Sixteenth annual report of the trustees of the State Lunatic Hospital at Worcester. December, 1848.

  • State Lunatic Hospital at Worcester.
Date:
1849
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Sixteenth annual report of the trustees of the State Lunatic Hospital at Worcester. December, 1848. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    nor would it be judicious, to enlarge this Hospital much, if any, fur¬ ther. I also stated that, in my opinion, it would be desirab’e to sepa¬ rate the sexes, if there were to be two public institutions in the State. Some of the Hospitals in Europe are for one sex only. There are some advantages which suggest themselves, in having the insane in an institution, all of one sex, and few or no disadvantages. I suggested that three small Hospitals, in different sections of the State, would have some advantages over a large one. People near an institution avail themselves more of its advantages than those at a distance. Small institutions can be more thoroughly managed and controlled, by its responsible officer, if not more economically conducted. But, if only one Hospital was to be erected, I advised that it should be for males, and be where it would be accessible by railroad travelling, and where land enough could be obtained. If it was for males, a mile square would not be too much land for farming purposes; and then, if the buildings were placed near the centre, the institution would not be encroached upon. Such a Hospital could be more economically managed in the west¬ ern section of the State, but it would be more accessible to a majority of patients nearer the capitol. Males can be supported in a Hospital somewhat cheaper than females can. Their labor is more profitable, and they are satisfied with less attention of nurses. In this Hospital, about fourteen dollars per annum is expended for attendants’ care of each male patient, and about twenty-one dollars for each female. Females, too, require a larger carriage establishment. Probably the expense of provision and clothing is somewhat larger for males than females. These consid¬ erations would operate to the disadvantage of this Hospital, if it was devoted to females exclusively. But it would be an expense that would fall upon those where it more justly belongs than it now does. This Hospital, if one sex were taken away, would probably fill up again in a few years with the other sex. If the males should leave it, the apartments they now occupy should undergo a thorough repair. The floors, plastering, and much of the furnishing, should be renewed. It is almost impossible to do much towards repairing our wards when they are occupied every day and crowded as they now are. But still we have, within two years, repaired and painted the floors and stand¬ ing work of four of the female galleries. Public buildings should, at all times, be kept in good condition. Some parts of this Hospital