Thirty-sixth annual report of the trustees of the State Lunatic Hospital at Worcester. October, 1868.

  • State Lunatic Hospital at Worcester.
Date:
1869
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Thirty-sixth annual report of the trustees of the State Lunatic Hospital at Worcester. October, 1868. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    nearly approaches the amount paid by the State and towns for their patients. The deficiency is made up by the payment of private patients, some of whom, at a sacrifice to their sense of pride and independence, prefer not to be a public burden. In the treatment of those under our care, we can hardly ven¬ ture to say that any very decided improvement has been made over former years, as our facilities have not increased with the progress of experience. We have far from reached perfection in the treatment of the insane. There are more truths yet to be revealed to us, and we trust that nothing that thought or expenditure can give will be neglected to make this hospital what it should be. Freedom from personal restraint, instituted by the humane and courageous Pinel, marked an epoch in the annals of insan¬ ity. Another great step in advance will be to give useful and cheerful occupation to the insane, to relieve the tedious monot¬ ony of a hospital life,—to make a cheerful and happy home for such as are visited with this malady, from which no gift of mind or person can exempt us. Judge, counsellor, legislator and private citizen are all alike subject to it. It is the duty of every member of the community to use his power and influence to lessen the sufferings of those afflicted with insanity. The restraints formerly used here, partly from ignorance, but more from motives of economy,—the cell, the camisole, chains and other instruments of days gone by,—have been exchanged for the gentle but firm presence of faithful and conscientious attendants, at all hours, to protect the patient from injury to himself or to others. If such attendance could be had in pri¬ vate families, and the love and affection of friends not exhausted, there are many patients in our hospitals who might remain at home. Yet the surroundings of a hospital, which seem so painful to visitors, are a source of benefit to some patients, from the sympathy and interest they excite. It must not be supposed that the hardness of each individual case is in proportion to the complaints made by patients of the injustice of confining them to a hospital. This man who repre¬ sents his case to the visitor most eloquently as being separated from his family, for whose support he is able to work, in another hour is dangerous to approach. This one who claims the need