Royal Albert Asylum for the care, education, and training of idiotic, imbecile, and weak-minded children and young persons, belonging to Lancashire, Yorkshire, Cheshire, Westmorland, Cumberland, Durham and Northumberland : twenty-fourth annual report.

  • Royal Albert Asylum (Lancaster, England)
Date:
1888
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Royal Albert Asylum for the care, education, and training of idiotic, imbecile, and weak-minded children and young persons, belonging to Lancashire, Yorkshire, Cheshire, Westmorland, Cumberland, Durham and Northumberland : twenty-fourth annual report. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    45/80 (page 43)
    MEDICAL SUPERINTENDENT’S GENERAL REPORT. To the Central Committee of the Royal Albert Asylum. My Lords and Gentlemen, For the eighteenth successive year I have the honour to submit, as Medical Superintendent, my General Annual Report, the period over which it extends, so far as the statistical portion is concerned, being for 12 months from the end of August, 1887. During that period, 89 patients (60 males, 29 females) have been admitted; 64 patients (42 males, 22 females) have been discharged; and 24 patients (ii males, 13 females) have died. At the end of August, 1887, there were 552 patients (366 males, 186 females) in the Institution ; while at the end of August, 1888, the number was 553 (373 males, 180 females). The maximum number simultaneously resident was 563, in April last; and altogether 641 persons have been inmates of the Asylum for the whole or part of the period under review, against 627 last year. The average number resident, however, has this year been 543, as compared with 548 during the period of the iast Report. The chief reason for the want of expansion in the numbers during the year was the unfortunate prevalence of epidemic disease in the Institution, which for some time rendered it advisable to suspend admissions ; consequently the cases elected at Chester last December were not admitted until April, the patients who had completed their election period being meanwhile retained. With reference to the character of the cases admitted during the year it may be estimated approximatively that about one-third are of such low grade physically and mentally that no more material improvement can be looked for than amelioration of health and habits. The remaining two-thirds are more promising, being Imbeciles rather than Idiots, and may be expected to derive benefit not merely from the care, but from the training, scholastic and industrial, which they will here receive. I venture again to emphasise the Number of Patients. Admission of Election Patients. Character of Cases Admitted.