Directions for the establishment and government of lunatic asylums / tr. from the French by E. Quincy Sewell.

  • Brierre de Boismont, Alexandre-Jacques-François, 1798-1881.
Date:
[1840?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Directions for the establishment and government of lunatic asylums / tr. from the French by E. Quincy Sewell. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University.

    18/72 (page 250)
    whether we should allow both ? Our experience has taught us, that monomaniacs, maniacs, the suicidally disposed, the furious or agitated cannot be admitted with safety into the common sleeping room. The immense majority of these cases de- mand the most complete isolation, either because the specta- cle of their companions in misfortune depresses or irritates them, or because they disturb the quiet of the peaceable.— The same mode of treatment is moreover not applicable to all without distinction ; it requires to be modified in almost every particular case, and the m oral treatment so often called for, cannot without bad consequences following, be extended to the whole of them. When during the progress of the dis- ease, vigorous measures and severe reprimands are too often employed, the moral influence of the physician suffers. In order to command obedience from the patients, firmness of purpose must be accompanied with mildness of manner. Cells are therefore essential for the class of lunatics just • spoken of, but they are not wanted for convalescents, idiots, &,c, nor for lunatics suffering under bodily sickness. Con- valescents about to re-enter society should be allowed to make a trial of their accustomed habits as in health; and their re-union has for its object to accustom them, by de- grees, to the usages and social regulations of the world. When in each other's company they soon feel the necessity of exercising a certain control over their speech and actions. The second class no longer requires to be strictly watch- ed. The superintendence in the dormitories is rendered easy, and a less number of domestics are wanted. Boarders are admitted to St. Yon and several other esta- blishments, and the sums paid by them constitute a valuable income to these houses. The number of those being small who pay high fees, a small and retired house as at St. Yon. might be built expressly for them. A circumstance we re- marked at the convalescent asylum of Sonnenstein merits no- tice here. This institution only contains two classes of per- sons ; but by a wise and liberal conduct on the part of the