Drain & Engraved by LCVarrall for the Walks through London The Now Bethlem. St Georges Fields Aubhal by Wlarke New Bend Street Dec 11015 After it had been resolved to take down Old Bethlem, and build a superior edifice in St. George's Fields, a most disgraceful discovery, in consequence of parliamentary investigation, was made of the treatment of the insane patients. The Committee of the House of Commons, on inspecting this building, and entering the gallery on the principal floor, observed "that the windows were so high as to prevent the patients from looking out; with the unfitness of which they were struck, as intelligent persons had stated, that the greatest advantage might be derived from the patients having opportunities of seeing objects that might amuse them." It was stated by Mr. Upton, the Deputy Architect, that "these windows were at first so constructed, but were afterwards built up at the lower part, on a suggestion that it would be inconvenient to expose the patients to the view of the passengers; which inconvenience it is conceived might be very easily obviated." The windows in the upper story appear to be properly constructed. The Report continues, "In the sleeping apartments the windows are not glazed, which deprives the patients generally of a reasonable comfort, and may, in many cases, be really injurious. But, what appears to be still more important, there are no flues constructed for the purpose of conducting warm air through the house, except in the lower galleries on the basement story, which are proposed to be warmed by steam. This appears to be deserving of serious consideration, because it is represented that the patients suffer sensibly from cold; and Dr. Munro, the Physician to the Hospital, stated, that it had not been thought adviseable to administer medicines in the winter, on account of the cold of the house. "In the Infirmary for Female Patients there are only three small windows, at a great height, on the northern side of the room; it appeared, therefore, that something should be done for ventilation, which might easily be accomplished. |