The seventh annual report of the North Wales Lunatic Asylum, Denbigh : for the year m.dccc.lv.

  • North Wales Counties Lunatic Asylum
Date:
1856
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The seventh annual report of the North Wales Lunatic Asylum, Denbigh : for the year m.dccc.lv. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    The females are principally employed in the kitchen and laundry, and in needle work. Prayers are read twice a week, and on Sunday. The wards were throughout clean and well ventilated, and the bedding of : good quality. We recommend, however, that an under blanket should be placed on each bed. The tile flooring on the lower wards is worn in some places, and we recom¬ mend that wooden floors should be gradually substituted. The work room for females was somewhat over-crowded, and we think it would be well to establish a system of occupation in each of the day rooms. We also recommend that one of the division walls between the airing courts on each side should be removed : the materials thus obtained might be usefully employed in building stables, which we understand are much wanted. Since the last visit of the Commissioners, in September, 1854, the new laun¬ dry has been completed, and workshops have been erected; the supply of water has also been increased, and is now found to be ample. We are much pleased to learn that fourteen acres of land have recently been rented for the use of the institution, and we are of opinion that this addition to the means of occupation will tend materially to the benefit of the patients, and be of service to the establishment. Seventy six patients have been admitted since our last visit: 72 have been 3 discharged, and 28 have died from various causes. We have signed and examined the various books, which appear to be kept (.with care and regularity. On the whole, the condition of this establishment is good and creditable to ,0 those engaged in its management. “ Signed, “ W. G. CAMPBELL, ) Commissioners “S. GASKILL, ] in Lunacy.” The Committee will observe, that the Commissioners recommend the removal of the wall between two of the airing courts on both sides of the house, and that the materials should be used in the erection of the long- required cow-houses and stables. We cordially concur in this suggestion, and we would willingly dispense with all the walls which confine the Ipatients within such narrow limits ; but the unprotected state of our grounds •for the want of a boundary wall militates against such a proposal, as I affording too great facilities for escapes. Another recommendation by the Commissioners is, the removal of the fide flooring now fast falling into decay, and the substitution of wood )flooring. We have very long been dissatisfied with the tile flooring; the ^coldness and dampness of which we are convinced are very injurious to the (health and comfort of the patients. As the expense will fall gradually upon [the Counties, we trust no opposition will be made to this most essential measure.
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