The report of the Committee of Visitors, and Medical Superintendent of the Devon County Lunatic Asylum for the year 1874.

  • Devon County Lunatic Asylum.
Date:
1875
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The report of the Committee of Visitors, and Medical Superintendent of the Devon County Lunatic Asylum for the year 1874. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    the new buildings have entailed a considerable amount of inconvenience and anxiety attendant upon giving up the kitchen and offices at the new house, and the presence of a number of strange workmen on the grounds. The efficiency of the Clerk of the Works, Mr. Mitchell, and his power of maintaining discipline among the workmen, aided by the good example of the Contractors foreman, deserve praise, and have diminished responsibility in this respect. The question of the necessity of an improved method of water supply was referred to in the last annual report, and as the new buildings in progress will be erected in the course of the year, the time appears opportune for again pointing out what seems to be defective in the present system. The subject is still under the consideration of your Committee, but as the facts are less generally known by other Magis¬ trates in the County, a few of the leading points may be again briefly referred to, and to render these remarks more intelligible, a sketch plan of the Asylum buildings and grounds has been inserted, which shows i at a glance the leading features of the place. The water is pumped from the well by steam power into the reservoir at the back of the buildings, whence it i is distributed by gravitation to the old buildings and I the basement floors of the detached blocks. This |j reservoir only holds 40,000 gallons, or less than a day and half’s supply. It will be impracticable to i supply the new Female Wards and the Sanatorium j from the present reservoir, and it is urgently suggested [i that a new reservoir to hold ten days’ supply should '