The annual report of the Dorset County Lunatic Asylums, Charminster and Forston, for the year ending December 31st, 1886.

  • Dorset County Lunatic Asylum (Charminster, England)
Date:
[1887]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The annual report of the Dorset County Lunatic Asylums, Charminster and Forston, for the year ending December 31st, 1886. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    12/66 page 12
    It lias very oft occurred to me, and I doubt not to many other Superintendents, that if the Commissioners at their visits, and before they wrote their Report were to mention any particular matter they were going to comment on, and ask for some expla¬ nation before coming to a decision, it would tend to prevent any misunderstanding or misapprehension, and also obviate much unnecessary discussion before the Committee when the Report is read and considered—so many little and comparatively trifling subjects are easily to be explained and far better done viva voce than in writing—and here I desire most heartily to thank them for all their courtesy and kindness, and especially for their warmly expressed letter for my happiness on hearing of my retirement. Although not strictly coming within the year 1886, yet I feel sure you will pardon me for making this Report, as far as it concerns myself, embody many things which have taken place up to this date. I was appointed Medical Superintendent on the 20th of October, 1854, and commenced my duties on the 1st of December following, and it was in October, 1886, that I felt compelled to resign. I began my work at the Old Asylum with'155 Patients, at a salary of £200 a year, and residence with board—the weekly charge then was 8s. 2d. per week ; and it is worthy of remark that only once since that date has the weekly charge ever been more—viz., in 1855 when it was 8s. 5^d., and many years it has been as low as 7s. and 7s. 3d., and two years, i862-3 still lower, 6s. 3^. The number of Patients have been steadily increasing year by year, the numbers now being 435 Paupers and 27 Non-Paupers. 1 would be inclined to hope that the annual increase from this time, if any, will be very small. The rate of Recoveries has been about 36 per Cent., and the Deaths calculated on the average number resident has not exceeded 7 per Cent., as proved from the records of the Asvlum from the year 1846 down to the end of the year 1886—these averages will compare favourably with other Asylums, and prove that although due care and economy has prevailed, yet not in any way detrimental to the general well¬ doing of the Patients. The Admissions for the past year were 29 males and 31 females. The Discharges were 31—10 males and 21 females, of whom recovered, 7 males and 20 females—a per Centageon Admissions of 45.0.
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