Twenty-fourth annual report of the trustees of the State Lunatic Hospital, at Worcester. December, 1856.

  • State Lunatic Hospital at Worcester.
Date:
1857
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Twenty-fourth annual report of the trustees of the State Lunatic Hospital, at Worcester. December, 1856. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    prise in which they have embarked, it will seldom be necessary to resort to mechanical restraint. It is often a sore grief, sufficient to embitter the remainder of life, for a patient to remember that he has been cast into a room little better than a criminal’s cell, when perhaps a little more effort would have been successful in assisting the patient to re¬ cover himself, and secure again his self-control. Sometimes, however, the patient desires nothing so much as to be placed where he can throw off all the decencies of life, and descend to every vulgar and debasing habit. The result of “ strong room ” treatment in such cases is sufficiently apparent. Amusements have always entered largely into the plan of treatment in this institution. Rides, parties, balls, and games of all kinds are in almost constant operation. While this is as it should be, much care is necessary lest those who will not and cannot engage in recrea¬ tion without assistance, are forgotten in the more pleasant duty of associating with those whose minds are but little disturbed. It seems to be the duty of those engaged in this enterprise— while not forgetting the more delicate and accomplished patient, —to direct their energies to that more hopeless and sometimes neglected class, whose bodies are slowly wasting away, whose minds are becoming daily more and more vacant, and who are by certain steps approaching a state of fatuity from which there is no return. This class may be reformed and re-educated, and made to assume the decencies and proprieties of life to some extent. In order to procure more intellectual amusement, and make it the means of instruction, a plan is in operation to establish a system of daily intellectual entertainments. Historical readings, with familiar explanations, courses of lectures and school exercises. Thus beginning what we hope may prove a source of pleasure and profit at least, a part of the year. Our patients are well supplied with newspapers; so that al¬ most any patient can have the paper he has been accustomed to read at his own fireside. For this we are indebted to the many publishers who send their papers to us free of charge. Some of our best galleries are supplied with libraries, and all patients have free access to the books.