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.

    119/148 (page 115)
    REPOET BY TWO OE THE COMMISSIONERS IN LUNACY WHO VISITED CATER HAM ASYLUM ON THE 4th JUNE, 1901. Lunacy Commission, 66, Victoria Street, S.W., Kff/j June, 1901. On the 4th inst. we made a careful inspection of all parts of the Metro¬ politan District Asylum at Caterham, and are pleased to be able to report that it continues to be maintained in very good order. The wards and dormitories were bright and clean, and the former, especially on the female side, well supplied with birds and other objects calculated to interest and amuse the inmates. Some of the rooms, on the male side particularly, we thought overcrowded. The beds and bedding were in excellent order. We were glad to learn that the deficiency of w.c. accommodation, to which attention was drawn by our colleagues, is to be met by extending the closets on the ground floor. We hope advantage will be taken of the opportunity to abolish the existing urinals, some of which we found smelling offensively, and some of the floors very wet. Since the last visit much painting and general renovation have been undertaken ; hot-water radiators have been provided for warming the corridors ; two large hot-plates have been fixed in the kitchen to improve the serving of the patients’ dinners; eight very good shelters have been erected in the airing courts ; the exits, for use in case of fire, at the detached block[s] have been improved; a steam fire-engine has been purchased, but not yet delivered ; and, to meet the deficiency of seats in the male wards, 450 additional chairs are on order. The improvements in contemplation comprise alterations and additions to the laundry, which will allow of the more effectual separation of the sexes; the pro¬ vision of fresh sleeping accommodation for the laundry staff, and the extension of the tar-paving of the paths of the female airing courts. In the interval between the visit of our colleagues on the 5th of February last year, 138 patients were admitted ; 30 discharged or removed, of whom 12 bad recovered; and 163 died. These changes left on the books the names of 1,931 patients—888 males and 1,043 females, all of whom we saw. We found them orderly, satisfactory as regards their personal condition and dress, and generally in good health, most of those in bed being there for debility or the feebleness of old age. 34 patients who are destructive to their clothing — o were wearing strong dresses, which are now made of much less obtrusive and more suitable material than formerly. Some of the more sensible patients complained, and, we think, with some reason, of the monotony and roughness of their food ; we are glad, therefore, to know that the board of management are considering the desirability of making certain changes in the dietary which would give greater variety. The dinner which we saw served consisted of meat pie. It was savoury, and the crust good, but the meat was very hard and coarse. Of the total number of patients, 07 per cent, are general paralytics, and 14-2 per cent, epileptics. All the latter class are under continuous supervision at night.