Annual report by the managers for the year 1840.

  • Royal Edinburgh Lunatic Asylum.
Date:
1841
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Annual report by the managers for the year 1840. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    18/20 (page 18)
    Mr Mackenzie rose to corroborate the statements of Dr Huio. As soon as the debt on the New Institution was extinguished, the Managers proposed to admit all pauper patients at the lowest remunerating rates ; and he trusted that this would take place before the congregation alluded to had exhausted their four presentations. He might also men¬ tion that, in justice to the contributors generally, it was resolved that if at any time there should be more applications than the Institution could accommodate, those recommended by subscribers should have the pre¬ ference. Mr Ghejg said, his object in making his observations was. that the matter might be put on a clear footing, so as no misunderstanding should occur afterwards, and that personally he was quite satisfied with the ex¬ planations given. The Institution itself, and the objects aimed at by the Managers, were of such a nature, that no man, with his heart in its right place, would give a sixpence the less though he were to get no return whatever—(Applause.) Mr John Robertson, in Seconding the Motion of Mr Nairne, said, that the new building was fast advancing towards completion,—it was ready to be roofed in, and but for the late severe weather, that would have been done. When completed, according to the design of Mr Burn, it would be one of the first, if not the very first Institution nf the kind in Europe, and every way worthy of the Metropolis of Scotland ; and he felt that the public were exceedingly indebted to the Managers for the great zeal they had shown in carrying forward their important design. After describing, at some length, the comforts which the New Institu¬ tion would possess, and also the great improvements which had been introduced into the present Asylum, he concluded by seconding the motion, which was unanimously agreed to. A report on the medical and moral treatment of the insane now in the Asylum was then read by Dr M'Kinnon, the Resident Physician at the Establishment. Dr Huie expressed his cordial approbation of this modest and exceed¬ ingly interesting report. His acquaintance with Dr M'Kinnon had been short, but he had seen much to admire in his character. There was a circumstance, which, as it was not mentioned in the report, he begged now to state. In a late conversation with Dr M ‘Kinnon, that gentlemen ex¬ pressed a wish that it could be made convenient for the chaplain to visit the patients more frequently, and maintain family worship, which he thought would tend to tranquilize the patients, and keep up, through the week, the salutary impression made by the Sunday services. He (Dr H.) knowing the religious character of Dr M'Kinnon, immediately turned round to him and said—Could you not do it yourself?—it would form a new and valu¬ able bond of affection between you and the patients. He was happy to add that Dr M‘Kinnon had since acted upon his advice, so that family worship now took place every night in the Asylum by the physician of the establishment, and with the best effects—(Applause.) Hebegged also to make a few remarks on two or three points of the report. In the first place, with regard to the number of deaths that had occurred : people were often sent to the Institution, after other remedies, even other asylums, had been tried in vain ; and some were labouring under the second or third attack. Now, such old or renewed attacks were usually accompanied with organic changes of the brain, which sooner or later must prove fatal. He might also remark, that two of the six patients whose deaths were recorded had been sent to the Institution in a moribund state, and other two exceeded seventy years of age. Another point to which he would advert was the employment of the inmates. It had been a matter of great difficult y at first to devise active employment for male patients in the higher classes ; but Dr M‘Kinnon had happily fallen upon the plan of setting them to gardening, which they had taken up with alacrity. With regard to the question of restraint, Dr M‘Kinnon liad expressed himself in the report guardedly and properly. It was not to be expected that restraint could be entirely done away with; and he thought that too much might be attempted in this way ; for there must ever be a wholesome feeling on the minds of patients, that if they misconducted themselves they would be subjected to restraint,—which, however, might be applied in many ways besides that of personal coercion. If they could be employed, amused, and, above all, taught to look up to those who had the charge of them, with respect, the necessity for any stringent measure would be obviated. The Medical Report was then warmly approved of; and, after some conversation between the Chairman, Lord Murray, and others, as to whether the whole details should be made public, it was resolved that it should be printed entire, and circulated along with that of the Managers. Mr John Bowie, W.S., and Mr John Robertson, Prince’s Street, were then elected Ordinary Managers, in room of Mr George Ross, advocate, and Dr Maclagan, who go out by rotation, in terms of the late resolution of the Managers to that effect. Dr Combe was also transferred from the Ordinary Management to the Medical Board, and Dr Borthwick from the Medical Board to the Ordinary Management, in Dr Combe’s place. Mr Greig moved a vote of thanks to the Chairman, after which the Meeting separated. Edinburgh, 29th January 1841.