Full resolution (JPEG) - On this page / på denna sida - First part - III. Constitution and Administration - 2. State Administration - Hygiene and care of the sick, by C. Waller, M. D., Director of the Hålahult Sanatory, C. Runborg, M. D., Stockholm, and G. Schuldheis, M. D., Member of the Royal Medical Depart., Stockholm
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HYGIENE AND CARE OF THE SICK.
241
hospitals and asylums for lunatics has, between 1860 and 1900, increased from
1,008 to 5,070, which figure, after the now approaching completion of one more
asylum, will rise to above 6,000. In spite of this, the supply is, however, still
insufficient, and it is considered that perhaps 10 million kronor more will have to
be invested in new establishments before each lunatic in the kingdom, in need of
hospital care, can receive the benefit of being properly attended to — a
desideratum certainly not reached as yet in any one country, though.
Sofia Hospital, Stockholm. Photo. Gusta? li.vd-
cjuist, Stockholm.
A\\ the larger lunatic asylums (treated of in Table 39) are at present State
establishments. Concerning the principles of treatment followed, it may be
mentioned that, in all suitable cases, the patients are kept in bed under
permanent superintendence, whereby coercive means have been rendered almost
unnecessary. More liberal forms of treatment for chronic lunatics have hitherto
but seldom been applied; a change in this respect is, however, quite proximate. —
As a general judgment, it may be maintained that, even if the Swedish system
for the relief of lunatics cannot yet be said to stand on a level with those of
England or Germany, still it will hardly be found to fall behind that of any other
country; and, at present, earnest exertions are made in Sweden by and by to bring
our treatment of lunatics on to the standard of the most exacting claims of the times.
The whole number of lunatics (not reckoning idiots), in the census of 1890,
amounted to 8,703 or 182 per hundred thousand inhabitants. The number has
increased, according to official returns, but this may — at any rate partly —
be owing to more exact information. Even the latest returns may, however,
probably be incomplete — as the case, no doubt, is in other countries in this respect.
The percentage of lunatics in Sweden cannot be considered high when compared
with that of other nations.
Sweden. 16
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