Report of the Committee of Visitors of the Lunatic Asylum for the Borough of Birmingham as presented to the Town Council, being their nineteenth annul [sic] report : together with the reports of the Medical Superintendent and Chaplain also an account of the receipts & payments to the end of the year 1869 / Birmingham Borough Lunatic Asylum.

  • Birmingham Borough Lunatic Asylum
Date:
1870
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report of the Committee of Visitors of the Lunatic Asylum for the Borough of Birmingham as presented to the Town Council, being their nineteenth annul [sic] report : together with the reports of the Medical Superintendent and Chaplain also an account of the receipts & payments to the end of the year 1869 / Birmingham Borough Lunatic Asylum. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    degree under mental disturbance, it requires on the part of the Chaplain constant study of character and close observation of the individual features of each case, in order to adapt, with a fair proba¬ bility of success, the instruction given, so as to be not only of a con¬ solatory nature, but calculated to exercise a directly beneficial and soothing influence, which can hardly fail to be of service in con¬ tributing to the restoration of the mental equilibrium of those who become inmates of the Asylum. In a large number of cases of per¬ sons where there is but very slender hope of ultimate restoration— and of this class there is a large proportion—yet even these exhibit at intervals (often of considerable duration) evidence that they not only are capable of instruction, but that they heartily enjoy the religious services provided for their benefit. The religious services in the Chapel are in the same order and at the same time as those of former years, viz.: On Sunday Divine worship commences at eleven a.m., and consists of the ordinary morning prayers of the Church service, the singing of a hymn, and an appropriate sermon. On Wednesday morning, at half-past eight, the service com¬ mences, and consists of the Litany, the singing of a hymn, and a sermon. On all other mornings of the week I read prayers in the Chapel at half-past eight. On Thursday morning in each week I go the round of the Galleries to visit the sick, and afford them religious instruction and consolation, and generally to afford to the other patients who are capable of receiving instruction such ministerial help as I hope may be of benefit to them. The Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper has been regularly adminis¬ tered every quarter during the past year to such of the officers and inmates as were desirous of participating its benefits. I have the pleasure to report that the Library of the Institution continues to be of great value both to the attendant officers and to the inmates ; indeed, its advantages can hardly be over-estimated as a source of amusement and instruction. The Library is extensive and well selected, having a large number of books in almost every department of literature; but, in addition to this, there is a liberal supply of newspapers and serials, which are eagerly sought and diligently perused, and are most highly appreciated by the afflicted
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