A descriptive notice of the Sussex Lunatic Asylum, Haywards Heath (opened 25th July, 1859) / by C. Lockhart Robertson.

  • C. Lockhart Robertson
Date:
[1859?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A descriptive notice of the Sussex Lunatic Asylum, Haywards Heath (opened 25th July, 1859) / by C. Lockhart Robertson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    sides of the room ; ou the third side is the fire-place, fitted with a kitchen oven range (to keep the necessary beef tea, &c. hot,) the fourth side opens into the bath room, scullery, water closet, and attendant's room. The beds, twelve in number, are ranged against the wall as in any other hospital ward, between the windows, thus affording light on melt side of the, bed. The table is in the centre of the room ; two couches are against the fire. Three of the beds are iron, with German spring raattrass, (as used at Guy's Hospital) and which, I think, with the aid of a water pillow, is a cleaner and better contrivance for bed-ridden patients than the water beds. The walls are hung with illuminated texts for the Christian Seasons, a series of which, on glazed canvas, can be had at the National Society's depot for 12s. I am very much pleased with the success which has at- tended this alteration of the Infirmary. Intended Decorations. Tlie internal fittings are of the most simple and inexpensive. The wood-work is all deal, stained and varnished. When this process is carefully done it looks very well. I was particularly struck with the finished manner in which the deal is stained and varnished at the Idiot Asylum at Red Hill. I suspect, however, that it will not stand much wear, and that for the use of an asy- lum, oil paint will, in the long run, prove a more efficient means of protecting the wood. It certainly looks more com- fortable, and has a cleaner appearance than the staining. The walls throughout are brick, lime-washed of a yellow tint. I think these brick walls better than plaster for the wards of an asylum, and notwithstanding the progress in decora- tion recently made in some asylums by even hanging paper on the walls of the wards, I still give the preference to the white-washed brick wall; painting the lower part in oil colour to prevent the patients' clothing being soiled with the lime. A neutral tint mixed with the lime relieves the deadness of the white, and is, with a southern aspect, less trying to the eyes. I am pleased to have the support of Miss Nighingale in my objections against papering the walls of an asylum. In her Notes on Nursing (a pamphlet which should be studied by every man and woman who in any way is con- cerned with the care of the sick), she says, As for walls, the worst is papered lualls; the next worst is plaster. But the j>laster can he redeemed by f requent lime xoashing; the pap)er requires frequent reneiving. A glazed paper gets rid of a good deal of the danger. But the ordinai-y bed- room paper is all that it ought not to be. I am sure