• HOME
• THE LANGUAGE OF MADNESS
• THE ASYLUM
• • Asylum Design
  • Patient Buildings
• SOCIETY
• • Urban & Rural Life
  • Class & Gender
  • The Hysterical Female
  • The Evils of "Self-Abuse"
  • Family
  • Visitors
• LEGISLATION
• • Legislative Influence
  • Origins of Legislation and the Criminality of Insanity
  • Teenaged Years: Marked Custody Transition
  • Turn of the Century: Voluntary Admissions
  • Updated Act: The Mental Hospital Act
• SUPERINTENDANTS
• STAFF
• • Working at the LAI
  • Hiring Practices
  • Rules for Employees
  • Employee Roles in Moral Therapy
  • Doctors at LAI
  • Doctor Connections to UWO
  • Training School for Nurses
  • Attendants
  • General Staff
• PATIENT PERSPECTIVES
• • Introduction
  • Patient Art
  • Patient Letters
  • Their Voice
• MEDICAL TREATMENTS
• • Medical Treatment Introduction
  • Use of Restraints
  • Drug and Alcohol
  • Hydrotherapy
  • Female Surgeries
  • Neurosyphilis
  • Shock Therapy
  • Lobotomies
• MORAL THERAPY
• • Moral Therapy Introduction
  • Labour
  • Amusements
  • Diet
  • Religion
• THE WORLD WARS
• • Before the First World War
  • During the First World War
  • After the First World War
  • The First World War and the LAI
  • First World War Veterans at the LAI
  • The Second World War
• MEMORIES OF RMHCL
• • Introduction
  • Their Memories

Amusements

Amusements  |   Sports  |   Entertainment   |   Field Trips

"...this is in accordance with the system of treatment adopted by Mr. Bucke, the theory of which is that amusement is more required than medicine..." - News article 1878, Scrapbooks & Medical Records of RMK 1837-1902

At the London Asylum, the idea of providing a work schedule for patients was balanced by the incorporation of various amusements. In order to break up the monotony of their daily routines and to stimulate their senses, patients participated in various sporting events, drama clubs, musical concerts, and field trips. Patients were also encouraged to take walks, organized by the staff, around the grounds of the Asylum for fresh air and exercise. Patients with severe conditions were accompanied by the staff and some patients with mild conditions were granted permission to walk the grounds unattended.

The superintendents and staff organized events and outdoor excursions with the intention of raising patient morale and maintaining patient health. Superintendents often favoured hiring employees who enjoyed playing sports, performing in theatre or who could play a musical instrument. These special talents were considered assets because staff assisted and encouraged patients to participate in these activities. Many of the events put on by the Asylum were acknowledged by the local newspaper. They published the results of cricket games, wrote about patient theatrical performances and commented on patient involvement at community events.