The report of the Committee of Visitors, and Medical Superintendent of the Devon County Lunatic Asylum for the year 1870.

  • Devon County Lunatic Asylum
Date:
1871
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The report of the Committee of Visitors, and Medical Superintendent of the Devon County Lunatic Asylum for the year 1870. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    ments have been continued regularly during the winter, and consist of readings, dances, and concerts Two theatrical entertainments have been given, in which characters were taken by the assistant medical officer and some of the male attendants. The Patienrs highly appreciate the privilege of attending these social gatherings, as it tends not only to lessen excitement and discontent, but materially aids in promoting the recovery of curable cases, and in checking the tendency of others lapsing into a listless demented state. Your Superintendent regrets to report, that, after investi¬ gations made by himself, in October last, four male charge attendants and three under attendants were summarily dismissed, for wearing Asylum clothing; one of them, Skinner,* has been committed for trial at the Assizes. And that it also became his duty to report, on more than one occasion, the grave misconduct of the Clerk and Steward, Mr. Badcock, which led to his subsequent dismissal. He is grateful for the confidence and support shewn him by the Visitors in carrying out the most painful duties which he has encountered during his connection with the Asylum. He cannot omit to mention that the remaining staff of attendants and servants have conducted themselves most satisfactorily under trying circumstances. Since the appointment of the three new officers, Clerk, Storekeeper, and Farm-Bailiff, they have heartily co-operated with the Superintendent in promoting the comforts of the Patients, as well as economy in every department of the Asylum. The Assistant Medical Officer, Hr. Burman, has rendered him valuable assistance in the performance of his duties during the past year. ( Signed ) G. SYMES SAUNDERS, M.B. (Bond.) Mi mber of the Royal College of Physicians (Pond.) * Skinner, at the recent Lent Assize, was convicted of stealing a number of articles from the Asylum, and sentenced to six months imprisonment with hard labour.
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