Account of the rise and progress of the asylum, proposed to be established, near Philadelphia : for the relief of persons deprived of the use of their reason : with an abridged account of the Retreat, a similar institution near York, in England.

Date:
1814
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Account of the rise and progress of the asylum, proposed to be established, near Philadelphia : for the relief of persons deprived of the use of their reason : with an abridged account of the Retreat, a similar institution near York, in England. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

    58/84
    The circumstances of this patient did not al- low him a separate attendant, and the engage- ments of the superintendent were too numerous and important, to permit him to devote to this case the time and attention which it seemed to require. He has frequently expressed to me, the strong feelings of regret, which were excit- ed in his mind, by the unsuccessful treatment of this patient; the case certainly points out the great importance of exercise and labour, in the moral treatment of insanity, more especially in cases of melancholy. This patient, after remaining several years in the house, died of an acute inflammation of the bowels. Mis situation for a considerable time previously to his death, was most deplorable, and has often reminded me of the affecting descrip- tion, which our great poet gives of the state of our first father, after his expulsion from the happy seat of primeval innocence : On the ground, Outstretch'd he lay, on the cold ground, and oft Curs'd his creation, death as oft accus'd Of tardy execution. The female patients in the Retreat, are em- ployed, as much as possible, in sewing, knitting, or domestic affairs; and several of the conva- lescents assist the attendants. Of all the modes by which the patients may be induced to restrain themselves, regular employment is perhaps the most generally efficacious ; and those kinds of employment are doubtless to be preferred, both on a moral and physical account, which are ac- companied hy considerable bodily action ; that are most agreeable to the patient, and which are most opposite to the illusions of his disease.