Report of the visiting justices and medical officer of the County Lunatic Asylum, Forston, Dorset : Epiphany sessions, 1847 / Dorset County Lunatic Asylum.

  • Dorset County Lunatic Asylum (Forston, England)
Date:
[1847?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report of the visiting justices and medical officer of the County Lunatic Asylum, Forston, Dorset : Epiphany sessions, 1847 / Dorset County Lunatic Asylum. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    advantage of not producing head-ache, or feverish excitement. The patients continue to enjoy their walks in the fields adjoining the Asylum, accompanied by the attendants, which much relieves the monotony of the Airing courts. Their conduct on these occasions is most exemplary ; the permission to walk out is looked forward to with pleasure, and is considered as a reward for good behaviour. That they may not be deprived of this enjoyment, many of them are induced to exer¬ cise a degree of self-control, which is not only immedi¬ ately beneficial at the time, but is doubtless conducive to their ultimate recovery. In the employment of the patients, their tastes and previous habits should be consulted. A tailor will prefer making clothes to being employed in gardening ; so, also, will the shoemaker, carpenter, &c., prefer their respective occupations. Hence the advantage of having means of employment in every or great variety. In many of the cases, there is a general impairment, but not an entire abolition, of the mental powers, and by calling into exercise those faculties which remain, a gradual improvement of the mental energies will be observed. The principal occupation of the patients being agri¬ cultural, it is of the last importance, that land sufficient to afford constant employment to such patients, should be always available. A tank has been sunk, into^ which the drains from the piggery and cow-house discharge themselves. The liquid thus collected is raised, by means of a