| 298 | B E T | |
plats and trees, wherein those of the lu-
natics who are well enough to be suffer-
ed to go about, are allowed to walk there
and enjoy the benefit of the fresh air.
In the middle of this wall is a large pair
of fine iron gates, and by them a small
entrance for the admission of those who
come out of curiosity to visit this hospital;
on each side towards the top of these
gates are placed the two statues, in the
manner represented in the print.
The expence of erecting this edifice,
besides that of building the wings, a-
mounted to near 17,000l.
The inside chiefly consists of two gal-
leries one over the other, which cross the
wings, and are 193 yards long, thirteen
feet high, and sixteen feet broad; with-
out including the cells for the patients,
which are twelve feet deep. These gal-
leries are divided in the middle by two
iron grates, by which means all the
men are placed at one end of the house,
and all the women at the other, and in
each gallery servants lie, to be ready at
hand on all occasions. In the middle of
the upper gallery is a large spacious
room, where the Governors, and, in the
lower, where the weekly Committee
|
| | meet, |
|
| B E T | 299 |
meet, and the Physician prescribes for
the patients; besides, above there are
convenient apartments for the steward
of the house, the porter, matron, nurse
and servants; and below stairs all
necessary offices for keeping and dressing
the provisions; for washing, and other
necessary offices belonging to so large a
family; and also a bathing place for the
patients, so contrived, as to be an hot
or cold bath, as occasion requires.
There are generally above 200 lunatics
maintained in this hospital, each of
whom has a small room or cell to him-
self, where he is locked up on nights,
and in this room is a place for a bed;
but where the patients are so senseless as
not to be fit to make use of one, they
are every day provided with fresh clean
straw. Those are judged the fittest ob-
jects that are raving and furious, and
yet capable of cure.
As to the method of admitting them,
they are brought on Saturday, when the
Committee meets, to be viewed by them
and the Physician; and if a person be
judged a fit object, a warrant is drawn
up for his admission by the clerk of the
hospital, to be signed by the President,
|
| | or, |
|
HomeVolume IPage Group 280 - 299
