Twenty-fourth annual report of the Suffolk Lunatic Asylum : December, 1861.

  • Suffolk Lunatic Asylum
Date:
[1862]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Twenty-fourth annual report of the Suffolk Lunatic Asylum : December, 1861. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    13/38 (page 13)
    The 14-bed dormitory recently added, is now completed, and its arrangement and furniture, the washing apparatus, the clean and cheerful aspect of the whole are excellent. Great improvements in this respect have also been recently made in the other dormitories and single rooms on the female side of the house, and it is much to be desired that the like could be done on the male side, where some of the wards are cold and cheerless, and very many of the bed rooms are with¬ out carpeting of any kind, and have a bare and comfortless look. We observed also in many instances on the male side, that the dress of the patients admitted of improvement, while the condition of the female patients generally in this particular was highly creditable. The bath room improvements on the female side of the House, in progress at the last visit, have now been completed, but the great depth of the bath we think objectionable and have suggested a change in this respect as most expedient. Five males are bathed in the same water; but ten females are bathed before the water is changed. Dr. Kirkman has assured us that in future not more than five on either side shall be placed in the same water, but we have desired that this number shall be further reduced. We are glad to find that whenever the patients are bathed, there are present beside the special attendant of the ward, the head attendant on the male and the assistant matron on the female side. No steps have yet been taken towards the projected New Chapel (which we think much required,) but a spacious, airy, and cheerful room for association of the female patients has been constructed, which will soon be suitably furnished, and it would in our opinion be most desirable, if with as little delay as possible, a corresponding room could be built on the male side. The male patients require to be brought together more frequently, where some common objects of employment, recreation, or amusement might be presented to them.