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Life of A Patient

Although there was a time for relaxing at The Lunatic Asylum for patients, a lot of their time was spent doing moral treatment therapy. This consisted of a structured program of work, recreating, and worship.

"In keeping with the principles of non-restaint championed by the British asylum reformer, Dr. John Conolly, the asylum staff aimed at eliminating the use of mechanical restraints, a practice claimed to be limited to only one or two percent of inmates in the 1860s."

The asylum administrators valued physical labour as the most critical of treatment therapy, both for its therapeutic value and for helping to defray the institution's operating expenses. This form of therapy encouraged patients to divert their attention from "morbid preoccupations" and to focus on other activities such as sewing and carpentry. This helped them to instill moral values of independence, industry and self-respect. Also, as mentioned furthur on in this site, the medical superintendent developed a farming operation to raise crops and livestock for use by the institution.

Throughout the century, inmates from the province's countryside made up the largest proportion of the asylum's caseload, especially farmers, farm labourers, fisherman, tradesmen, and their wives. The upper class inmates were usually exempt from physical work, as it was assumed they did not require the lessons associated with physical labour. All of the classes at the Lunatic Asylum participated in regular recreational activities and religious services, again to distract patients, and to provide opportunities to practise etiquette and restraint.

The "inmates" at The Lunatic Asylum had to follow a certain diet table each week. The following tables show what each "inmate" was allowed:

Patients were allowed extras, such as butter, eggs, wine, etc. when absolutely required and ordered by the doctor.

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