The ninth report of the Committee of Visitors of the County Lunatic Asylum at Hanwell : January quarter session, 1854 / [Middlesex County Lunatic Asylum].

  • Middlesex Lunatic Asylum at Hanwell.
Date:
1854
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The ninth report of the Committee of Visitors of the County Lunatic Asylum at Hanwell : January quarter session, 1854 / [Middlesex County Lunatic Asylum]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    hardly be necessary at the present day to dwell upon the paramount importance of good drainage and ventilation, of an abundant supply of light, and of hot water for bathing purposes, of which latter, though the Asylum is amply sup¬ plied with cold water, there is a very inadequate quantity even for the present number of Patients. Your Committee are satisfied that when the Court shall be in possession of the details on all these points, it will concur with them that an alteration in the system is indispensable* It w7as stated in the last Annual Report, that an additional vote would be asked for, to complete the fittings in the Chapel, in the new Ward, and Entertainment Room, and to defray the Architect’s Commission. The sum required for these purposes amounts to £883, and the cost of bedding and fur¬ niture for the Ward will be £500 ; the details of which will be found in the Appendix. Application will accordingly be made to the Court, for a sum not exceeding £1,400, on the next County Day. We regret that, owing to the great rise in almost all articles of consumption, and the price of labor generally, the rate of maintenance has been considerably increased for the present quarter. This state of things, it is to be hoped, will not be of long duration, and that a return will shortly be made to the ordinary rate. Many improvements have been introduced into the Lunacy Act of the last Session of Parliament, which will be advan¬ tageous to the Patients as well as Parishes, by enabling Justices to remove those who do not belong to the County, and make room for others whose state requires immediate reception in Asylums. Several suggestions, made by the