Nineteenth annual report of the medical superintendent of the lunatic asylum, for the counties of Salop and Montgomery, and for the boroughs of Wenlock, Shrewsbury, and Oswestry. 1863 / [Salop and Montgomeryshire Counties Lunatic Asylum].

  • Salop and Montgomeryshire Counties Lunatic Asylum.
Date:
1864
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Nineteenth annual report of the medical superintendent of the lunatic asylum, for the counties of Salop and Montgomery, and for the boroughs of Wenlock, Shrewsbury, and Oswestry. 1863 / [Salop and Montgomeryshire Counties Lunatic Asylum]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    during the past year exceeded the average stated in the former entry. The number entered as under Medical treatment, at present are 31, 15 men and 16 women. The return of wet and dirty Patients con¬ tinue to show that the night watch is very effective. Fifty Patients are reported to have been kept clean last night, when the return showed only 7 wet beds among the women and 2 among the men, and none dirty Patients on either side. The number of straw beds is now reduced to 3 in each division. The out-door exercise and amusement, the evening readings, and concerts, are given as usual; and there were very successful theatricals at Christmas. In regular daily employment about 100 women and 70 men are engaged; and we recommend that attempts be made to find easy and simple work for the numbers of the im¬ becile and idiotic not included in this return. The chapel attend¬ ance show an average of about 195 on Sundays; and somewhat about that number at morning prayers on the week days; when the Chaplain regularly visits. We regretted again to observe, in passing through the wards on both sides to day, the same offensive odour, which has formerly been noticed as arising or supposed to arise from escape of gas. Some enquiry should be made into this, with a view to precise ascer¬ tainment of its origin, as it cannot but be injurious to health, and its remedy is desirable. Upon the whole, the impression derived from our visit has been very favourable. The Asylum is in a most creditable state. Everywhere there is evidence of the assiduity and personal kind¬ ness with which the wants of the patients are cared for by Dr. and Mrs. Oliver, and of the ability and zeal with which their efforts are seconded by Mr. Bayley, the Assistant Medical Officer. (Signed) JOHN FOSTEB, JAMES WILKES.