Code of rules and regulations for the government of those employed in the care of the patients of the Pennsylvania Hospital for the Insane : at Philadelphia / by Thomas S. Kirkbride.

  • Pennsylvania Hospital for the Insane.
Date:
1878
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Code of rules and regulations for the government of those employed in the care of the patients of the Pennsylvania Hospital for the Insane : at Philadelphia / by Thomas S. Kirkbride. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University.

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    testimony of an insane person, of course, is not always to be depended on, and while a few even after recovery seem to labor under some delusion as to what happened during their sickness, still it is un- deniable that, in most cases, patients who have re- covered are quite competent to give a correct ac- count of what occurred during their sickness, of the treatment they received from those about them, and much other information highly important to those managing hospitals. Although there are exceptions, it is rare, where uniform kindness has been mani- fested and a genuine sympathy and interest felt in a patient, that an attendant is accused of cruelty or neglect. It is hoped that in all eases this testimony will be such as to increase the standing and respect due to those having the immediate care of the pa- tients in this institution. The great and never-ending objectof all engaged in taking care of the insane should be to give them something to think of besides themselves and their delusions. The thoroughness, the pleasantness, and the persistence with which this is done makes all the difference between efficiency' and inefficiency. It is important that we should have no favorites. While it is not possible to avoid feeling differently in regard to individuals, still it is not proper that our feelings should be allowed to make us different in our manner towards the sick, or our treatment of them. Those who, at times, are most unpleasant and unappreciative of our efforts, are often the very persons who are most ill, most in need of our special attentions, and who will thank us for them, most warmly, when they have recovered.