309
\
Art. XIII.?NOTES ON A VISIT TO THE ASYLUM OP
ST. ANNE, AT PARIS. BY HENRY
SUTHERLAND, M.D.
The Asylum of St. Anne is situated in the south of Paris, within the fortifications. It may be easily reached from the Palais de Justice, by omnibuses labelled " La Glaciere," and it is only a quarter of an hour's drive from the Luxembourg Gallery. The tourist should apply to Dr. Lucas beforehand, by letter, either from England or from Paris, for permission to view the asylum. It is worth mentioning that the Hopital de Lourcine, or Female Lock Hospital, is passed on the road to the asylum, which the tourist might also visit; but a special order for this is necessary, which may be obtained on application to the Minister of the Interior. The Asylum of St. Anne consists of a series of extremely handsome stone buildings, the roofs of which are of tiles, arranged in classical form, and of a peculiarly cheerful orangered colour. The asylum was built in 1867. It contains 600 patients? 300 males and 300 females. The two sides of the asylum correspond in every minute particular. The visiting-room is handsome and spacious. It contains about a dozen little round tables, surrounded by chairs, and arranged at such a distance from each other that the different groups of friends can converse with their patient, without being overheard by other visitors. The visiting days are limited to two during the week, Wednesday and Sunday, between the hours of one and three. Eestraint is but little used. The camisole and sleeves are occasionally resorted to in dangerous cases. W e observed one epileptic confined in one of these strait waistcoats. They resemble ours in every respect, except that there is a strong band passing over the crossed arms from below the waist upwards to the neck, which prevents the patient striking out in front with both arms together. There are six wards on each side of the asylum. No. 1 is for the more quiet patients. The airing court of this quartier was profusely ornamented with beds of flowers. The diningrooms have one side, next the airing court, glazed.
By opening
/
310
A VISIT
TO THE ASYLUM OF ST.
ANNE,
AT
PARIS.
the large windows on this side, the whole can be thrown open, that the patients can walk about and enjoy the air without exposure to the rain in wet weather. The bathing accommodation was very complete. Outside the bath-rooms there was stationed an elaborate gymnastic apparatus, consisting of ropes, pulleys, and weights, which could be used by the patients after taking the bath. The baths were tepid, and were usually given at a temperaTheir duration is about one hour or less ture of 50? C. for the mere object of cleansing, and usually two hours for therapeutical purposes, but they are in exceptional cases prolonged to six hours. We noticed a particularly well-arranged needle-bath, with a rectum douche, over which the patient stood astride. Another sitz-bath was well worthy of attention. Over it the patient stooped in a squatting position, and a powerful jet of water attacked him in front, whilst a series of jets operated Upon him from behind. It Was found to be very serviceable in all diseases of those parts requiring cleansing by a strong stream of water. The vapour-bath was also comfortable and well arranged. It was taken at a temperature of 60? C. This asylum is under the control of the Minister of the Interior. It is not a charity, but those who are able, pay 2fr. 50c. a-day towards their maintenance. There is no other scale of charges. The bed of the chief attendant of each ward is placed close to a barred window, which enables him to see at any moment into the ward from his room outside. Should there be any disturbance, he can ring a bell and call the other attendants; there are three attendants attached to each ward, and each ward contains fifty patients. In the more dangerous wards there are four attendants. M. Lucas makes his visit of the wards at nine o'clock every morning. There is only one regular medical visit during the so
day.
There are fifty Sisters of Mercy in the asylum (whom, by the way, it is proper to address as " ma sceur," and not as " madame"), who belong to the order of the Soeurs de St. Joseph. One sister and two female attendants are attached to each ward. The chapel is built in the form of a cross. On one side sit the men, on the other the women. One recess is set apart for the officials of the asylum, and the one opposite contains a magnificent organ. The Asylum of St. Anne is perfect in every way, and will well repay the trouble of a visit*
\
Art. XIII.?NOTES ON A VISIT TO THE ASYLUM OP
ST. ANNE, AT PARIS. BY HENRY
SUTHERLAND, M.D.
The Asylum of St. Anne is situated in the south of Paris, within the fortifications. It may be easily reached from the Palais de Justice, by omnibuses labelled " La Glaciere," and it is only a quarter of an hour's drive from the Luxembourg Gallery. The tourist should apply to Dr. Lucas beforehand, by letter, either from England or from Paris, for permission to view the asylum. It is worth mentioning that the Hopital de Lourcine, or Female Lock Hospital, is passed on the road to the asylum, which the tourist might also visit; but a special order for this is necessary, which may be obtained on application to the Minister of the Interior. The Asylum of St. Anne consists of a series of extremely handsome stone buildings, the roofs of which are of tiles, arranged in classical form, and of a peculiarly cheerful orangered colour. The asylum was built in 1867. It contains 600 patients? 300 males and 300 females. The two sides of the asylum correspond in every minute particular. The visiting-room is handsome and spacious. It contains about a dozen little round tables, surrounded by chairs, and arranged at such a distance from each other that the different groups of friends can converse with their patient, without being overheard by other visitors. The visiting days are limited to two during the week, Wednesday and Sunday, between the hours of one and three. Eestraint is but little used. The camisole and sleeves are occasionally resorted to in dangerous cases. W e observed one epileptic confined in one of these strait waistcoats. They resemble ours in every respect, except that there is a strong band passing over the crossed arms from below the waist upwards to the neck, which prevents the patient striking out in front with both arms together. There are six wards on each side of the asylum. No. 1 is for the more quiet patients. The airing court of this quartier was profusely ornamented with beds of flowers. The diningrooms have one side, next the airing court, glazed.
By opening
/
310
A VISIT
TO THE ASYLUM OF ST.
ANNE,
AT
PARIS.
the large windows on this side, the whole can be thrown open, that the patients can walk about and enjoy the air without exposure to the rain in wet weather. The bathing accommodation was very complete. Outside the bath-rooms there was stationed an elaborate gymnastic apparatus, consisting of ropes, pulleys, and weights, which could be used by the patients after taking the bath. The baths were tepid, and were usually given at a temperaTheir duration is about one hour or less ture of 50? C. for the mere object of cleansing, and usually two hours for therapeutical purposes, but they are in exceptional cases prolonged to six hours. We noticed a particularly well-arranged needle-bath, with a rectum douche, over which the patient stood astride. Another sitz-bath was well worthy of attention. Over it the patient stooped in a squatting position, and a powerful jet of water attacked him in front, whilst a series of jets operated Upon him from behind. It Was found to be very serviceable in all diseases of those parts requiring cleansing by a strong stream of water. The vapour-bath was also comfortable and well arranged. It was taken at a temperature of 60? C. This asylum is under the control of the Minister of the Interior. It is not a charity, but those who are able, pay 2fr. 50c. a-day towards their maintenance. There is no other scale of charges. The bed of the chief attendant of each ward is placed close to a barred window, which enables him to see at any moment into the ward from his room outside. Should there be any disturbance, he can ring a bell and call the other attendants; there are three attendants attached to each ward, and each ward contains fifty patients. In the more dangerous wards there are four attendants. M. Lucas makes his visit of the wards at nine o'clock every morning. There is only one regular medical visit during the so
day.
There are fifty Sisters of Mercy in the asylum (whom, by the way, it is proper to address as " ma sceur," and not as " madame"), who belong to the order of the Soeurs de St. Joseph. One sister and two female attendants are attached to each ward. The chapel is built in the form of a cross. On one side sit the men, on the other the women. One recess is set apart for the officials of the asylum, and the one opposite contains a magnificent organ. The Asylum of St. Anne is perfect in every way, and will well repay the trouble of a visit*
