The thirty-fourth annual report of the visitors of the Staffordshire General Lunatic Asylum : for the year ending December 31, 1852.

  • Staffordshire General Lunatic Asylum.
Date:
[1853]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The thirty-fourth annual report of the visitors of the Staffordshire General Lunatic Asylum : for the year ending December 31, 1852. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    the preceding year, being 8.26 per cent, on the mean number resi¬ dent, and 6.1 on the total number under treatment; that of private patients, taken apart from the paupers, being 1.88 per cent, on the number resident, and 1.35 on the total number under treatment. Some of the galleries on the male side of the house have been at times rather crowded, and occasionally a difficulty has been felt in providing for the male patients which have been admitted, but still no pauper patient has been refused admission, although it has been necessary to discontinue receiving the lower class of private patients. This inconvenience, however, will only be temporary, as there will be ample accommodation for paupers upon the removal of the private patients to the new Institution. This is expected to be finished in the summer; but whether the building will be sufficiently dry to occupy with safety, cannot yet be determined. Its present progress is quite satisfactory, and little now remains to be done with the exception of plastering and flooring a portion of the building, and the internal fittings. The laying out of the grounds is being pro¬ ceeded with, and the chapel will shortly be commenced. Daily experience only tends to confirm the wisdom of the sepa¬ ration of the two establishments, and the great importance of the scheme now being carried out, which meets with the unqualified approbation of those practically acquainted with the subject. The funds for the completion of the Institution unfortunately still lall short, the amount required for building the chapel and furnishing being yet deficient. If it can be opened without debt, there is no reason to doubt its ultimate success; but if the funds are to be applied to paying off a debt, the charitable working of the Asylum must be impeded, and probably for many years. I can do no greater service to the cause of humanity than by urging the importance of a general provision being made for the indigent but educated portion of the community in institutions of this description, and also pressing the wealthy, and, indeed, all classes, in this district to unite in making the undertaking now embaiked in an example in every way worthy of imitation. JAS. WILKES. March, 1853.