Annual report of the managers of the State Lunatic Asylum : made to the Legislature, January 31, 1845 / New York State Lunatic Asylum at Utica.
- New York (State). State Lunatic Asylum
- Date:
- 1845
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Annual report of the managers of the State Lunatic Asylum : made to the Legislature, January 31, 1845 / New York State Lunatic Asylum at Utica. Source: Wellcome Collection.
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![which are most frequently visited by the officers of the house, and most carefully examined by the managers. CORRESPONDENCE AND DISCHARGE OF PATIENTS. As we have mentioned, we make inquiry of those who accompany a patient to the Asylum, of the name and place of residence of the person with whom they wish us to correspond. But we do not write at stated periods, nor unless there is a material change in the condition of the patient, but we write immediately if he is sick, or if any thing occurs to give us anxiety about him, and which we think it essential for the friends to know. We, also, immediately answer all letters of inquiry respecting patients. When the patient recovers, and is in a condition to be discharged from the Asylum, we write immediately to his guardians, or to those who assigned him to our care. Occasionally we permit patients who have recovered to return home alone, but from experience we have found that this is sometimes wrong. Many patients, especially those who have been much deranged, and who but partially remember how they conducted when first attacked, have some fears respecting the feelings of their friends towards them, and are often suspicious ihey will not be kindly welcomed at home. This, together with anxiety about baggage, fear of accidents, &c., makes them nervous and sleep- less, and sometimes causes a relapse. We, therefore, prefer that some acquaintance should come for a patient, who can assure him of the attachment of his friends, and relieve him of all anxiety on the journey, and thus enable him to return home without any unnecessary apprehension. STOCK, FARM, GARDEN AND SHOPS. We have fifteen cows, which afford us an abundant supply of milk, Five horses, two of which are kept for the use of the patients. We have at present twenty-eight hogs, and have just killed nine^ which weighed 3,167 pounds. Our farm proves to be a productive one, and is cultivated by the patients, and their attendants, with the assistance of one man whom we employ as a farmer, and another as a gardener, but who have also much other labor to perform, such as the care of the stock, milking, [Assembly, No. 29.] 7](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b30304702_0049.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
