The thirteenth annual report of the state of the lunatic asylum for the County of Nottingham, and the seventy-seventh of the original institution, formerly the General Lunatic Asylum, 1887 / [Nottingham County Lunatic Asylum].

  • Nottingham County Lunatic Asylum.
Date:
1888
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The thirteenth annual report of the state of the lunatic asylum for the County of Nottingham, and the seventy-seventh of the original institution, formerly the General Lunatic Asylum, 1887 / [Nottingham County Lunatic Asylum]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    keys were usually carried loose by the nurses, each nurse having a key, and that there was in the ward by some means a spare key, of which it is supposed S.A.S. possessed herself. Now, however, the nurses and attendants have their keys attached to their key rings. A W.C. in a Bath-room is not a satisfactory arrangement, but unfortunately it is one which in several instances prevails here. We have learnt that the actively suicidal patients, though they sleep in the super¬ vision dormitory are not by day placed together in the same ward, as is frequently if not generally done. We think this the safer practice as the attendants of the selected ward have thereby their attention quickened, and are, when properly chosen, more careful and watchful. This suicide, is, it appears the first that has happened for more than 14 years. We have seen all the patients in residence. They were quiet and well behaved, and fairly tidy in dress and person. In many cases, however, there is room for improvement in this particular. One man complained of rough handling by an attendant, but upon inquiry we considered that his story was much exaggerated. Another complained that he had been subjected to a Shower bath on being brought back from an attempt to escape. It is said this bath was given for cleansing purposes; but we think an ordinary bath should have been used, as the shower bath suggests the idea of punishment. The arrangements for the night supervision of the epileptic and suicidal classes, remain unaltered. They are not quite satisfactory. Of epileptics there are about 23 of each sex; of actively suicidal, 7 males and 8 females; and of general paralytics 12 males and 6 females.