Annual report for the year 1914 : (17th year of issue) / Metropolitan Asylums Board.
- Metropolitan Asylums Board (London, England)
- Date:
- 1915
Licence: In copyright
Credit: Annual report for the year 1914 : (17th year of issue) / Metropolitan Asylums Board. Source: Wellcome Collection.
48/368 page 14
![B, —FOUNTAIN TEMPORARY ASYLUM. Report by Dr. F. Needham and Mr. B. T. Hodgson. 8 June, 1914. On the 5th instant we visited and fully inspected all parts of the Fountain Hospital, which is used by the Metropolitan Asylums Board as a residence for what are known as unimprovable imbeciles, but is shortly to be disused for its present purpose, the Board having purchased as a substitute the Strand Union Workhouse at Edmonton. Since the last visit Dr. Sherlock has entered upon his duties as medical superintendent of Darenth, and he has been succeeded by Dr. Gordon, who has been in office since December, and was previously at Tooting Bee and Caterham. The changes among the patients since the visit of our colleagues last December have been as follows Males. Females. Total. Admitted • • 40 43 83 Discharged or removed 13 1 14 Died • • 15 10 25 Leaving in residence and seen by us • • 341 265 606 whose presence left vacancies for 60 patients—22 males and 38 females. There was no record of the use of either mechanical restraint or seclusion. All the deaths were due to natural or ordinary causes, which were ascertained in 13, or 52 per cent., by post mortem examination. No inquest was held. It is creditable to the staff, who are responsible for the nursing of the sick and for the care of the patients, who are generally feeble and helpless, that no bedsore was present in the case of anyone who died, or in that of any of the patients whom we saw in the wards, of whom 52, or 8*5 per cent., were confined to bed One ward, containing 39 patients, was devoted to cases of whooping cough, of which there have been 61 in all, and in two other wards were aggregated the 62 patients who were, or had been, suffering from ophthalmia. Provision is also made for the 40 male and 43 female adult imbeciles, who assist materially in the laundry and ward work of the establishment. We were very favourably impressed by the cheerful and happy appearance of the children, and by their evident affection for those in charge of them. They were all very neatly dressed, and in no instance had we to complain of any want of neatness or cleanliness in even those of them whom it must be exceedingly difficult to keep clean and tidy. Large numbers of those whom we saw were helpless and crippled, few were able to speak intelligibly, and in one ward 36 out of the 39 were unable to feed themselves. A ward is devoted exclusively to children under 5 years of age. The fact that all these children are able to be made happy and comfortable and kept in good condition affords conclusive evidence that, although unable to be brought up to a high standard, no class of cases can be considered altogether unimprovable. We saw a good dinner, consisting of fish, in some cases minced and mixed with pulped bread, followed by sago pudding, served neatly in the dining hall and elsewhere. Since the last visit additional musical boxes and gramophones, in accordance with suggestions then made, have been supplied, and we would now desire to suggest the provision of another mechanical horse for the boys—that already in use being in great demand—and of a larger supply of toys and some brightly illustrated rag books. About 29 per cent, of the patients attend Chapel on Sundays, and 16 per cent, the weekly, entertainment. Thirteen per cent, are able to join the weekly outside walks, and 7 per cent, those within the boundaries of the estate. The staff of attendants and nurses averages one to every 7 patients for day, and one to every 27 for night duty. An addition to that of the latter might perhaps diminish the 24 per cent, of the children whose beds are wetted at night. There have been but few changes among the staff, and only one of its members has been discharged for misconduct. The state of the asylum was, as regards cleanliness, cheerfulness and general comfort, very s xtisfactory, and we found all the beds and bedding well cared for in all respects. Dr. Gordon, who has the assistance of one medical colleague, is evidently discharging his new daties with energy, kindness and efficiency. (Signed) F. NEEDHAM, ) Commissioners of the B. T. HODGSON, ] Board of Control](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b30300411_0048.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
