London County Asylum, Claybury (Report for the year ended March 31st, 1902)

The average number of patients resident during the year was 2431, comprising 1015 males and 1416 females. The admissions during the year amounted to 426 — viz., 131 males and 295 females. Of these 364 were first admissions. Dr. Robert Jones, the medical superintendent, states in his report that the general character of the admissions was unsatisfactory as regards prospect of recovery. 38 per cent. of the admissions were over 60 years of age and over 16 per cent. of the males were suffering from general paralysis. 14 per cent. of the males and 9 per cent. of the females were admitted suffering from alcoholic insanity, “although as a predisposing cause the percentage is probably higher.” It is interesting to notice, adds Dr. Jones, that the two classes which furnished the greatest number of male admissions were described as “clerks” and “persons of no occupation.” The number of patients discharged as recovered during the year amounted to 148, comprising 52 males and 96 females, or 6·1 per cent. of the average number resident. The deaths during the year amounted to 201, or 8·27 per cent. as calculated on the same basis. “Asylum dysentery attacked 40 males and 81 females, and was responsible for 21 deaths, or over 10 per cent. of the total deaths.” Death was due to cancer of the stomach in six cases, renal disease in seven cases, epilepsy in eight cases, pneumonia in 14 cases, senile decay in 15 cases, colitis in 21 cases, cardiac disease in 24 cases, pulmonary and other forms of tuberculosis in 25 cases, general paralysis of the insane in 50 cases, and other causes in the rest. Two patients who were pregnant upon admission were safely delivered. There has been, with the exception of colitis, no outbreak of zymotic disease during the year. The Commissioners in Lunacy state in their report that the wards were in excellent order, that the day-rooms were comfortable and cheerful, that the dormitories were clean and well aired, and that the medical case-books and records were very well kept. The sub-committee of management states in its report that owing to the drought the crops and farm produce showed a considerable falling off during the year. The sum of £9320 was spent during the year upon improvements, alterations, and repairs.