Annual report for the year 1907 : (10th year of issue) / Metropolitan Asylums Board.

  • Metropolitan Asylums Board (London, England)
Date:
1908
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Annual report for the year 1907 : (10th year of issue) / Metropolitan Asylums Board. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    37/474 (page 7)
    In our report for the year 1905 reference was made to the pro¬ posed adaptation of the second, and larger, group of buildings at Belmont Asylum, known as the “ boys’ school ” section, for the accommodation of patients, and in May, 1906, the plans were approved by the Managers and forwarded to the Local Government Board. After a considerable lapse of time', the Board suggested that a conference should be held between their officers and the Managers, with a view to a revision of the proposals. This: conference was held on the 6th February, 1907, with the result that the scheme for adapting the “ boys’ school ” section was subsequently withdrawn. The question of the use to which these buildings should be put, therefore, remains in abeyance, but steps have been taken to make them water-tight and to prevent them from falling into decay. Belmont A sylum— Adaptation of “ boys’ school ” building's. Tooting Bee Asylum— Suicide of a male patient. An unusual and regrettable occurrence took place at Tooting1 Bee Asylum on the 27th October, when a male patient cut his throat with a, razor which had been left by an attendant in a place to which the patient had access, in direct violation of the rules of the Board. With the view of preventing a repetition of such an occurrence, we made certain additional regulations, and directed the Medical Superintendents to take steps to ensure their strict observance. Ophthalmia The existence of an abnormal number of cases* of ophthalmia at and elm°nt Belmont Asylum in the summer caused some anxiety, but* the clra.ft- Leavesden ing of several of the unaffected patients to- Tooting Bee Asylum Asylums. temporarily gave facilities for a. better classification of the patients, with results that- proved satisfactory. Towards the end of the year somewhat similar trouble arose at Leavesden Asylum, being partially met by segregating the affected patients. Other steps for dealing with the matter were under consideration at the end of the year. Other matters. Of the many other matters with which we have dealt- during 1907 we would specially mention the following: — (a) The removal of the existing heating apparatus from the wards and stair¬ cases at Lenves-deo Asylum, and the carrying out of requisite alterations in the corridor heating apparatus. (Estimated cost, £160.) This work became possible in consequence of the satisfactory results- obtained by the substitution of modern slow combustion grates for the -old-fashioned grates-, to which reference was made in our last report. (b) The provision of a high-pressure water main for fire-extinguishing pur¬ poses to the inhabited portion o-f Belmont Asylum, at an estimated cost of ,£850. (c) The execution of certain works for improving the sewage disposal arrangements at Leavesden Asylum. (Estimated cost, £310.) (.d) The amendment- of the dietary scale- for adult- patients at- Tooting Bee Asylum, calculated to effect- a considerable annual saving without detriment to the health and comfort of the patients. (e) The discontinuance of the allowance of beer (or other equivalent bever¬ ages included in the rations scale), or money in lieu thereof, to subordinate officers and servants in t-he asylums service. [See report of General Purposes Committee.]