The fourth annual report of the state of the lunatic asylum for the County of Nottingham, and the sixty-eighth of the original institution, formerly the General Lunatic Asylum, 1878 / [Nottingham County Lunatic Asylum].

  • Nottingham County Lunatic Asylum.
Date:
1879
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The fourth annual report of the state of the lunatic asylum for the County of Nottingham, and the sixty-eighth of the original institution, formerly the General Lunatic Asylum, 1878 / [Nottingham County Lunatic Asylum]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    13/42 (page 13)
    January last we are informed that no patients have been admitted belonging’ to the “ old ” borough. The recoveries have been during tlie last eight months in the proportion of 41 per cent, to the admissions. * The mortality has been at the rate of 13.70 f per cent, per annum, calculated on the average daily numbers resident. This is about 3 per cent, higher than the average rate in English Counfy and Borough Asylums. Post-mortem examinations were made in three instances only, and in these the deaths were recorded, respectively, as due to “ Pulmo¬ nary Consumption,” “ Melancholia with Convulsions,” and “ Disease of the Arteries of the Brain.” In the last-named the patient died suddenly in the night, and it was the only instance on which a coroner’s inquest was held. The circum¬ stances were reported to our Board at the time, and formed the subject of correspondence between the Commissioners and the Superintendent and Committee of Visitors. As regards the other deaths, no unusual or exceptional causes are assigned, 6 being ascribed to Greneral Paralysis, 5 to Epilepsy, 12 to Diseases of the Heart and Lungs, and 5 to Senile Decay. The difficulties hitherto said to exist in obtaining permis¬ sion to make post-mortem examinations will, we hope, be overcome, and that for the future the proportion of these examinations to the deaths will be so largely increased that, among other advantages secured, the causes of death may be ascertained with greater certainty than can be the case at present. The general health of the inmates is at present fairly good, and there were only eight patients voluntarily in bed, four of each sex. Under medical treatment there are 16 men and 14 women. We saw all the patients in both divisions, conversed with many, and afforded to all the opportunity of making known to u s their wishes and complaints. In one ward in each division * or, 11 per cent, above the average, 1877. t or, 13.23 for the whole year. SUPT.