Report ... for the year 1842 / By Thomas S. Kirkbride.

  • Pennsylvania Hospital for the Insane
Date:
[1843]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report ... for the year 1842 / By Thomas S. Kirkbride. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    23/54 (page 21)
    good roads at all seasons, is also desirable, for reasons, of which I shall speak in a future part of this re¬ port. A farm should be connected with every Insane Hos¬ pital—not only for the valuable supplies derived from it—but as a part of the treatment; adding, as it is sure to do, immensely to the comfort of the patients and pro¬ moting their restoration. When the patients received * are of a class accustomed to labour, it is indispensible, and should by proper management lessen the expenses of the establishment. The wall surrounding the pleasure grounds, &c., as located, I consider a very valuable feature in the arrange¬ ments of this Institution; but while acknowledging the great convenience of a permanent enclosure of this kind, (41 acres) I do not hesitate to say, that unless large, it would be better to dispense with it entirely,—as a high wall near the building would hardly fail to do more harm by its appearance, than could be counterbalanced in any other way. We have reason to believe our location a very healthy one; during two years, we have had none of the epidem¬ ics that have prevailed in many districts; and during the preceding five years, when the building was in progress, there was scarce any sickness among the large number of workmen who were employed. Our entire exemption last fall, when autumnal fevers were particularly prevalent, I have felt disposed to attri¬ bute to the avoidance of the night air, and to starting a few of our warm air furnaces very early in the fall, and continuing them, particularly when any unpleasant dampness or chilliness was observed. By keeping open the windows of the parlours and halls, the heat, if more than agreeable, was easily dissipated. I am satisfied that much benefit would result from such a course, in most 3