General report of the Lunatic Department of the Charity Workhouse of the City of Edinburgh, for the years 1833-34-35.
- Date:
- [1836?]
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: General report of the Lunatic Department of the Charity Workhouse of the City of Edinburgh, for the years 1833-34-35. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.
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![assistance. The patients are furnished with properly selected books, and they are encouraged to amuse themselves at different games. The women are employed in sewing and knitting, and assist in the work of the house. The want of employment for the male patients is much felt. But not the least improvement is the introduction of imblic worship into the Asylum ; this measure, which was adopted at the suggestion of Dr. Brunton and Mr. Johnston in October 1827, has proved a source of great comfort and consolation to the patients selected to attend. And as my further experience goes to strengthen the favourable opinion expressed on this subject in former Reports, I would take the liberty of repeating it, by saying, that through the introduction of public worship a due respect for religion is not only kept up, but a power is brought into action, which seems capable of calming in a wonderful degree the disturbed and troubled feelings of the irascible maniac,—of breaking in upon the fixed despondency of the despairing melancholic, and of interrupting for a period the mazy reveries of the confirmed lunatic; and that there- fore attendance upon public worship is to be viewed as a powerful means in the cure of insanity, and one from which much benefit is to bo expected. That religion should exert such a salutary influence over the minds of the insane maj^ appear paradoxical, since it is generally allowed that religion, if not a very frequent direct exciting cause of in- sanity, is at all events a subject, in connection with which there is greater general hallucination than any other. But it appears that it is with insanity as in other diseases, that Avhat is at one time an exciting cause, is at anotlicr a means of cure; the attendance, therefore, upon this sacred duty has been extended to those labouring under erroneous religious impressions, and with advantage, as it has been found a way of addressing to them sound and comforting views on this subject with- out directly calling in question their own peculiar opinions. I am hap- py to have another opportunity of bearing testimony to the very judi- cious manner in which the Rev. Mr. Maclean performs his delicate and important duties. Yet, notwithstanding the exertions of the visiting Committee of late years to im])rove the accommodation of the Asylum, and to render it more suitable for the treatment of patients, it is still, I regret to say, very imperfect in many respects, and ill adapted for lulfilling the object of such an institution. Accordingly in 1833, when negociations were carrying on between the Trustees of the roads and a Committee of the Managers about widening Teviot Row, which could not be done with- out encroaching upon the Asylum, I embraced the opportunity then afforded me, to state my opinion to the Committee as to the necessity of removing the Asylum a short way into the country. And as I now understand that an arrangement with the road Trustees on the point alluded to is in progress, I would take advantage of the present occa- sion to bring this important subject again under the consideration of the Managers. The want of a Pauper Lunatic Asylum on an exten- sive scale, and on the improved and philanthropic principles of the pre- sent times, has long been felt; in proof of which I may mention, that during last year not less than fort}'^ applications from different parishes for admission were refused from want of room. And it appears to me that the Managers are now placed in such circumstances as to render it their duty to make some effort to obviate this very great defect. In comparing the Asylum under their care with other Asylums, and with the different public institutions in this town, it will be found on](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b21903438_0004.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
