General report of the Lunatic Department of the Charity Workhouse of the City of Edinburgh, for the years 1833-34-35.

Date:
[1836?]
Catalogue details

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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    GENERAL REPORT Of THE LUNATIC DEPARTMENT OF THE Cbaritp ffillorltfiouse of tfje Citj? of (JEDinburgl), ■ FOR THE YEARS 1833-34-35. The present Report embraces a period of three years, during which time the system of management detailed in former Reports has been followed, and with very satisfactory results. A short account of that system, and of the improvements which have been effected from time to time in the Asylum, may not be out of place on the present occa- sion. The leading feature in the management is humanity, and a ready attention to whatever is likely to promote the recovery or alleviate the distress of the patients. A system of mild yet firm discipline is main- tained, which, with the great regularity observed in the various domes- tic arrangements, exerts a soothing and salutary influence over the minds of the patients; in confirmation of which I may mention, that it is not uncommon to have out of 68 patients (the average in the estab- lishment) not one under restraint. And in proof of the humane and kind treatment exercised towards the patients, instances are occurring from time to time of their returning to the Asylum to express their gratitude for the attention they had experienced. Amongst the chief improvements effected by the philanthropic exertions of the visiting Committee, I would mention the heating 6f the apartments by means of stoves, their proper ventilation, and the care taken to insure cleanli- ness ; the erection of different kinds of baths, and the extension of the airing ground ; the diet has been made more generous, and power given to the Surgeon to vary it as he may think necessary ; the appointing of a sufficient number of efficient male and female attendants at proper salaries is to be viewed as a greal improvement, compared with what was formerly the custom, viz, to take them from the infirm inmates of the Charity Workhouse. By this change the patients are not only much better attended to, but the necessity of having recourse to re- straint is greatly diminished. During the prevalence of cholera in 1832, a night-keeper was appointed to the male department to visit the differ- ent rooms and give notice when any one was seized. The advantage at- tending this appointment was so great, that it has been considered right to continue it, and the more so, as on different occasions patients have been taken ill during the night without any one being near to afford