Report of the medical superintendent with the accounts of the treasurer of the Norfolk Lunatic Asylum, for the year 1875.
- Norfolk Lunatic Asylum (Norfolk, England)
- Date:
- [1876?]
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Report of the medical superintendent with the accounts of the treasurer of the Norfolk Lunatic Asylum, for the year 1875. Source: Wellcome Collection.
7/46 page 7
![pointed out the weakness in our system, the unsound links in our chain of arrangements, and tried them severe]y. The epidemic visited one par¬ ticular ward in the oldest part of the building, where the ventilation and other sanitary matters are very defective. This may he called our weakest link, hut we must remember that, in 1814, when this part of the Asylum was built, sanitary science was in embryo, or at most, in its in¬ fancy, and it is extremely difficult so to modify a building of this sort as to bring it up to the sanitary requirements of the present day. However, notwithstanding this imperfect state, we promptly and energetically im¬ proved our ventilation, cleansed and limewashed the ceilings and walls, and avoided, as far as possible, the washing of the floors, ■which, by making the atmosphere damp, has been found to favour the propagation of erysipelas. I am happy to say that the lasfc seven months of the year were characterised by a remarkable freedom from sickness and disease of every kind, so that we had almost a clean bill of health. As regards the employment given to our patients I have little to re¬ port that is new or noteworthy; the digging up and removal, however, of an enormous quantity of earth for sewage tanks, was a source of active and useful exercise, for a long period, to many of the worst class. Ke- creations and amusements have, as in former years, received a due share of attention, and the introduction of theatricals has supplied the patients with a novel and fruitful source of hilarity and enjoyment. It gives me pleasure to state that the changes in our Staff have been both few and unimportant, and that they have not, in any instance? been the consequence of grave misconduct. I continue, as heretofore, to receive the cordial support of my coadjutor—Mr. Seymour—and of all the other officers of the Asylum, without whose harmonious co-operation, I need hardly say, that my unaided efforts would be unavailing to promote the successful working of our living machinery. WILLIAM C. HILLS, M.D., Medical Superintendent.](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b30310568_0009.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
