultimately unnecessary. W. G. CAMPBELL, ) Commissioners ROBERT NAIRNE, j in Lunacy.