The annual report of the Dorset County Lunatic Asylums, Charminster and Forston, for the year ending December 31st, 1882.

  • Dorset County Lunatic Asylum (Charminster, England)
Date:
[1883]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The annual report of the Dorset County Lunatic Asylums, Charminster and Forston, for the year ending December 31st, 1882. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    7/46 (page 7)
    REPORT OF THE cejapssaepw; in lunacy. Dorset Asylums, October 2ith, 1882. YESTERDAY we inspected the buildings occupied by the patients at both Asylums, saw all the patients in residence, and, this day, having concluded our inquiries and inspection, proceed to give the result of our statutory visit. In both Asylums, which are under the superintendence of Mr. Symes, we find clean¬ liness, good order, and comfort, the patients properly dressed and contented, the complaints exceedingly rare, whilst the demeanour of the patients towards both Medical Officers and Attendants shewed that they were treated with kindness and consideration. The only common complaint was with respect to the cheese given at supper. We tasted the cheese and found it to be not parti- j cularly good, and, as we see by the dietary table that butter may ; be given in lieu of cheese, we suggest that butter be substituted. l The attendants seemed to us to be a respectable class and suitable • persons, but we think that uniforms should be given to both sexes, i as the general neat appearance of the staff is much improved there- l by. That they are steady and well behaved is shewn by the length of their service here, out of the whole number of 47, 9 have i lived here over 10 years ; 11 more above 5 years ; and 27 of the \ whole number count over 3 years’ residence here. We saw the w rooms occupied by the attendants when their day’s work is done, i and think that some means of amusement might be provided for >j them, and the rooms made brighter and more comfortable. The if. beds and bedding were alike in good order, but we regret to learn l that the clean patients still have only one shirt weekly for day and | night use. This is not a healthy or cleanly arrangement, and as i far as we can see there is no reason for its continuance, as we were if informed that the whole washing of both Asylums is now finished in ;j four days. The drying ground by the laundry requires attention, q especially in the upper part where the asphalt should be renewed. It might be well here to mention that the staff of attendants ,:iincludes laundry-maids in the female and artizans in the male ■ division. We do not think, even making all due allowance for the general character of the patients, that the staff constantly on duty in the wards either at Charminster or Eorston is quite