THE ASYLUM ENQUIRY.

Evening Post, Volume XXI, Issue 59, 12 March 1881, Page 2

THE ASYLUM ENQUIRY.

ELEVENTH DAY'S PROCEEDINGS. MEDICAL OFFICER'S TESTIMONY. Dr. France, the medical officer attached to the institution, was still in the witness-box when we went to press yesterday, and was under examination with regard to the oxinmato M'lntosh, whose evidence was taken on behalf of the complainant. The Chairman (to witness)— Had you met the man outside the walls of the Asylum and had an opportunity of conversing with 'him, would yon, as a medical man, have certified that he was mad? Witness — Not without knowing his history. Chairman— Then we understand that he was kept in the Asylum owing to a history which was forwarded to you ? Witness— Combined with his reatloasness and his conduct, which, though not extravagant, was not correct. Chairman— Then you acted en the faith of the history that was sent to you ? Witness — I was bound to keep him there. I could not send him out, even though I felt he was sane at the time of his admission. When patients come to the Asylum from a distance the journey seems to restore them to a great extent. I have to detain them a short time to ascertain what is their real state. M'lntosh escaped on the sixth day, and was absent about a month. (Mr. Edwards here wished to read an extract from Hansard, in which M'lntosh was said to be referred to ; but the Chairman, after reading it, said there was nothing in it, and even if there were it could not bo admitted as portion of the evidence, as it could not be received in a court of law). On being brought back M'lntosh was put in a canvas jacket, which merely restricted the movement of the arms. He again escaped, aud a third time also. Ultimately I granted him a certificate of discharge on my own motion. There is no advantage to be derived from detaining an inmato after he or she is sane. While in the Asylum, M'lntosh waß seen by me every day. M'lntosh never complained of his treatment at the Asylum, nor did he report the showerbath occurrence. He was without moat onco for ten days ; hi 3 exalted, defiant manner seemed to warrant this treatment, for which I was responsible Respecting the patient Gannon, I intend to discharge him shortly ; 1 am only detaining him till this enquiry is concluded. He has been in the institution three years. Had we not detained him during the last year or so, I believe he would have seriously injured himself by this time. Iwice before his admission he mutilated himself by ripping open his abdomen, and again by cutting off the tip of his tongue. Since his admission he has tried to gouge his eyes out. He was placed in the back ward for being sullen and refusing to work. Buchan»n — another patient— is "as mad a< a March hare." Only to-day he asked mo for a key to lock up his room, as the cook was there last night trying to introduce poison. He in also in the back ward for refusing to work. Max Alexander is suffering from general paralysis, and is in a most helpless condition. My opinion is that it is mainly owing to Harvey's cure and attention that he is alive. As to the general management it has been very good, both on the male and female sides. The food was good and abundant ; nobody has made a complaint to me to the contrary. I generally visit the Asylum at irregular and unexpected hours. Cross-examined— There was a lot of trouble in connection with the old' Asylum at Karori some years ago, and a public enquiry was held into a charge of assault brought by a female patient against the keeper and his wife and two attendants. The general state of the establishment was involved in that enquiry. I used to visit tbat Asylum twice a week. It transpired that the female keeper used to run after her husband with a broomstick. The enquiry was held before a Board appointed by the Provincial Government, and the keeper and his wife were discharged. The Board found that I ought to have been aware of the unsatisfactory state of things at that Asylum. Occasiona Jy the Superintendent and I have visited the female side of the present Asylum unacc mpanied by the matron or female attendant. The Superintendent would sometimes open the doors of tbe female wards. This was while the alterations to the building were being proceeded with. I never saw any female patient in those wards approaching a state of nudity, and deny having seen a patient named Elizabeth Thompson in a naked condition. I had nothing to do with Dr. Skae's Bpecial visits to the Asylum as Inspector. M'lntosh's seclusions are entered in the Medical Journal kept for purposes of this description ; so also are all the contests between the patients. Entries like these are made by the clerk under my direction ; he makes them from his own knowledge, and I sign them as being correct. The witness was here asked for the medical journal, and Mr. Edwards said it was up at the Asylum; the only bookß he had in Court were the case books and one or two others. The Chairman wanted to know hjw those books came to be there. He was not aware that the Commisaion had asked for them, and he could not understand how the officer in charge of tie Asylum had been induced to part with them under those ehcumatances. Mr. Edwards rep Led that the keeper of the Asylum wag responsible for their production. The Chairman— Who is the keeper? Mr. Edwards—Mr. *\h:Maw. Chairman— He is not at present in the A sylum. Mr. Edwards eaid tho bouks no/cn o/e brought down with the sanction of Dr. :-kae. The Chairman aaid that there was a i roper course to be followed with regard to the production of these books, and in the present instance such course had not been followed Apart from either side { requiring these books, the Commissioners

would need to examine the books for thornselves. The < 'ominissioners were unanimously Borry that the Superintendent had taken it upon himselt to commit this irregu-lai-ity. Mr. Edwards— The books wore entrusted to him by the authority of the hupjct.r of the Anylum. 'lhe Chairman said that amounted to the same thing ; and in future the clerk of the institution would reti uire to be iv attendance de die in diem with the books of tho Asylum in his custody. In the meantime, &8 the complainant was likely to occupy a considerable time in crossexamining Dr. France, the Commission would adjourn till Monday, when the medical journal, ca«e book, patients' book, and other books would be called for. The enquiry accordingly stands adjourned till Monday next, at 2 p.m.