The annual report of the Dorset County Lunatic Asylum, Forston, for the year 1855.

  • Dorset County Lunatic Asylum (Forston, England)
Date:
1856
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The annual report of the Dorset County Lunatic Asylum, Forston, for the year 1855. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    11/38 page 11
    the year, which is not quite 8 per cent, of the average daily numbers. From a comparison of the rate of mortality in twenty-two asylums, the mean average number of deaths (computed for five years ending December, 1853,) is 11*27, therefore the above ratio of 8 per cent, must be consi¬ dered satisfactory. It may be mentioned here, that the average of deaths in this Asylum for the period of five years above alluded to, was 8*1 per cent., being the lowest but three of those asylums above named (vide Asylum Journal, January 1, 1855,—■“ On Statistics,” by W. Parsey, M.D.), and may not these facts be adduced as a very cheering stimulus to those who have invariably cared so much for this Asylum, and somewhat as an answer to many who are constantly affirming the situation &c., to be unhealthy. The rate of mortality for 1854 was rather higher than usual, and gave rise to a remark by the Commissioners in Lunacy at their visit in March last (vide Eeport, p. 17), but a brief glance at the ages of those who died will prove that it was more the natural decay of nature than disease. The deaths were 15,—not quite 11 per cent.,—three of whom averaged 65 years, four 74 years, and three 83 years, thus showing that long life is not at all incompatible with a resi¬ dence in an asylum. I think it only just to my predecessor that these facts should be stated. Of those who died during the past year (1855), two were found dead in bed from apoplexy; they both retired to rest in their usual health, and were not heard during the night. No inquests were held, the Coroner deeming it unnecessary. Two inquests were held during the year; the first on a female, who died from fracture of the base of the skull, the effects of a fall; the second, on a male, who died from a self-inflicted wound in his throat. In this latter case there had never been any previous tendency to suicide exhibited.
    digitised image 1
    digitised image 2
    digitised image 3