Essays chiefly on the theory of paroxysmal diseases of the nervous system / by Marshall Hall.

  • Hall, Marshall, 1790-1857.
Date:
[1849]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Essays chiefly on the theory of paroxysmal diseases of the nervous system / by Marshall Hall. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    § 4. Idea of an Asylum for the cure of Insanity. It must never be forgotten that, however our object in the establishment of a lunatic asylum be care, comfort, and safety, our chief and permanent idea should be cure. Even in the worst cases, this idea should be steadily kept in view; for cases of recovery have occurred, after all hope had long been lost. As emotion is a principal cause of insanity, and of its returns, and as man, the being especially afflicted with it, lives, as it were, a life of emotion, the one first great object in the treatment of insanity is the removal of all causes and occasions of emotion. The patient should be instantly removed from his own friends and servants, with whom alter- cations will ever constantly occur, in conversation or 'other- wise. No recurrence to his delusion should be permitted. Emotion does not exist in the excited lunatic only, but in the moody and the apparently quiet. Our object should be to displace it absolutely, and replace it by incessant grateful occupation. The whole day should be actively employed in exercises, games, &c. with intervals only of just and necessary repose. I would propose to erect a proper tent, screened on the windward side, in dark, stormy, or doubtful weather. Under this tent, or in the open air, the patients’ time should be en- grossed with billiards, tennis, bowls, quoits, &c. or with “ les graces,” and other appropriate games for female patients. Emotion and moody melancholy should be alike ex- cluded ; for neither should time be given. The intervals between these games should be engrossed by repose and meals. Every hour in the day should have its appointed occupa- tion. The system should be one of training. Early hours should be observed for going to bed and for rising. The last thing at night, and the first thing in the morning, every patient should be made to use a coarse towel well, to sponge with a little cold water, and again to rub. On first rising, each patient should take three or four ounces of hot milk; then, after sponging, he should take a short walk ; then breakfast.