Evening Post. WEDNESDAY, MAECH 23,1881. LUNATIC ASYLUM CONTBOL.

Evening Post, Volume XXI, Issue 68, 23 March 1881, Page 2

Evening Post. WEDNESDAY, MAECH 23, 1881. LUNATIC ASYLUM CONTBOL.

? Resuming our consideration of the present position of our Lunatic Asylums in respect of authoritative control as offioially stated by Dr. Skae, we have next to direct attention to the evidence given by that gentleman under cross-examination, as reported in our last issue. In tho first place Dr. Skae explained that the Lunatics Act does not provide that an inspector shall be appointed for the whole colony, but merely one for each district proclaimed under the Act. Consequently, although Dr. Skae's appointment is that of " Inspector of Lunatic Asylums" for New Zealand, he had to be gazetted specially as Inspector for each separate district before the various asylums came legally under his jurisdiction. There seems some little anomaly here, but it is not of any practical importance in the present instance, because in either case Dr. Skae would be the Inspector of the Wellington Asylum, and the question thus narrows itself down to the simple issue — what are the powers, duties, and responsibilities of an Inspector? We have already reviewed the sketoh given by Dr. Skae in his examination-in-chief of his theory on this subject. It will be remembered he stated that it was no part of his duty to direct that treatment of patients, which he disapproved, should be altered ; that it was not in his power to order its discontinuance ; that his powers were simply to report and make entries and suggestions ; that these were, in fact, merely the same as those of any official " visitor," excepting that he could order the patients to be released on trial. In cross-examination, however, Dr. Skae gave some instructive illustrations of the manner in which he applied these general'powers. He said that he recommended Mr. Whitelaw to bo appointed Superintendent of the Mount View Asylum, although without any previous experience and although his testimonials disclosed no special fitness for the post, becanse he considered him to be able and trustworthy, and because lie ioas a stranger to Wellington. Dr. Skae proceeded to explain this somewhat singular qualification on which he laid *o much stress. His explanation was given in the following remarkable words : — " The reason why I wished to have a stranger to Wellington was that there was such a lot of log-rolling here at that time, and a new man would not be likely to be humbugged. Had applications been invited by advertisement, there would have been a fear of some neivspaper pet, popular policeman, or incapable clerk, obtaining the position " This is a very singular theory. Dr. Skae was in deep dread lest if applications were invited for the vacant appointment in the usual way there might be a grave danger of some individual belonging to three most objectionable classes slipping in. These three classes, so Bternly banned by the Inspector, are "newspaper pets," " popular policemen," and " incapable clerks." A somewhat eccentric classification. It might be interesting to ascertain the precise grounds on which these three classes of persons were singled out as the ineligiblea par excellence. True, we can understand that "incapable clerks 1 ' might not make good inspectors, but why should " newspaper pets" and "popular policemen" be mentioned with such utter disdain as pariahs among candidates lor appointments of the kind P It would almost seem as if Dr. Skae had in his eye some particular " popular policeman" who was also a "newspaper pet," and whom he thought likely to be a favored candidate for the appointment, the hypothetical " incapable clerk" being merely thrown in just to prevent the allusion looking too pointed, and as if Dr. Skae clutched at the first chance of escaping from this bird of prey which was waiting to swoop down upon the vacant appointment. Dr. Skae eaya explicitly that hia recommendation of the present Superintendent was made in order to avoid having an untrustworthy Wellington popular policeman, or newspaper pet, or incapable clerk " logrolled" upon him. The peril must indeed have seemed imminent, for Dr Skae admits that Mr. Whitelaw "had no asylum experience," and "no special fitness for the position," bo far as his testimonials went, these being Dr. Skae's only knowledge of the candidate, whose " previous employment was at some oil-works." We are not told in what way his employment in "oil-works" would impart to him skill in managing the insane. Possibly it was suppesed that hia unctuous experience would soften and smoothe his demeanour toward refractory patients, but no explanation is given on this point. But, we are informed, " one of his recommendations stated that he had commenced life as a clerk, and had subsequently been in charge of the goods department of a railway station." We must confess we do not quite see how the recommendation exactly comes in here. Is there any similarity between the management of goods at a railway station and that of the insane patients in an Asylum? There may be, but the association does not appear on the surface. We need not pursue this Bubjeot further — we are not now discussing Mr. Whitilaw but Dr. Seas. ijx. Whitxlaw may have had no other experience than that specified, and yet might turn out an admirable Superintendent. Our only object in drawing attention to the point | is that Dr. Skae's own statement as to the grounds on which he exercised his functions of recommendation to this important appointment may be fully and clearly apprehended. As to the character and conduct of the parson appointed, these are now sub judice, and we express not the slightest opinion on the subject. The present question is simply the grounds on which the appointment was admittedly made, and that has been brought out with the utmost clearness. After events might proveit justifiable or not, but if the hitter, then undoubtedly a very serious responsibility would rest on the Inspector for the manner in which he exercised the extremely limited functions he claims to possess. Proceeding with Dr. Skas's evidence, we next find that when he spoke to Mr. WaiiKLAW, in|December, about there being " too much restraint and seclusion," he spoke only "by way of caution, not of censure." We have heard during the present enquiry somewhat about the technical meaning attached to Ihe gentle words "restraint and " eeclnsion." The Chairman, for instance, remarked that one patient, Albket Hall, was " kept in a strait-jacket from 20th August till the middle of February— seven months — almost without any intermission whatever," and asked whether, in Dr. Skax's opinion, that waa not " a matter

for the Inspector to comment upon in hia •Inspector's Book.'" Dr. Skae replied — " No, I don't think he ia bound to do so." This then — seven months in a straitjacket—is merely an ordinary amount of " restraint," and not sufficiently exceptional to deserve comment on the part of the Inspector, although he admits that " means might have been found to prevent the patient from tearing up clothea, Ac., other than by keeping him in a camisole." This last term is a pleasant euphemism for the ugly-sounding "strait jacket." bnt it is to be feared that the soothing name does not render the severity of the "restraint" one whit less distressing to the unfortunate patient who, Dr. Skae admits, was thus needlessly "restrained" for seven long months, in defiance of his own remonstrances or, rattier, " caution." The 'Chairman naturally asked: "Then, disapg*6ving a certain systematic course of treatment which you say you saw going on for months, and finding your verbal remonstrances not attended to, did you not take more serious steps as Inspector?" To which Dr. Skae replied— " No !" We might fairly leave the evidence which we have quoted to Bpeak for itself. Comment ia really almost superfluous on such a system as that officially disclosed. Bnt it is as well to point out the practical bearing of the principles laid down by the Inspector. He doe 3 not hold himself bound to censure the excessive use of restraint and seclusion. It is explained that "restraint" means continuous confinement for months in a straitjacket, and that •' seclusion " means solitary incarceration in the dreaded "back" cells. These severe modeß of treatment may be carried to the utmost excess by a superintendent with perfect impunity, so far as the Inspector is concerned. The latter is not bound even to comment upon it in hia notebook. He may if he please make " suggestions" or "caution" a superintendent, but the latter need not take any notice unless he likes. If he does not the Inspector is not called upon to take any steps. The utmost he can do — and this is quite at his own option— is to mention the matter in his annual report to the Colonial Secretary, who will have the document printed for presentation to Parliament toward the end of the session. Subsequently the various superintendents will read the report, and if they are referred to unfavorably on the ecore of harshness, &c, their feelings will be so dreadfully lacerated and their sense of emulation so vigorously stimulated that they will at once proceed to rectify^ all the Ulb complained of — no, not complained of, but " noted" in the Inspector's report. Only, as this roundabout process of admonition would occupy the best part of a year, it would afford but a poor look-out for the unhappy patients who might all that time be groaning in the "restraint" of the straitjaoket—we beg pardon, " camisole," a much more agreeable expression — or pining in the " seclusion" of the " back." This is not what the public want or expect, and we erievonsly mistake the popular feeling on thiß point if it will not speedily be made clear that the public are determined to have some very different and much more stringent system of control. The public justly expect that the Inspeotor of an asylum, if he find a patient treated with undue severity, shall say at once, and authoritatively, " Take off that strait-jacket —we mean 'camisole' — instantly," or " Take him out of that ' back ' cell at once," and that his orders should be obeyed forthwith. They expect that his position in regard to all the officers over whom he is placed ahall be that of the centurion— "I say to my servant 'do this,' and he doeth it." Nothing less will or ought to satisfy the public. It ia preposterous that people should be compelled by law to commit insane relatives or friends to the custody of an asylum, and then find that they are left wholly to the tender mercies of irresponsible officers, who may or not be humane, and over whom there is absolutely no check whatever. Dr. Pkae's powers and duties, as interpreted by himself, may be the same as those of British Commissioners, but assuredly they are less— very much less — than will satisfy the public idea of what an Inspector's authority and functions should be. More, very much more than this is imperatively required, and must be as imperatively demanded, by the people of thia Colony. ____ —^____^__