State of the Lincoln Lunatic Asylum (instituted November 4, 1819) : [twenty-third report].

  • Lincoln Lunatic Asylum (Lincoln, England)
Date:
1847
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: State of the Lincoln Lunatic Asylum (instituted November 4, 1819) : [twenty-third report]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    example, the Retreat,* in which, while the actual mortality, com¬ puted on the relative numbers of admissions and deaths, exceeds that of several other Asylums, yet the mean mortality stands amongst the very lowest; the latter result being influenced by the fact that, at the Retreat, the patients are retained much longer than is usual in other similar establishments. It will be evident that, in a mode of computation, which virtually multiplies one and the same individual into a number equal to the number of years that such individual may have resided in the house, a numerical comparison between the number deceased and the survivors, will necessarily exhibit (cceteris paribus) the mean mortality as lowest, where the patients have been retained longest; f and contrast advantageously with recoveries computed on admissions. * The following computations, excepting (a), are from Tables 3, 9, 12—23, of “ Thumam’s Statistics of Insanity; ancl Statistics of the Retreat.” 1845. oflhfSnSft'} at thC Eetreat. 23.1 ;-at the Lincoln Asylum. 18.5. Mean annual mor- cent. ]_at the f Quakers, 4.74; [Retreat not Quakers 522• 'at tlie Lincoln Asylum, 13.67. tality per resident, Recoveries per cent. \ at the f Quakers, 49.24; \ , Lincoln Asvlum 37 87 of the admissions, j Retreat, j not Quakers, 29.48; j ^ ’ Mean annual Re- \ coveries per cent. [- at the Retreat. 9.84;(«) at the Lincoln Asylum, 39.2. years. year. resident, Mean residence, at the Retreat. 4. 7;—at the Lincoln Asylum, 1.35. f “ It also appears probable that a short average duration of residence, will, casteris paribus, have an unfavourable effect on the mortality, by keeping up in the institution a relatively large proportion of cases in the recent stages of the disorder. “We have an example of an institution with a remarkably long average dura¬ tion of residence, in the Retreat; where, for all cases admitted, it amounts to nearly five (4.8) years. So extended a period of treatment in this instance is to be attri¬ buted to several concurring causes. In the first place, this institution possesses a large share of the confidence of the community to which it is particularly devoted ; and from the regulations as to the payments on behalf of the patients, and from the peculiar economy of the Society of Friends, it is believed that pecuniary considera¬ tions never hasten discharge, nor occasion a removal to any other establishment. Great caution is likewise exercised in removing patients before the apparent convalescence has been tested by a sufficient continuance; and recovered patients often remain until some suitable home can be provided for them. There is like¬ wise no limitation as to the length of time incurable cases remain in the house; and the result is that few are discharged during the continuance of the disorder, and that those who do not recover generally remain in the institution during the remainder of their lives. The somewhat large proportion of Recoveries and the very low rate of Mortality of the Retreat, are, in all probability, in part referable to this long average duration.” p. 61.—Thurnani’s Statistics of Insanity. 1845.