The report of the Committee of Visitors and Medical Superintendent of the Devon County Lunatic Asylum.

  • Devon County Lunatic Asylum.
Date:
1865
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The report of the Committee of Visitors and Medical Superintendent of the Devon County Lunatic Asylum. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    REPORT OF THE VISITORS OF THE DEVON COUNTY LUNATIC ASYLUM FOR THE YEAR 1864, PRESENTED AT EPIPHANY SESSIONS, 1865. The minutes of our proceedings during the past year do not record any facts which require especial notice. The state of the Asylum is in all respects satisfactory, and we are gradually making such improvements, as will increase the ventilation, and particularly as regards the asphalte floors will contribute to the health and comfort of the Patients. The mortality has been greater than in any previous year owing to the large number of patients sent into the Asylum in a hopeless state; but, we feel thankful in being able to report, that it has been entirely free from any epidemic disorder, which, in consequence of the deficient supply of water during the long dry season, might have been attended, with serious results. As to the deficiency of water, we reported fully upon that subject to the Court at the last Quarter Sessions, and have determined after much consideration to expend as much as may be required of the sum then granted in the experiment of lengthening the pumps in the well, in the hope that it will prove successful, and so prevent the necessity of a consider¬ able outlay in procuring a supply of water from a distance. We take this opportunity of expressing our best thanks to the Earl of Devon and Sir L. Palk, Bart., as the owners of land in the neighbourhood, for the kindness and liberality with which they have met us with the view of procuring the water supply, should the plan of new pumps prove ineffectual. We have been enabled to reduce the weekly rate of main- i tenance from 9s. to 8s. 9d. per week. =F2,000 of the Building debt has been paid off, which is mow reduced to L?14,000. The number of patients in the Asylum on the 31st of ^December was 676, namely, 279 males, and 397 females.