Annual report of the General Board of Control for Scotland : 1923.

Date:
1923
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Annual report of the General Board of Control for Scotland : 1923. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    18/408 (page 12)
    while the percentage of recoveries alone was 31*1 as compared with an average percentage of 31-4 for the preceding 10 years. There was a marked difference in the percentage of recoveries in the Comity and the Borough mental hospitals, viz., 29-9 and 37*8 respectively. Deaths.—During the year, 7,864 patients (3,932 males, and 3,932 females) died. The proportion per cent, of deaths to the daily average number resident was 7*7, namely, 8-7 males and 6-9 females. This was the lowest rate ever recorded, the previous lowest having been 8-4 per cent, in 1921. It is worthy of note that no fewer than 13 per cent, of the deaths took place within one month of admission, and, if these are excluded, the death rate for the year would be reduced to 6*7 per cent. The number of post-mortem examinations was 5,231, being 66 • 5 per cent, of the total number of deaths. Service patients.—The number in this class of institution increased during the year by 91; at the end of the year they numbered 4,623. 3. Changes among the Medical Superintendents. Lincolnshire (Kesteven). Dr. John A. Ewan, who, at the opening of this Institution in April, 1896, was appointed as its first Medical Superintendent, and has therefore been intimately identified with its organ¬ ization and development, retired upon a pension in January, 1923. He has been succeeded by his deputy, Dr. I. Ross MacPhail (L.R.C.P. & S. Edin., L.R.F.P.S. Glasg.), who had had previous experience at Morningside, Sunderland and Dorset Mental Hospitals, and we wish him all success. Mid-Wales (Talgarth). Dr. Robert Pugh—who, after several years experience at the Birmingham and County of London Mental Hospitals, was appointed Medical Superintendent at Talgarth some two years after its opening—died in April, 1923. During the 18J years he had held this post he had been known to us as a most capable and kindly administrator, who always had closely at heart the best interests of his patients. The vacancy thus created was filled by the promotion of Dr. Peter Drummond (M.B., Ch.B., Glasg.), who was originally appointed to the medical staff in 1913* and had served as Captain in the R.A.M.C. during the war. County Palatine of Lancashire (Prestwich and Winwick). Dr. Frank Perceval, who had been Medical Superintendent at Prestwich for nearly 22 years and who, having occupied a similar