Existing comment:
1845 Apartment: Patient comfort was an important part of care and treatment during the mid-nineteenth century. Generally, hospital residents were still assigned one per room. The asylum provided the rooms -- also known as apartments -- with sturdy but modest furniture.
To create a less intimidating environment, panel doors replaced board-and-batten types, brick walls were plastered, wood trim was painted, wire mesh supplanted bars in ventilation transoms, and exterior cast-iron sashes were installed instead of window bars. The effect was intentionally domestic in character. |