Twenty-ninth annual report of the Somerset County Pauper Lunatic Asylum : from the first of January to the end of the year 1876.

  • Somerset County Pauper Lunatic Asylum
Date:
1877
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Twenty-ninth annual report of the Somerset County Pauper Lunatic Asylum : from the first of January to the end of the year 1876. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    The numbers in the Asylum this day (31st December, 1876) are 294 males ; 346 females ; total, 640. During the past year the general bodily health of the patients has been remarkably good, and there has been a com- plete immunity from any of those diseases generated by such nuisances as unventilated drains, &c., to which special reference has been made in previous reports. The most important event of the year has been the union of the Borough of Bath with the County. Accordingly, in the month of May, 28 female patients chargeable to Bath Borough, but boarded under contract at Fisherton House, near Salisbury, were re-admitted to the Asylum. ADMISSION'S, DISCHARGES, DEATHS. The following analysis gives the chief points of interest in these returns : Admissions. The number of admissions during the year has amounted to 228 (98 males and 130 females). Unfortunately they still have continued to exhibit complications with such grave forms of physical disease, as to seriously retard hopes of recovery in a large proportion. Out of this number the extremes of age must first be considered. There were 3 boys admitted from 12 to 15 years of age, and an idiot girl of 12 years. Five cases above 70 years of age in males, and one female actually certified to be insane at 87 years of age. These extremes of age certainly call for special comment, and should engage the particular attention of the Committee. There have also been admitted a larger proportion than usual of patients, simply under treatment for the effects of intemperance. Two well marked cases came in from habitually taking chloral, and three from taking opium in small, but frequently repeated doses. This private indulgence in narcotics
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