Report of the Committee of Visitors of the Lunatic Asylum for the North and East Ridings of Yorkshire : with the superintendent's eighteenth annual report, presented at the Easter sessions, 1865 and an account of the receipts and payments to the end of the year, 1864 / North and East Ridings of Yorkshire Lunatic Asylum.

  • North and East Ridings of Yorkshire Lunatic Asylum.
Date:
1865
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report of the Committee of Visitors of the Lunatic Asylum for the North and East Ridings of Yorkshire : with the superintendent's eighteenth annual report, presented at the Easter sessions, 1865 and an account of the receipts and payments to the end of the year, 1864 / North and East Ridings of Yorkshire Lunatic Asylum. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    The cost per week of each patient has not been met by the charge of 7s. 7d. The beef and mutton have entailed an out¬ lay of £420 more in 1864 than in 1863. Calico and linen fabrics have been dearer, whilst the coals used were more in quantity, mainly through the large consumption caused by pump¬ ing the backwater for 50 days and nights over the embankment at various intervals. The consequence has been that each patient has cost 5d. per head per week more in 1864 than 1863. I do not, however, at present recommend the weekly charge to be raised for patients coming from the Ridings, but it can hardly be reasonable the Institution should suffer loss for the maintenance, &c., of out County or private patients ; and therefore the boroughs of Scarborough and Ripon should be forthwith apprised of their liability to pay at the rate of 12s. lOd. per week for the year 1865. A step has already been taken in respect to the private patients, in accordance with the instructions I received at the last Christmas Meeting. I have the honour to subscribe myself Your very faithful and obedient Servant, SAMUEL HILL. P. S. The prudence of having a Fire Engine, Hose, &c., at the cost of £164 5s. 6d. on the premises, can hardly be doubted. By the rules, the patients and servants are to practise once every fortnight, so that should an emergency occur, there may be no impediment to the immediate use of the Fire Engine. As a preparation in case of accident, the means for a plentiful supply of water are being made into large underground tanks, close to which the Fire Engine can be brought. The patients are already tolerably used to the pumping, and give evidence of how capable they are of prowess, in the moment of danger. There is nothing new in this feature of their character, for on several occasions they have volunteered their services with good effect, not only for the saving of their own Asylum, but also for the extinguishing of large fires in the neighbourhood. S. H. B