Remarks on the treatment of the insane : and the management of lunatic asylums, being the substance of a return from the Lincoln Lunatic Asylum, to the circular of his majesty's secretary of state, with a plan / by E.P. Charlesworth.

Date:
1828
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Remarks on the treatment of the insane : and the management of lunatic asylums, being the substance of a return from the Lincoln Lunatic Asylum, to the circular of his majesty's secretary of state, with a plan / by E.P. Charlesworth. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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    under proper restrictions. No particular effects have been observed from this diet, or from any occasional alteration of it. Q. 20.—In cases of attempt at self-starvation, what method of treatment has been adopted with most success ? A. 20.—In cases of attempt at self-starvation, every mild inducement to eat is put in practice, to avoid forcible means : very few instances of force have yet occurred; in these semi- fluid food has been given through a speculum. An instance has occurred requiring its use for 17 weeks in succession. Q. 21.—Of what portion of rest or sleep can the patients partake; and what means are found suc- cessful in inducing sleep with restlessly inclined patients ? A. 21.—The patients are allowed about ten hours for sleep, the number of the hours varying with the season of the year. The only means used to induce restless Patients to sleep, have been labour and exercise, and the absence of excitement. A room with white walls, a bed without curtains, a window with- out shutters, facing the bed, the shadows of moonlight, or the rays of the early sun, unusual and terrifying noises, form a combination obviously ill-calculated for the repose of a restless and irritable Patient. Too little attention has been paid to such details in establishments for the insane. One principal object of the alterations in progress, has been to place the noisy Patients at the greatest possible distance, both from the quiet and the irritable; interposing a range of apartments for the Insensible: the least sensible being placed nearest to those who are noisy. Q. 22.—What description of clothing is provided, and at what cost ? A. 22.—The clothing provided is warm and cheap: the cost of course varies with the station in life of the Patients, whose friends pay the expense, or send clothing themselves.