Report of the Commissioners in Lunacy to the Lord Chancellor : 55th, 1900.

Date:
1901
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Report of the Commissioners in Lunacy to the Lord Chancellor : 55th, 1900. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by a private collector for digitisation.

    471/484 (page 445)
    Since our visit no mechanical restraint lias been imposed, and seclusion only in the case of three gentlemen on three occasions for a total of 21 hours. We learn that the present staff comprises for day duty 5 men and 6 women, and there is a night attendant in each division. Dr. Cooke is still assistant medical officer. We find the case-books properly kept. Appendix H, The Brook Villa, Liverpool. Westbrooke House, Alton, Hants. 12 October 1900. Since our visit in March last, oue patient has left on transfer to Weslbrooke other care, and 2 patients, both of whom are proper cases for care and House, Alton, treatment, have been admitted. The patients borne on the books to-day Hants* nre 4 gentlemen and 9 ladies, ail of whom we have seen. No case shows such mental improvement as to promise early discharge or recovery. One lady was in bed, recovering from an attack of pneumonia ; the other patients appear to be in good bodily health : and all are fairly contented. The house is maintained in very good order. Since our visit in the spring there has been a general repara¬ tion on the gentlemen’s side, and attention has been paid to our suggestions in reference to the protection of looped pipes in the closets. Owing to difficulties with the contractor, a beginning has not yet been made with the laying down of hot-water pipes in passages. There is no record of the use of seclusion ; mechanical restraint has been found necessary in the case of a lady on 8 occasions for 59 hours. The staff ■consists or 2 attendants and 3 nurses, in addition to the occasional services of a housemaid under nurse. There is, besides, a night watch. West Malling Place, Kent. 15 October 1900. We have to-day paid our second visit of inspection to this house, \yest Mailing and find on its books the names of 24 patients, and 5 voluntary Place, Kent, boarders. We have seen them all with the exception of a lady patient, who is on leave of absence. One of the voluntary boarders is not a suitable case to remain in that capacity, and his further residence here should be on the footing of a certified patient. We gave a special interview to a lady who has been received here, and made a special note in the Patients’ book with reference to her case. Several of the patients complained of ill-usage, and one patient had sustained a bruise on the face. On enquiry into this latter matter, we could obtain no satisfactory history of its origin ; and the patient was too demented to make any statement in reference to the injury.