The fortieth annual report of the visitors of the County Lunatic Asylum, Stafford : for the year ending December 31, 1858.

  • Staffordshire County Lunatic Asylum
Date:
[1859]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The fortieth annual report of the visitors of the County Lunatic Asylum, Stafford : for the year ending December 31, 1858. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Exclusion of Curable Cases for want of space. patients have been more numerous than those o females, it is evident that the preponderance o: the disease in this county is on the male side thus of the 459 patients in the house as abov< mentioned, 245 were males, and 214 females. Although the relative majority corresponds t( that of former years in this house, yet it differ,' from that of most of the other Pauper Asylums where cases of insanity are more numerous ir the female sex. The crowded state of this, like most othe] Pauper Lunatic Asylums, and the occupation oi; beds by chronic patients who are incurable anc permanent residents, materially help to diminish the benefits which might be derived from Instil tutions intended not only for the care but foi the cure of patients labouring under insanity and entail great expense upon counties, in the enlargement and increase of such buildings. It is much to be deplored that some arrange' ment cannot be made in Workhouses for the careful maintenance of harmless and incurable! idiots and imbeciles, instead of sending them tc Insane Hospitals, where curable cases might otherwise be received and perhaps restored to health. Where space would allow in Unions or Work-: houses, wards might be devoted to such cases, it adequate attendance, food &c. were obtained; and there cannot be a doubt but that such arrange¬ ment would diminish the expenses now incurred by Parishes in sending patients to Asylums, and would tend to the relief of county rates.