A description of the new hospital wings at James Murray's Royal Asylum, Perth / by A. R. Urquhart and A. Heiton.
- Urquhart, Alexander Reid, 1852-1917.
- Date:
- 1890
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: A description of the new hospital wings at James Murray's Royal Asylum, Perth / by A. R. Urquhart and A. Heiton. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.
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![Description of the New Hos]oi^p'Wrm^^^< James Mv/rray s Royal Asylum, Perth. A^rPly A. R. \^tQT7HAET, M.D., Physician Superinten(^|^rt; and A. Hi^tgpK, F.B..I.B.A., Architect. It is now sixty-two years>m&g-Jtfl™^Murray's Eoyal Asylum was opened for the rece^iuft grpatients; and, in the course of its history, many changes have been made in the architectural arrangements. The original directors were actuated by motives of the purest philanthropy, and laid down, in their first annual report, principles of action from which their successors have never deviated. These principles of action, however, were not and could not be carried out in practice in those days, when modern ideas were but nascent; and the most eminent Scottish architect of his day, guided by the most mature medical experience of the times, could not design such buildings as are now held as requisite for the treatment of mental diseases. The alterations and im- provements found to be necessary, in order to maintain this institution in the front rank, were inaugurated some five-and- twenty years ago by the conversion of the dark and winding central staircase into a cheerful galleried hall. The light and air thus admitted, and the feeling of freedom thus installed, proved the keynote to the successive changes that have been wrought from year to year since that time. Hai'dly any part of the establishment has escaped the modernizing and re-arranging deemed necessary for effective care and treatment. The year 1887, however, found existing wards well-adapted for the chronic and quiet classes, but unsuitable for acute and infirm cases. It was, therefore, decided to add such accommodation as was found necessary, and this paper is intended to describe the leading features of the buildings designed for that purpose. The asylum is arranged in two blocks connected by a central administrative building. In the south block there are six wards, three male and three female. These form three floors. The lowest was formerly used for excited patients; but the day-rooms were required for stores, and it was found to be best adapted for sleeping accommodation only. Above this, on the level of the principal floor, are the](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b22273463_0005.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
