Second annual report of the Fife and Kinross District Lunatic Asylum : September 1868.

  • Fife and Kinross District Lunatic Asylum.
Date:
1869
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Second annual report of the Fife and Kinross District Lunatic Asylum : September 1868. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    insanity lias been well marked in the cases under treatment, it being reported of 27 that the disease had shown itself in one or more members of the family of the patients. Of those who are, or have been resident in the Asylum during the past year, in two instances patients bore the relationship of brother and sister, in two of mother and daughter, in two of brothers, and in two of sisters. Amongst the causes assigned by the relatives of patients for the appearance of insanity are the usual ones of misfortune, family affliction, disappointment in business, or love, &c. In 4, a morbid mental depression or exaltation, consequent upon attending revival meetings, was stated to be the exciting cause. Drink in 8 cases was very properly assigned as the origo mali. The number of patients discharged recovered and convalescent bears an average of 3 5-4 per cent, on the admissions. According to published statistics, this is about the average generally met with; but I have strong hopes that the ensuing year will be productive of much more satisfactory results. One great difficulty Asylum physicians have ever to contend against, is the reluctance of the parochial authorities to send patients to the Asylum immediately mental aber¬ ration has manifested itself. This reluctance, it must be admitted, does not obtain to such an extent in the district of Fife and Kinross as in many others, still, numerous instances have occurred where delay in transmitting patients for early treatment has either retarded the cure or rendered it impossible. Inspectors of poor might with advantage be referred to Table VI., as showing the good results derivable from taking cases of insanity in time ; for, by it will be seen that of the 40 cases sent into the Asylum, whose attack had not existed for more than three months, already 19 have been discharged cured, and it may be mentioned that a considerable number of the remainder are progressing favourably. There is a practice in the transference of patients to the Asylum which must be protested against—that of inveigling lunatics from their homes by false pretences. In the first place, it is unnecessary, as servants from the Asylum can always be sent in a case of any difficulty ; in the second place, it is impolitic, as it tends to destroy the confidence of the patient, when so deceived. Many have told me that they would have come willingly to the Institution, and that the deceit to which they had been subjected gave origin to sus¬ picions that all around were conspiring against them.