The annual report of the Dorset County Lunatic Asylums, Charminster and Forston, for the year 1881.

  • Dorset County Lunatic Asylum (Charminster, England)
Date:
[1882]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The annual report of the Dorset County Lunatic Asylums, Charminster and Forston, for the year 1881. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    11/46 (page 11)
    workhouses into asylums, and thus helping to swell the total admissions; ” and yet “ the ratio of yearly increase of the admis¬ sion to the pauper population has been but slight, and not constant, showing that the large increase in the total number of the insane under care in asylums during the twelve years 1869 to 1880, to which the table refers (where the calculation is made), is mainly due to accumulation, and not to a greater annual production of insanity.” There can be no doubt that the pauper lunatics above referred to are, in the main, greatly benefitted by the removal; but whether ultimately it will tend to lessen the number of the recoveries of those supposed to be more legitimately the proper objects of an asylum, must remain to be proved. Of this there can be no doubt, that should the accumulation still go on, county asylums must be increased or enlarged. The whole subject as to the proper care and treatment of these semi-work¬ house cases is one well worthy of serious and deep consideration —how best to provide for them at the smallest cost. In every asylum there are many cases, harmless and com¬ paratively easily managed, yet requiring supervision and care ; and I believe that in many instances the relatives would gladly take them, care for them well, and make them contented and comfortable had they the means. If, therefore, the Government grant of 4s. could thus be appropriated, and supplemented by a little ordinary out-door relief from the various unions, it would doubtless tend to relieve the pressure now felt in many asylums, and stave off, for a time at least, the necessity of more buildings. The number of discharges has been higher than usual. The recoveries being rather over 40 per cent, on the number admitted—and deducting those patients not belonging to our I County, who were Chronic cases of long duration, the per • centage would be 46, The deaths too have been higher than for several years past, : being 8 per cent, on the daily average number resident, yet this j is about 2 per cent, below the general rate for County Asylums. ]