Thirtieth annual report of the Trustees of the Northampton Lunatic Hospital, for the year ending September 30, 1885.

  • Northampton Lunatic Hospital
Date:
1886
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Thirtieth annual report of the Trustees of the Northampton Lunatic Hospital, for the year ending September 30, 1885. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    same at the time of their admission, was, recovered, in 29 ; much improved, in 9 ; improved, in 29 ; and unimproved, in 26; while 3 are reported as not insane. The proportion of recoveries is not absolutely or relatively large ; but they who have attentively read the annual reports of this institution for the last ten years, will have learned not only not to expect great numerical results in respect to cures, but the reasons for not expecting them. The Superintendent has several times heretofore discussed the subject of curability. He returns to it again, in his report for the past year, to which we refer all persons who are interested either in that subject or any other of the many points connected with in¬ sanity and its treatment in public institutions. It will be remembered that the warm season of 1884 was a very active and busy period at the hospital, in the construc¬ tion of buildings which appeared necessary for the convenient and economical working of the institution and to meet the enlarged operations of its agricultural department. No new structures of the kind have been made this year ; but consid¬ erable work has been done in finishing those of last year, and grading and otherwise improving the grounds around them. The large new cellar of the barn which was raised and extended last year, has proved to be a very convenient and valuable adjunct to the accommodations for the live stock of the farm. It has been improved, in the course of the sum¬ mer, by a thick floor of concrete. The open court within the wings and the main edifice of the storehouse, and other spaces around that building, together with the pathway between it and the rear door of the hospital, have also been laid with similar concrete. The cellar beneath the storehouse, which, as will be rec¬ ollected, was intended for the storage of the vegetables to be consumed in the house, has proved successful beyond our expectations. As its upper space of three feet is above the surface of the outside grounds and is furnished with windows, there was some doubt that it would be sufficiently warm, in the coldest season, without artificial heat. Hence provi¬ sion was made for the easy introduction of steam, should that become necessary. The winter was long and unusually cold, and consequently was a thorough test of the cellar’s capabili-
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