Forty-eighth annual report of the directors of the Dundee Royal Asylum for Lunatics : submitted, in terms of their charter, to a general meeting of the directors, 15th June, 1868 with the reports of the medical superintendent and treasurer of the institution.

Dundee Royal Asylum for Lunatics.

Date:: 1868

Credit: Forty-eighth annual report of the directors of the Dundee Royal Asylum for Lunatics : submitted, in terms of their charter, to a general meeting of the directors, 15th June, 1868 with the reports of the medical superintendent and treasurer of the institution. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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$Although only 3 patients have been refused admission, con¬ siderable difficulty has been experienced in meeting the demands for accommodation not only for female patients at the lowest rates, but also for private cases of both sexes. On the female side, indeed, not only has all the available space been occupied, but on one or two occasions the patients have been for a few days in excess of the estimated accommodation. Of the patients who have left the Institution, 36 in number, 24 were discharged recovered, 8 were removed to the Lunatic Wards of Poorhouses, 1 was transferred to the District Asylum for Perthshire, 3 were removed by friends, and 1 was discharged on probation. In consequence of the numerous applications for the admission of female cases, every effort has been made^to procure the re¬ moval of those not likely to benefit by treatment or residence in the Asylum, and also to discharge those who could be regarded as at all likely to remain well. Two instances may be mentioned, however, which show how difficult it sometimes is to provide for the disposal of patients out of the Asylum who are apparently quiet, but who have not completely recovered. The patients referred to had been four¬ teen months and two years respectively resident in the Asylum, had gradually recovered to a certain point, had become quiet and industrious, and had continued in this state for six months. Their friends were anxious to do their best to take care of them, and so authority for their discharge on probation for six months was obtained. One was removed home, but on the following day was brought back in a state of violent maniacal excitement; while the other, before she could be removed, suddenly showed symptoms of insanity too marked to permit of her being dis¬ charged. As already stated, the obituary record contains 14 entries, 6 being of male and 8 of female patients. Of these, 7 were ad¬ mitted since 1st Jan. 1867, two in 1865, one in 1864, one in 1863, one in 1854, one in 1851, and one in 1847. The causes of death were paralysis, old age, cardiac dropsy, hsematemesis, phthisis, and apoplexy. The average age at death was 52{l years. Two patients had reached the advanced age$