Fourth annual report, 1868 / Newcastle-upon-Tyne Borough Lunatic Asylum.

  • Newcastle-upon-Tyne Borough Lunatic Asylum
Date:
1869
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Fourth annual report, 1868 / Newcastle-upon-Tyne Borough Lunatic Asylum. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    tended, or have been permitted to visit their friends for the day. Attending divine service in the chapel, there are usually between 30 and 40 men and about 26 women, and about 24 of both sexes go to church. These liberal arrangements are evidently much appreciated by the patients, many of whom spoke very favourably of their treatment. From 30 to 40 patients of each sex are use¬ fully employed. The suggestions made by our colleagues at their last visit, relative to an improvement in the dietary, has been attended to, and a solid meat dinner has been substituted for the soup formerly given. We have made the usual statutory enquiries. There has been no instances of mechanical restraint; but 5 men and 8 women have been secluded occasionally, but for the most part during short periods only. After seeing the patients at the farm, where they seem to be very comfortable and contented, and where the men perform a great deal of useful labour, we went over the new building, which has made great progress, and is roofed in and partially floored. The window sashes are fixed; they are made to open top and bottom, and will be checked at about 5J inches. We have sug¬ gested this check need not be fixed to the ground floor windows opening into the airing courts. The general appearance of the building is handsome and cheerful, and the interior will be well lighted and convenient. As far as we could judge, the work seems to be substantial and good. In the female division, eight baths have been fixed in the general bath room. We think that they are inconveniently crowded together, having no space for dressing, and we recommend the removal of the two baths from the middle of the room. The spaces marked out and partially enclosed for airing courts are, we think, much too limited in extent, more especially those to the front of the building, and intended for the use of the main body of the inmates. Even now, could an extension be made without much expense, we would strongly urge that it should be done.
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