Report of the medical officers of the Lunatic Asylum for the County of Lancaster : instituted 28th July 1816 1841.

  • Lancaster County Lunatic Asylum.
Date:
1841
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report of the medical officers of the Lunatic Asylum for the County of Lancaster : instituted 28th July 1816 1841. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Until the 9tli of January in the present year, the bread was supplied by contract. The objection to this system being very great, a part of the outbuildings was converted into a bakehouse, and an efficient workman en¬ gaged as baker. Since the adoption of this plan, the bread supplied to the patients has been uniformly more wholesome ; and, as was anticipated, has answered every end for which it was recommended. Occupations and Amusements.—In cases where it appears desirable to call into activity the faculties of the mind, occupations and amusements have been found valuable means in fixing the attention and in restoring a » . . ..... & healthy state of action. When a patient in this condition cannot be induced to undertake some useful employment, it is often possible to divert and keep alive the attention by amusements. The means employed for this pur¬ pose are various sports and games; and those which call into play both attention of mind and activity of body appear most useful—such as the games of tennis-la-grace, battledore, &c.: chess, backgammon, bagatelle, cards, &c., are provided, and to many are sources of much pleasure and amuse¬ ment. The exhibition of a magic-lanthorn in the winter months was very suc¬ cessful in affording much general enjoyment. Although these means of keeping up attention are more necessary and more useful in particular cases yet in all there is reason to believe they have a beneficial influence. Music and dancing, so far from causing over-excitement or restlessness, seem to be followed by increased quiet and more natural repose. Most festival days are made occasions for a general assemblage of the inmates in their respec¬ tive departments ; who dance with much spirit to the music of one of the 'patients, who, dressed in gala costume, plays the violin with great perse¬ verance, and is evidently a chief participator in the enjoyments. These things, though in themselves trifles, yet are at all times important agents in the treatment of insanity, and they become of still more importance and value in an institution where the patients are undergoing a change from a system of coercion to one of comparative freedom. Much of the excitement liable to arise in patients who have been subjected to restraint, there is reason to conclude has been averted bv these means. Library.—A liberal supply of books has been provided for the use of the patients ;—the Library consists of 296 volumes. They are read with ap^ c