Third annual report of the medical superintendent of the Manchester Royal Lunatic Hospital, situate near Cheadle, Cheshire, for the year from June 25th, 1852, to June 24th, 1853.

  • Manchester Royal Lunatic Hospital.
Date:
1853
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Third annual report of the medical superintendent of the Manchester Royal Lunatic Hospital, situate near Cheadle, Cheshire, for the year from June 25th, 1852, to June 24th, 1853. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    themselves in the improved mental condition of the patients; the : exercise in which they are engaged, whilst it promotes bodily n health, occupies their minds, and has a powerful effect in dispelling h the delusions under which they labour; a general cheerfulness, ^ produced by association, and a mirthful enjoyment pervades the whole company, and their appearance is often rather that of a ;i holiday party, retired from the graver concerns which were wont to ■ occupy their minds, to cultivate their own pleasure and recreation w by engaging in opposite pursuits, than a company of insane people, i, The influence of such agreeable employment on the mind is, that -i cheerfulness follows that gloomy moroseness which so frequently ; attends insanity, and except where disease has already made too i; much progress to be arrested by any human means, the general i result is a restoration of the suspended faculties. While, as I have already stated, so much good accrues to the i- patients from this recreation, that it ought to be resorted to by all [ who regard the interests of their patients. It is not to be imagined t that they have an aversion to such occupation; compulsion never , requires to be resorted to in order to induce them to engage in it; ; the alternative of going or not going to work is set before them, i and the greater part of them at once volunteer to go; about two- ^ thirds of the male patients are always thus occupied when the i: weather is favourable, the remaining being either too weak, or from ^ some other cause prevented from joining. The following extract, from the Attendants’ daily return, will give a general idea of the I: amount and nature of their occupations :— ATTENDANTS’ DAILY RETURN. 21st June. 22nd June. 23rd June. In Gardens . 3 11 0 On Land . 12 0 20 Assisting Attendants in Carpentering.... 0 2 1 Engineering. 0 0 0 Painting . 0 1 0 Other Employment. 1 0 0 Reading . 2 11 8 In-door Amusements . 4 0 0 Excursions beyond the Grounds. 3 0 1 Total Employed . 25 25 30 Excitement with Restraint. 0 0 0 Ditto ditto Seclusion. 0 0 0 Ditto without either . 0 0 0 Sick in Bed. 1 3 0 Quiet and Incapable . 4 1 0 Total Unemployed . 5 4 0 Total Patients. 30 29 30