On Wednesday me and the group went to the Lincolnshire achieve to look through books on the Lawn. One of these books that I looked at was the patient records for 1838 till 1895. The interesting parts of the record for me was that of the illnesses that the patients suffered. Some of these such illnesses are that of Mania, Melancholic, Mania Hysteria and Dementia.

Mania: Mania is an abnormally elated mental state, typically characterized by feelings of euphoria, lack of inhibitions, racing thoughts, diminished need for sleep, talkativeness, risk taking, and irritability. In extreme cases, mania can induce hallucinations and other psychotic symptoms. (http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/mania)

Mania Hysteria: I could not yet find out what this was.

Dementia: Dementia is a syndrome (a group of related symptoms) associated with an ongoing decline of the brain and its abilities. This includes problems with: memory loss, thinking speed, mental agility, language, understanding, judgement. People with dementia can become apathetic or uninterested in their usual activities, and have problems controlling their emotions. (http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/dementia-guide/Pages/about-dementia.aspx)

Towards the end of the records I found that the patients being admitted where getting older and being admitted for Dementia where as at the start they where young adults.

Throughout the records the majority of patients where either young adults or older men/women, rearly ever middle aged people. Within the achieve there was a piece of texted that stated how patints should be treated.

“With all the tenderness and indulgence compatible with the steady and effectual government of them and every occupation which my divert the mind, win the at tensions and awaken the affections be cheerfully and readily promoted.”

The hospital also goes through periods of time in which it doesn’t take on any patients from July 10th 1890 to September 2nd 1890. There is something written in the book but I could not read the handwriting.

I find the Lawn interesting as from accounts i have heard it is haunted but contrary to popular belief that mental homes where barbaric places, the Lawn was not and yet it is reported to be haunted which would be an automatic assumption of an asylum. The Asylum was known for being at the front of pioneering work to help the mentally ill, with trees planted around the building to protect the patients from the gases of the city.

“There have been many reported sightings of ghostly figures, including those of children, roaming the corridors and grounds of the Lawn. They are said to wander round looking lost dressed in white robes. There are claims that these apparitions seem to be looking for something that the observers cannot see. Some have even reported hearing loud crying and wailing emanating from within its walls. Could these be the sounds of the troubled former inmates? A ghost hunting team spent a night in the building and spoke of seeing a table move on its own and of contacting a spirit called Francesca, apparently a former inmate who was there only because she had given birth to an illegitimate child. The other members of the group experienced crying and feelings of sadness. The group reported electrical problems with their equipment when inside the buildings and also recorded sounds of tapping on the table.” (http://hauntedhistoryoflincolnshire.blogs.lincoln.ac.uk/lincoln/the-lawn/)

“The buildings stand in grounds of 8 acres which were deliberately planted with trees to shield the patients from “poisonous miasmas” which came from the industrialised parts of Lincoln.
The Asylum, led by Dr Edward.Parker Charlesworth (see bio) pioneered new ways of treating mental illness, without the use of restraint and barbaric methods to control patients” (http://www.itsaboutlincoln.co.uk/lincoln-lunatic-asylum.html)