Thirty-third annual report of the directors of the Dundee Royal Asylum for Lunatics : submitted, in terms of their charter, to a general meeting of the directors, 20th June, 1853 with the report of the medical officers.

  • Dundee Royal Asylum for Lunatics
Date:
1853
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Thirty-third annual report of the directors of the Dundee Royal Asylum for Lunatics : submitted, in terms of their charter, to a general meeting of the directors, 20th June, 1853 with the report of the medical officers. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    MEDICAL REPORT TO THE DIRECTORS, 20th JUNE 1853. An Annual Statement, such as the present, epitomizes details of affliction, with their antagonistic remedial measures, involving some of the most interesting questions attaching to humanity. Numeri¬ cal results are set forth which cannot fail to arrest serious attention, inasmuch as they point out the common liability to one of the sad¬ dest and dreariest calamities, and illustrate how much can he done either to avert or to remove it. Such a statement can, however, communicate only an imperfect outline of the arrangements and efforts which have been made to palliate the affliction which could not be eradicated; and cannot attempt to indicate the never ending, constantly recurring, difficulties and anxieties which are encountered by those charged with the management. The main principles of the regime of this Institution have been established for many years; and the efforts of every succeeding year have been directed to their more complete and extended appli¬ cation. Since 1842 there has been an entire disuse of all articles for mechanically restraining the limbs of patients ; and every avail¬ able and justifiable method has been adopted for making the con¬ trast between the customs and amenities of ordinary society, and the discipline established, as narrow and as little irksome as pos¬ sible. This regime has been examined by the present illustrious Chairman of the Lunacy Commission of England, the Earl of Shaftesbury, who expressed his approbation of what he character¬ ized as the “ humane system” pursued. This regime recognizes the fact that, when an individual crosses the threshold of an Asylum, he does not necessarily surrender all his freedom of action, nor is he expected to renounce all the tastes
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