First annual report of the medical officers on the state and management of the asylum for the insane poor of the County of Norfolk / [Norfolk Lunatic Asylum].

  • Norfolk Lunatic Asylum (Norfolk, England)
Date:
1854
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: First annual report of the medical officers on the state and management of the asylum for the insane poor of the County of Norfolk / [Norfolk Lunatic Asylum]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    11/78 (page 13)
    CONSTRUCTION AND GENERAL ARRANGEMENTS. ' It would be much out of place to hold up as a model of construction and internal arrangements, for the rational treatment of the insane, which was formerly so unscientific, a Hospital that was built in 1812 (and is among the oldest Asylums of this country), though it may be fairly compared with those which were erected at that time, and be considered superior to many, in consequence of the anxiety to keep pace with the times, which the Committee have ever felt, and the activity they have displayed, in adopting the suggestions of their Medical Officers and Superintendent, and in ob¬ serving the changes made in other institutions. There can, however, be no doubt that this, like all human institutions, is as yet not perfect; and although as much has been done during the past year, in the way of progress, as in any former years, and the various propositions of the Medical Officers have been carried into effect, yet there remains much to be done in an Asylum which was built for 100 patients, and which has been made to hold 310 insane paupers, the area of which is nearly the same. The wards for the male patients are numbered from 1 to 6, and those for the females from 1 to 8; each having an infirmary for the sick. The inmates are, to a great extent, arranged ac¬ cording to the phase of their disease; one class con¬ sisting of those approaching convalescence ; a second, of the working class, composed of many chronic cases as well as others ; a third, of chronic patients capable only of a little work ; a fourth, of epileptics; Gradual improve¬ ments since 1812, Improve¬ ments in the past year. Classitication.