The report of the Committee of Visitors and Medical Superintendent of the Devon County Lunatic Asylum.

  • Devon County Lunatic Asylum.
Date:
[1854?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

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

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    accommodated, and the Committee have no reason to think that it will be increased during the next year. Your Committee are of opinion that, as regards the outdoor employment of the Patients and the supply of the produce to the Asylum, it would be most desirable to increase the quantity of land annexed to it, if a favorable opportu¬ nity should offer of doing so. 3rd—“As to the management of the Asylum, and the conduct of the officers and servants, and the care of the Patients,” your Committee report that the management is, in every respect, satisfactory, and that the conduct of the officers and servants has been uniformly good. A change in the officers has taken place, during the past year, by the appointment of their late excellent Steward, Mr. Haydon, to the office of Steward of Bethlehem Hospital; and his place has been supplied by Mr. John Bale, who appears well qualified to discharge the duties of his situation. In consequence also of the resignation of the late Medical Assistant, Dr. Manley, your Committee have appointed to that office Mr. Wm. Kirkman, the Son of the Medical Superintendent of the Suffolk Asylum; and they have no doubt, from the high testimonials of his character which were laid before them, and also from his previous acquaintance with the treatment of the Insane, that he will prove a very efficient officer. Your Committee take this opportunity of tendering their thanks to Dr. Manley for the manner in which he discharged his duties, particularly as regards his constant attention to the Patients, and the accuracy and diligence with which he entered on the Case-Book the peculiar circumstances of each case of Insanity—a point of the greatest importance with reference to its treatment and ultimate cure. It is, perhaps, needless again to report that all the Patients have had the greatest care and attention bestowed upon them by the Superintendent, Dr. Bucknill. He has, during the past and prece¬ ding years, exerted himself on all occasions to promote their comfort, to alleviate their unhappy maladies, and to raise them up, by his care and medical skill, from the bed of sickness. Your Committee are thankful to report that, although many Patients have been admitted