Considerations on the moral management of insane persons.

  • John Haslam
Date:
1817
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Considerations on the moral management of insane persons. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    34/88 (page 26)
    maniac is restrained is the strait-waistcoat; this confines his arms and hands, which are crossed over the region of the stomach, and it is secured by being tied behind. This has been generally found a very convenient in¬ strument of restraint, but it has been more convenient to the Keeper than advantageous to the Patient. As far as his hands are con¬ cerned, he is certainly prevented from doing mischief. But the disadvantages which re¬ sult from the employment of this contrivance overbalance its conveniences. It will readily be seen, when a patient is compacted in this ✓ * instrument of restraint, that he is unable to feed himself, and also prevented from wiping the mucus from his nose as it accumulates, and which, if long continued, would render him a driveller. He cannot assist himself in his ne¬ cessary evacuations, and thereby is induced to acquire uncleanly habits. He is incapa¬ ble of scratching to appease any irritation—