The annual report of Dr. Parsey, M.D., medical superintendent of the County of Warwick Pauper Lunatic Asylum, at Hatton, near Warwick, to the Committee of visitors : January 8th, 1864.

  • County of Warwick Pauper Lunatic Asylum.
Date:
[1864?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The annual report of Dr. Parsey, M.D., medical superintendent of the County of Warwick Pauper Lunatic Asylum, at Hatton, near Warwick, to the Committee of visitors : January 8th, 1864. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    of many wlio cursorily go tlirough. tlie wards of an Asylum, and see tlie order and quietude which generally prevail, that the life of those daily mixed up with the insane must be comparatively easy, though mono¬ tonous, objectionable only from the continual intercourse with minds devoid of proper intelligence. Were I to elaborate the daily vicissitudes of an Asylum life consequent on the varied perversions of intellect and feelings that have to be provided against, it would, I believe, on the contrary, be readily admitted that the duties they entail are never-end¬ ing, and for their faithful execution demand such thoughtful care and ready aptitude to meet emergencies, as involve a large amount both of labour and responsibility. There is one other of the males (T. Id.) admitted in the course of the year whom I may refer to here, not from any special interest attach¬ ing to him after admission, but from the peculiarly painful circumstance that led to the development of his insanity. He was a respectable inoffensive man, by trade a carpenter, seventy years old, and whilst returning home from his work in the neighbourhood of Birmingham, one evening last June, was attacked, as far as could be ascertained, by three ruffians, who robbed him, beat in his skull over the left eye, broke his left jaw in two places, and inflicted on him other severe injuries, leaving him insensible and nearly dead. He recovered so far as to live about five months after the injury, but his intellect had passed into a state of restless fatuity, and he was obliged to be removed here a few weeks after the perpetration of the brutal outrage that ha,d so nearly deprived him of life. One of the main features in the history of the past year consists in some extremely useful and valuable additions to what I may term the domestic aids to the restoration and comfort of our inmates. Among those of a minor description, two additional bagatelle tables and a small billiard table (which latter and one of the bagatelle tables I obtained for a few shillings each) have throughout the year contributed greatly to their amusement, as has also lately a magic lantern, which I have been able to purchase this autumn with part of the money allowed me by the Committee to expend at my discretion for such purposes. But, perhaps, the most attractive source of enjoyment of this kind, next to the usual fortnightly dances, has been some theatrical performances, got up among the attendants and servants for the benefit of the patients; and we-have, both this year and last, been specially indebted to Mr. Sanders, for the time and trouble he has devoted to the self-imposed duties of general manager and conductor of these performances.