File:The insane in foreign countries (1889) (14755244926).jpg

Identifier: insaneinforeignc00letcuoft (find matches)
Title: The insane in foreign countries
Year: 1889 (1880s)
Authors: Letchworth, William Pryor, 1823-1910
Subjects: Mentally ill -- Hospitals Europe
Publisher: New York : G. P. Putnam's
Contributing Library: Gerstein - University of Toronto
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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what peculiar. These con-sisted of two chimney-stacks standing near the centre of theroom, and so placed as to apportion equally between themthe space to be warmed and ventilated. Each stack wasbuilt with two open fire-places back to back. The windowshad heavy draped curtains, and the appearance of the roomwas inviting. There are two general kitchens, one for theolder portion of the asylum and one for the new section. Another room worthy of note is that set apart for newarrivals. It was appropriately furnished with lounges, settees,and easy-chairs, and made attractive with pictures andstatuary. The day-rooms for both men and women were well fur-nished. In one examined, the tables had fancy covers; onthe comfortable chairs were tidies made by the patients; onthe tables and in the windows were potted plants; and pict-ures were hung on the walls, which were suitably decorated. In the dormitories, the bedsteads are generally of iron,and are furnished with straw and hair mattresses, except
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Q oo o o cc 00 o O DC > ; .V- •\ BROOKWOOD. J J where woven-wire bottoms are used, in which case the palli-asse is dispensed with. The sheeting is unusually thick andstrong. Narrow borders of blue or red stripe distinguish thebed linen of the men from that belonging to the women. Inthe older building, the number of beds in the dormitoriesranges from three to twenty. In the new section the dor-mitories are much larger, each having as many as forty beds.These apartments are warmed by open fires. In the femaleepileptic ward were ninety-eight patients—some violent anddangerous. All were under watchful and systematic super-vision by night and day. Here, as in some other wards ofthe asylum, was a piano for the entertainment of the pa-tients, a leading principle in treatment being to engage themind by every possible means. The open fire was onlypartially screened, yet it was asserted that no accident fromburning had ever occurred in the institution. The new department, in

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