Volume 2

An historical account of the origin, progress, and present state of Bethlem Hospital. Founded by Henry the eighth, for the cure of lunatics, and enlarged ... for the reception and maintenance of incurables / [Thomas Bowen].

  • Bowen, Thomas, -1800.
Date:
1783
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An historical account of the origin, progress, and present state of Bethlem Hospital. Founded by Henry the eighth, for the cure of lunatics, and enlarged ... for the reception and maintenance of incurables / [Thomas Bowen]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    13/20 (page 9)
    The conduct and management of this hofpital is more im¬ mediately intrufted to a committee of forty-two governors, feven of whom, together with the treafurer, phylician, and other officers, attend every Saturday, in monthly rotation, for the admiffion of pati¬ ents, and for the regulation of fuch other matters, as may concern the eafe, welfare, and convenience, of fo large a family. And, as the committee is open to every governor, it receives all the benefit which it can derive from the prudence and information of perfons of different habits of life, refpedlable citizens who are engaged in, or have retired from bufinefs, gentlemen of the medical profeffiony and others of independent fortune, whofe leifure or benevolence may lead them to attend. * . « As foon as the lunatic is judged a fit objedl for this charity, he is delivered to the fteward, who, under the direction of the phyfician, affigns him fuch a degree of care and confinement as his cafe may require. The wards are fpacious and airy,# and the convenience of the apartments allotted to each unhappy individual, together with the order, decency, and cleanlinefs that are confpicuous through the whole houfe, cannot but ftrike the curious and charitable vifitant: and, though the various fpedlacles of wretchednefs, which there prefent themfelves, - / muff agitate the mind that feels for the woes of humanity, the pain, which they occafion, will rarely fail of being mitigated by the view of that relief which is adminiffered to the wretched. D It * * The length of each ward or gallery is 321 feet, the width 16 feet 2 inches, and the heigth 13 feet. There are 275 cells, each of which meafures 12 feet 6 inches by 8 feet.