The second annual report of the Committee of Visitors, of the County Lunatic Asylum, at Colney Hatch : January quarter session, 1853 / [Middlesex County Lunatic Asylum].

  • London (England). County Lunatic Asylum, Colney Hatch.
Date:
1853
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The second annual report of the Committee of Visitors, of the County Lunatic Asylum, at Colney Hatch : January quarter session, 1853 / [Middlesex County Lunatic Asylum]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    how far the intercourse and excitement are beneficial; but those better acquainted with the Insane, and accustomed to hear the daily lamentations of the afflicted, know the ad¬ vantage of any incident, however trivial, which diverts the troubled mind from its own sorrows, and enables it to con¬ template objects of a more cheerful kind. The occupation of decorating the Exercising Hall affords conversation for weeks before the event, and the incidents of the evening for weeks afterwards. A At two of the Entertainments there were present, besides several Magistrates and all the Officers of the Asylum, many of the most influential inhabitants of the district, who joined in the amusements, and from the hour of 7 to 9 o’Clock not a single indecorous word was heard,—not one act which could offend the most delicate. This being the first time that the Male and Female Patients have been associated together in these Entertainments, the attention of the Magistrates was directed to ascertain how this novel and extraordinary experiment would succeed. Its success was all that the most sanguine could have ex¬ pected, and the Asylum during the night was more tranquil than usual; but had its failure been as signal as its success, merit would still be due to the Officers under whose direction it was carried out. The Committee have much pleasure in reporting that tliey^ have completed the exchange of the 23 acres of land with Mr. G. K. Smith, which was approved by the Court on the County Day of the last August Session, and they recommend that the field of meadow land, containing 10 acres and 7 poles, situated between the brook and the Railway on the