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 : thirty-fifth annual report.

  • Royal Albert Asylum (Lancaster, England)
Date:
1899
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 : thirty-fifth annual report. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    accident or mishap occurred among these children during the year, although three of our deaths were directly due to the severity of the fits. The increased facilities for the day and night care of our epileptics, which will be afforded by the extension of the Asylum, will certainly be a great benefit to the patients as well as a great relief to the Staff. During the year frequent entertainments have been pro- Entertainments, vided for our patients, as these are undoubtedly most important not only as a means of recreation, but also as a method of developing and stimulating the sluggish senses. Idiots have almost always a love for music, and in many cases a distinct sense of humour ; they see and enjoy a joke, provided it is a fairly broad one; they are, in fact, when kindly treated and among their equals, happy and good- tempered. Our Amusement Fund is liberally contributed to by visitors and friends, and enables us frequently to furnish materials and properties for entertainments, and to occa¬ sionally engage outside talent, which introduces a spice of variety into our programmes. Christmas is always an especially happy time among Christmas, our children. The large number of parcels and presents sent by parents and relatives give immense pleasure, and the dis¬ tribution of these gifts on Christmas Day in the De Vitre Hall is an event in the lives of the recipients. Our Christmas trees were as usual generously supplied, and all were much gratified by, and grateful for, the kindness of our numerous friends in sending us such quantities of presents for the occasion. The pleasure which the trees afforded the children, as well as the interest shown by the visitors, would, I feel sure, amply repay the kind donors. The Comic Operetta, entitled “ Domestic Economy,” delighted large audiences of patients and visitors on the three occasions on which it was performed. During the winter months an entertainment is given weekly every Monday evening in the Winmarleigh Hall, which is &c. ’ attended by all who are physically able to come. Our list of programmes for these occasions is very varied, consisting of vocal and instrumental concerts, nigger minstrels, conjuring, marionettes, &c., while once a month we have a patients’ dance. The zeal and painstaking efforts of the teachers, nurses, and attendants in this voluntary work is greatly appreciated, and much to be commended. During the summer months out-door games are engaged Outdoor Games, in every afternoon and evening in the fine play-field.