Reports of the trustees, superintendent and resident physician, and other officers of the lunatic asylum, of the state of Georgia, from October 1st, 1887, to 1st October, 1888 / Georgia State Lunatic Asylum.

  • Georgia State Lunatic Asylum.
Date:
1888
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Reports of the trustees, superintendent and resident physician, and other officers of the lunatic asylum, of the state of Georgia, from October 1st, 1887, to 1st October, 1888 / Georgia State Lunatic Asylum. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    health. The health of the institution has been very good. It will be seen by referring to the causes of death, that the sickness was not due to any local cause, which indicates the good sanitary condition of the Institution. There has been under treatment during the year, 1,746 pa¬ tients, and many of them were broken down, mentally and physically. We have enjoyed entire exemption from all epidemics or contagious diseases, and -we have had no serious accidents of any kind, while we have had quite a,number with homicidal and suicidal tendencies, and some that required constant observation, both day night. We feel truly grateful that there has not been any suicide. This class of patients always gives much mental anxiety. RECOVERIES. It will be seen that the per cent, of recoveries based upon the recent and curable cases received during the year, is very good. As the question is sometimes asked as to what per cent, of recoveries we have during the year, referring to the entire population, losing sight of the fact, that chronic insanity is regarded as incurable, and the longer the duration of the disease, the more hopeless the case is, hence the per cent, of recoveries is based upon the patients received during the year. Those that are admitted soon after the first symptoms of the malady, a large per cent recover, and perhaps many of the remainder are very much improved. This certainly ought to impress the importance of early hospital treat¬ ment. There are quite a number become insane every year, if dangerous and violent at the outset, they are sent to the institution in the acute and curable stage, others that are quiet and harmless, are perhaps kept at home, until the disease has become chronic and incura¬ ble, and then sent to the institution, to remain during life, unless removed by relatives or friends, which is sel¬ dom done. We would not be justified in expecting re¬ covery from only the acute cases, therefore, it is reason¬ able to suppose, that at least one-half or more of the cases received each year adds to the list of chronic in¬ sanity, and the larger number of the insane belong to the chronic class, in whom recovery is almost hopeless.