Annual report- 1901 : (in two vols). Vol. 1, Being the report of the Board and the reports of its committees / Metropolitan Asylums Board.

  • Metropolitan Asylums Board (London, England)
Date:
1902
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Annual report- 1901 : (in two vols). Vol. 1, Being the report of the Board and the reports of its committees / Metropolitan Asylums Board. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    116/148 (page 112)
    Various works of improvement have been completed or commenced r^ntsVG during the year, reference to which w'ill be found in the medical superintendents’ reports. Among • the more important may be specially mentioned :— (a) The extension of the laundries at the three asylums; (b) The provision of rustic shelters at Caterham and Leavesden; (o) The relaying of drains and works of sewage disposal at Leavesden; (d) The erection of a new mortuary wTith laboratory attached at Leavesden. Some other much-needed improvements in contemplation, which it is hoped will be at least started during 1902, are :— (a) The provision of isolation accommodation at Leavesden and Darenth; (b) The provision of homes for female attendants at Leavesden and Darenth : (c) The erection of cottages for married attendants at Leavesden; (d) The provision of sanitary annexes to patients’ blocks at Caterham and Leavesden; (e) The provision of additional accommodation for female staff at Caterham. Consolida¬ tion of administra¬ tion of Daren tli Asylum and Schools. Substantial progress has been made towards consolidating the adminis¬ tration of the two large imbecile institutions at Darenth. The customary reports of visits made to the Managers’ asylums by two Com-Cy of the Visiting Commissioners in Lunacy were received, and were all missioners’ 0f a gratifying character. In the case of one report only were any reports. observations of the Managers thereon desired by the Local Govern¬ ment Board. We believe this fact is without precedent in the history of the Managers, and indicates improvement in the control and administration of these large institutions. (A copy of each of the reports is appended, see p. 115.) A useful report was submitted to us on the 11th November by a products Special Sub-Committee which we had appointed to consider the management of the farms at the Caterham, Leavesden, and Darenth Asylums, and we adopted a large number of proposals, one of the objects of which was to bring about uniformity in the method of keeping the farm accounts and the systems of charging the products of the farms and gardens. In consequence of the smallpox outbreak which prevailed in the of ordinary Metropolis during the latter half of the year, we were reluctantly visitation compelled in November to temporarily suspend the ordinary visitation of patients. ^ patients at the asylums by their friends, nearly all of whom reside in crowded and possibly infected areas. vaccination question having been raised as to the right of the Managers to of patients vaccinate or re-vaccinate, as a matter of routine, all patients in the and officials. aSy]_ums as a protection against smallpox, the Managers, upon our recommendation, decided to ask the Local Government Board to state their views on the question. In their reply, dated 30th November, 1901, the Board stated that it would appear that the consent of the patient “ may be regarded as implied in adult