Twenty-sixth annual report of the medical superintendent of the lunatic asylum, for the counties of Salop and Montgomery, and for the borough of Wenlock, 1870 / [Salop and Montgomeryshire Counties Lunatic Asylum].

  • Salop and Montgomeryshire Counties Lunatic Asylum.
Date:
1871
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Twenty-sixth annual report of the medical superintendent of the lunatic asylum, for the counties of Salop and Montgomery, and for the borough of Wenlock, 1870 / [Salop and Montgomeryshire Counties Lunatic Asylum]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    males of this class, five had made attempts at self-destruction previous to admission by cutting their throats, two had endeavoured to drown themselves, and three had attempted strangulation. Of the fifteen females, ten have attempted suicide in different ways, the others had threatened, but were prevented from carrying out their in¬ tentions. The homicidal tendency was present in fifteen instances. The number of patients discharged during the year amount to fifty-six, of whom twenty-four males and twenty-three females were recovered, and seven males and two females were relieved. The number of recoveries are in the ratio of forty-seven per cent, on the admissions. The average duration of residence varied from one month to four years. In the majority of cases the progress towards convalescence commenced soon after admission, and continued with¬ out intermission until perfect recovery was attained. Two females recovered, one after a sojourn of four and the other of two years, in the former case the insanity was caused by Epilepsy, in the latter by General Bad Health and Domestic Troubles. Both these cases are remarkable instances of the importance of not relaxing our efforts for the cure of any patient, no matter how long may have been the duration of residence or the apparent hopelessness of their condition. In only one case did the duration of insanity previous to asylum treatment exceed twelvemonths—in seventy-four per cent, the duration was under one month,—a conclusive proof, if any were needed, of the efficacy of early treatment. The forms of Mental Disorder among these recoveries were chiefly Mania and Melan¬ cholia, in two cases complicated with Epilepsy. The causes of the insanity were principally Hereditary Taint, and the Predisposition from previous attacks. Of the total number who recovered, seven males and ten females were cases who had on previous occasions been under treatment in this Asylum. The number discharged relieved was seven, four males, and three females, of these, three were removed to the care of their friends, one was sent to the Workhouse, and three were transferred to other Asylums. The mortality during the year amounted to forty-two, which gives a death-rate of 8.31 per cent, on the average number resident, and 6.20 on the total number under treatment. So low a death- rate has not occurred for many years, and is much below the mean average mortality of this Asylum. A somewhat unusual feature in connection with it is, that the death-rate for the both sexes is equal. A very large proportion of those who died were persons of advanced age, thirty-three per cent, were above the age of 60, four were