Eleventh annual report on the County Pauper Lunatic Asylum / Buckinghamshire County Pauper Lunatic Asylum.

  • St. John's Hospital (Stone, Buckinghamshire, England)
Date:
[1864]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Eleventh annual report on the County Pauper Lunatic Asylum / Buckinghamshire County Pauper Lunatic Asylum. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    14/36 (page 14)
    Early in the year some alteration in the Laundry became absolutely necessary, owing to the large increase in the number of pieces to be washed, amounting to about 3,700 articles weekly, besides the linen for the Officers and Servants. Either the building must have been enlarged to nearly double its present area, or the bulk of the washing con¬ centrated in a small space, through the introduction of steam machinery. The latter plan was strongly recommended, and after mature deliberation the Committee of Visitors decided on accepting the tender of Messrs. Manlove, Alliott, and Co., of Nottingham, to supply a boiler, engine, washing machine, and hydro-extractor, with the necessary gear, for the sum of £297. The building for the boiler, the alterations for the engine-room, and the large blocks of stone required for the bed¬ plates brought up the sum total to nearly £400. The machinery was fixed by our own engineer, and came into operation early in July. Steam for the use of the laundry was generated in a boiler 236 feet from the Wash-house, and much condensation necessarily took place. By the present arrangement a much larger quantity of steam is supplied without any increase in the quantity of coal used, while the weekly saving in soap amounts to one-third. The relief to the Patients, has been very great. Occupation in the Wash-house is generally much disliked by them. The medical superin¬ tendent of the Lincolnshire Lunatic Asylum, in his Report for 1859, says—“ Unfortunately, too, it is of all the necessary work required from them the only one of an unwholesome character, and which cannot be protracted beyond a few hours daily, without becoming tiresome, weary- ing, and depressing to those engaged in it. Now, half the number of Patients are sufficient to get through all the work, without in the slightest degree over-taxing them or losing sight of curative treatment.” In this opinion I entirely concur. The ordinary occupations of the Patients have been regularly carried on. Much of the Men’s Clothing, and all the. Boots and Shoes, are now made and repaired in the Asylum. The Evening Amusements in winter have been continued without in¬ termission, but the want of a Recreation Hall is much felt, owing to the crowded state of the gallery in which the fortnightly dance is held.