The statistics of the Retreat, consisting of a report and tables exhibiting the experience of that institution for the insane from Its establishment In 1796 to 1840.

  • Thurnam, John, 1810-1873.
Date:
1841
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The statistics of the Retreat, consisting of a report and tables exhibiting the experience of that institution for the insane from Its establishment In 1796 to 1840. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    alterations in the buildings, the average number for the four years, 1836-40, has been temporarily reduced to 89, At the date of this report there were 91 patients remain- ing in the house. In comparing the average proportions of recoveries and deaths per cent. of the admissions during the several decennial periods (Table 4), it is to be recollected, that excepting the first decennium 1796-1806, and the entire period 1796-1840, the numbers given do not precisely express the actual proportions of recoveries and deaths, but are above the true proportions. This arises from the cases remaining under treatment at the beginning of each of the periods alluded to, not being taken into the account. On the other hand, had the latter plan been adopted, the same cases would have been counted again and again, and the proportions of recoveries and deaths would have appeared much below the actual ones. This is a consider- ation which should not be forgotten, in estimating the results obtained during a series of years only, and not dur- ing the whole period of existence of any institution. No such fallacy, however, attaches to the proportions of recoveries and the mean mortality, given for the different decennial periods, as calculated per cent. the average num- bers resident. As regards the results obtained in the several periods of the institutions existence, it will be seen that the propor- tion of recoveries was greater and the mean mortality considerably less in the second decennium, 1806-1816, than in any of the others. This is a difference in the results which, to a great extent, at least as regards the recoveries, is explained by the fact, as shewn in the subjoined table, of a larger proportion of recent, and a less of very old cases, having been admitted during that period*