SUNNYSIDE HOSPITAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXIII, Issue 8678, 2 October 1913, Page 2

SUNNYSIDE HOSPITAL.

ATTENDANTS' EVIDENCE.

(Per Press Association.) '

CHRISTCHURCH, October 1. The Sunnyside Mental Hospital Enquiry was continued to-day. Edward B. Harris, head attendant of Sunnyside Mental Hospital, said that he had : been there-; for 25-^ years. Prior to that he had worked for five years in mental hospitals in / the Old Country. Howie was admitted to the hospital when, witness was ay/ay on holiday. Upon witness's return he saw Howie on March 19 in D ward. Howie was very frail. On the morning of March 20 Attendant Condon reported j that Howie went to bed the .previous night, free from bruises and on the following >. morning bruises were on Howie's face. Condon could not account for this at all. This was entered up in the book. Witness asked Howie how he came by the bruises and Howie said 'he had. bumped himself during the night., Tribe was in a restless condition. , His attitude towards the other patients was contemptuous. Witness saw Tribe frequently. ,He saw Tribe in the airing court sometimes with his boots, and .slippers off and sometimes with more clothes off. Ho would run around the yard and say he was trying to break records. ■ Tribe if kept away 'from the' water tap would go to the gutter and smear himself with mud. He used to stuff his bosom with rubbish. Attendant Wickers in charge of C ward complained that Tribe made a filthy mess of his bedroom at times. There was no improvement to Tribe's condition from the-beginning to the end. It,was just otherwise. Witness, had seen a lot of this and he had seen marvellous recoveries. Until the last day or two witness had had hopes of Tribe's recovery. Trib© was not a suitable person to shave. He would not keep still. No request had been made to .shave him • Tribe wore ordinary institution clothes. He had "frequent changes ot clothing. Tribe was struck in the eye one day by another patient who was under observation. Witness made enquiries about the matter. Some time later witness noticed another black eye. He made no report on the matter as he thought it was merely through the first bruise spreading. The first witness knew of Tribe.receiving a second black eye'was after the enquiry had opened. Witness examined Tribe s foot on June 12th. Tribe had been running about with no boots or stockings on and naturally the skin would ■get hard and cracked. The crack under the too was practically healed and there was no blood. ..He had no recollection of having his attention called to any cut on Tribe's heel. He saw Gourlay daily, but he never made any complaints about dirty blankets. Goinlay was rather argumentative. iiaTrett on admittance was in fair physical condition, which improved. Two other attendants are evidence The Commission was adjourned Ui to-morrow.