York Lunatic Asylum
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York, August i, ISOO. YORK LUNATIC ASYLUM. Charity, which bears the name of the YORK Liverpool, Gloucester, and other places, have adopted THELUNATIC ASYLUM, was established in the the measure. The second Division consists of those year 1777, by general subscription ; and had for its patients who pay eight shillings per week for their first object the Cure and Reliefof such Insane persons as board and medicines; a sum which, from experience, were in low circumstances. How well it has answered is found equal to the expense incurred by Patients the intended purpose, is sufficiently known in the in general. In this Division the Governors have in- extensive County in which it stands. Being an cluded the parish paupers, judging it unreasonable Establishment without either a fund or an annual sub- that the opulent Inhabitants of a Parish should share scription,the friends of the Patients pay a weekly sum with the necefsitous objects of the third Division, any of suitable to their abilities ; by which means the indigent part the savings arising from the enlarged payments are relieved at the expense of the affluent. In the of the few Patients in easy circumstances. The third management of the family, the strictest oeconomy is Division consists of Patients in very low circumstances, utmost is to who for their and receive observed ; and the attention paid decency pay board, nothing from and cleanlinefs. As nothing is demanded beyond their respective parishes. These are all objects of what the friends of the Patients can afford to pay, the pitiable distrefs. On this Division of distrefsed In- accumulation of money is not the object in view.— dividuals, in number 26, the Governors, as already The unhappy sufferers consequently reap the full observed, bestow the overflowings of the first Division, benefits arising from their own money. At the first together with the interest of nearly 8001. given by opening of the Asylum, there was no distinction of Lady Gower, Mrs. Bourchier, Mrs. Bouverie, and “ Patients, and all paid eight shillings per week for their others, for the relief of the most necefsitous objects, a at board and medicines ; but after few years it was the discretion of the Governors.” Without those found that this sum was not well proportioned, as aids, the poor objects of this Division \ dd not sub- under that regulation, those who were in easy circunu- sist in the Asylum, it being well known no part stances paid too little, and those who were poor, and of the public money has ever been employed in the bad no parish relief, paid too much. It was therefore maintenance of the Patients. On the contrary, the ordered, That a few persons of better condition should Patients, by weekly payments proportioned to their be admitted on their paying a weekly sum, propor- abilities, have hitherto defrayed all the expenses of the tioned to their circumstances: And at the same time Household, together with the Salary of the Apothecary, it was ordered, That the overflowings of their weekly and the Wages of the Servants, amounting in the last payments should be applied in aid of those persons who year nearly to the sum of 18001. The present estate and paid for ■were in narrow circumstances themselves. of the Asylum does not exceed 3600 L capital Stock, in In this manner, the indigent Lunatic is now furnished the Three per Cents, the Interest of which is employed with part of his subsistence from the stores of a in the repairs of the fabric, and in the purchase of fur- fellow-sufferer, whom Providence has placed m more niture, which, in an Establishment of this kind, is abundant circumstances. But as it would be unrea- attended with a considerable annual expense. This sonable to expe" he Physician to bestow a gratuitous fund, however, is daily increasing by Donations and attendance on persons in easy circumstances, (who Legacies. S’his year, sixteen new Bed Rooms have in another place would have been his own pri- been added by an order of the General Court, and in vate patients,) he is allowed to take from the friends consideration of the increased number of Patients, of such patients the reasonable emoluments of his several Day Rooms have been constructed, by which profefsion. improvement the House is rendered perfectly sweet and At this present time, the Asylum contains 112 Pa- commodious. The Governors flatter themselves that tients. Tnese the Governors have formed into three the expense of this necefsary improvement (about Divisions. The first Division, never to exceed 25, 1500b) will soon be repaid by the liberality of the consists of such Patients as are of better condition, public. An Institution, so charitably and wisely con- and who pay a considerable weekly sum for their structed, is justly entitled to the approbation of man- board and medicines, the surplus of which (about one kind, and the Governors have a peculiar pleasure in hundred pounds per annum) is employed in lefsening acknowledging that approbation, made still more the payments of those who are in low circumstances, valuable, by the liberality of the humane and cha- and have no parish relief. Some persons have said ritable, whose respectable names are recorded on the that these patients are admitted to the exclusion of walls of the Committee-room, and here transcribed.— the insane poor ; but that is an unjust and injurious To conclude, the Public, with unbounded generosity, supposition, as no one poor person has ever been raised a large Sum for the purpose of erecting and refused adrrmsion for want of room ; neither is it pro- furnishing: a commodious Building for the reception of bable that such a refusal will ever take place, as at this one hundred unhappy objects; and after four Years present time there are many rooms unoccupied : And the whole was completed, under the direction of a as a proof that this is a charitable Improvement, the Committee, to whose care and attention the Public are Governors of the Lunatic Asylum at Manchester, indebted for the present useful and benevolent Charity. RESOLUTIONS and ORDERS. Resolved, That this Charity shall be named the York N. B. The above payments discharge lodging, board, coal, and candle, but Lit natic Asylum, and be considered as a general lea, washing, and medicines; those whose payments exceed eight Establishment for the reception of all perfons labouring shillings per week, pay for their own washing. under an uiifounci mind, whether curable or not.' Ordered, That a separate table be kept for such patients Ordered, That all the patients in the house, and such as ’ as are rated above eight shillings per week, with the may hereafter be received, shall be clafsed according to privilege of being admitted without certificates. their respective circumstances Resolved, That women with child, labouring under an - 1. week. Class 5. Twelve shill: per week. Class Eight shillings per igs unsound mind, shall be received, upon security being 2. Nine 6. Thirteen shillings. shillings. shall 3. Ten shillings. 7. Fourteen shillings. given that the child not become burthensome to —— - 4. Eleven shillings,, S. Fifteen shillings & upwards. the parish in which the Asylum stands. RESOLUTIONS and ORDERS. Certificate of the Minister and 6er ed. That in cases of sudden lunacy, patients will Churchwardens. the house without previous notice, if be received into We whose names are hereunto subscribed, the Minister presented before sun-set i But ill all other cases, it is and Churchwardens of the parish of , in the county that notice be sent to the Apothecary at the expected of do certify, to the best of our knowledge and a few days before the arrival of the patient, that Asylum belief, that is now a Lunatic; That —*— is aged be properly prepared for his oi her everv thing may about years, and became disordered in senses reception. some time in the month of 18 ; That ■ legal settlement is in the par sh of . Resolved, That Lunatics,coming recommended as parish Witnefs our hands the day of ,18 poor, shall be placed in the first clafs, except upon ex- in- traordinary occasions ; it being the intention of this Minister. stitution to give the greatest relief to such persons as are in low aud distrefsed circumstances, and who are j-Churchwardens. not supported by their respective parishes. Certificate of a Physician* Surgeon, or Apothe- be convenient to the Public, as Resolved, That it would cary, if any has attended the Patient. well as advantageous to the Asylum, if a few patients in easy circumstances were admitted. To the Governors of the Lunatic Asylum. underwritten , of Ordered, That patients of the above description shall in I the the parish of , the county of -, do certify that of future be admitted, on their paying a suitable pension in the ~ parish of ■, in the bounty of is a Lunatic : to the Asylum ; but it is understood that the attending state of * Physician shall receive from the friends of such patients, That present mind is the reasonable emoluments of his profefsion. Witnefs my hand the day of , 18 * Here exprefs the condition of the patient, whether furious, flighty, or melancholy. Ordered, That the Physician shall attend, gratis, the parish poor, and all patients whose weekly payments do Ordered, That one guinea be deposited in Ae hands not exceed eight shillings. of the Steward, upon the admifsion of all patients whose iveekly payments do not exceed eight shillings That from the enlarged Ordered, the savings arising per week, in order to defray the expenses of the funeral of the patients of better condition, shall be payments in case of death ; but to be returned on the patient’s who are in verylow circum- bestowed upon those patients leaving the Asylum : At the same time, three weeks ; parishes stances, and pay for their own board but shall board must be paid in advance.