The annual report of the Dorset County Lunatic Asylum, Forston, for the year 1856.

  • Dorset County Lunatic Asylum (Forston, England)
Date:
1857
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The annual report of the Dorset County Lunatic Asylum, Forston, for the year 1856. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Lunatics. The Visitors did not come to any decision on the matter until after the subject had been stated to the Court. At he present rate of 7 s. 7d. per week : the difference to the County if the Contract be taken for two years would be 5s. 5d. per week each, or £661 19s. 2d. per annum. If the Contract he taken for one year at 14s. 6d.: then the charge on the County will be £845 5s. 2d. per annum—as there is no reason to suppose that the number of Patients at Fisherton will decrease, but rather the contrary. The state of the Asylum for the year has been most satisfactory, no epidemic disease has occurred, and the general health of the Patients has been good : so that the salubrity of the situation after 19 years’ trial, being well established, the Visitors feel assured that, on this account, no change of site would be attended with any material advantage. The ample supply of water for every purpose which can be obtained at Forston, may in some measure account for this—for this necessary of life is most particu¬ larly needed in a Lunatic Asylum. The conduct of the Attendants also deserves much praise, they have done their duty with humanity to the Patients, and to the satisfaction of the Superintendent, and when it is considered how arduous their duties are, and how much command of temper it requires, their conduct deserves the highest praise—only one case of improper conduct occurred in a nurse, whom the Visitors in consequence thought right to discharge. The number of deaths during the year :— First Quarter ... ... .. ... 4 Second Ditto ... ... ... 3 Third Ditto ... ... ... ... 3 Fourth Ditto ... ... ... 5 Total 15 This, considering the great number of aged Patients,