Ninth annual report of the directors of the Glasgow Asylum for Lunatics, : submitted, in terms of their charter, to a general meeting of contributors, 9th January, 1823.

  • Glasgow Royal Lunatic Asylum.
Date:
1823
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Ninth annual report of the directors of the Glasgow Asylum for Lunatics, : submitted, in terms of their charter, to a general meeting of contributors, 9th January, 1823. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    times gloomy, anxious, and irritable. He is less sociable, yet perhaps mixes occasionally with joyous parties; and, during that transient but dangerous respite from depres¬ sion which he may obtain from the use of stimulating liquors, he is possibly admired for the liveliness of his conversation, and the acuteness of his wit. He is less interested in his usual occupations and amusements; yet he may sometimes, of a sudden, and for a short time, pursue them with enthusiastic ardour. Very often, at this period, he is subject to some unusual affection of his stomach, or bowels, * and his sleep begins to be disturbed and broken. We do not expect that Patients, in this precursory stage of lunacy, will be sent to the Asylum. But we cannot too often repeat, that, as soon as the nature of the case is evident, recourse ought to be had to skilful treatment. It is gratifying to state, that, during last year, a considerable number of Patients were admitted at an early period of their malady, and were almost all speedily dismissed cured. The Directors warmly sympathize with that feeling so natural to relatives, in regard to the danger of any degree of publicity being given to the cases under our treatment, or of any improper disclosures being made; and the strictest care is taken that no Patient shall be * The active remedies which are frequently employed with benefit, in cases of indigestion, may sometimes owe their good effects, more to their influence on the state of the head, than is generally supposed. And where there is a known predisposition to lunacy, the possibility that a loss of tone in the digestive organs, may proceed from some change going on in the brain itself, ought not to be overlooked.