Sixth annual report of the Committee of Visitors, Medical Superintendent, and Chaplain, with an account of receipts and expenditure, for the year ending 31st December, 1876 / Moulsford Lunatic Asylum.

  • Moulsford Lunatic Asylum.
Date:
[1877?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Sixth annual report of the Committee of Visitors, Medical Superintendent, and Chaplain, with an account of receipts and expenditure, for the year ending 31st December, 1876 / Moulsford Lunatic Asylum. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    either death or recovery, now deserve attention. Out of the entire number admitted, only 32 could be described as in the enjoyment of good health; in the case of 40 health was indifferent, 22 were in feeble health and in reduced bodily condition, 3 were in very feeble health and much reduced, one female affected with puerperal fever was in a very exhausted and emaciated condition, and one male, who was in a dying state when admitted, succumbed on the day after admission. With regard to the result of treatment in those three cases admitted in a very feeble state of health, one female affected with puerperal mania made a speedy and excellent recovery, one died at the end of three weeks from puerperal fever, and one remains under treatment, but in a precarious state of health. In addition to a few admitted affected with ordinary physical ailments, 23, or nearly a fourth of the whole, were the subjects of those common diseases of the nervous system, Paralysis and Epilepsy, which become so frequently fatal complications of insanity. Of these, 7, all belonging to the male sex, were affected with Gene¬ ral Paralysis, 6 with ordinary Paralysis, and 10 with Epilepsy. One female likewise exhibited marked symp¬ toms of that nervous malady rarely seen in asylums, known as Catalepsy. With reference to the age the patients had attained at the time of admission, nearly three-fourths of the whole belonged in almost equal pro¬ portions to the three decades of life, from 20 to 50, when both the bodily and mental powers have reached their highest state of vigour and activity. It is also satisfac¬ tory to note that, in comparison with previous years, the proportion of senile cases admitted has been small, as only 4 patients were received who exceeded 70 years of age. The form, duration, and cause of insanity as noted regarding the admissions may now be briefly considered. B