IN THE ASYLUM.

North Otago Times, Volume CV, Issue 13939, 24 July 1917, Page 3

IN THE ASYLUM.

"THE EVENING 01 THEIR DAYS." SAD FEATURE OF MENTAL I" HOSPITALS. WELLINGTON, July 21. Senility is the cause of the largest number of eases 'of.insanity admitted to New Zealand's mental hospitalssenility accompanied by filial ingratitude, in some eases, according to Dr. Frank Hay, Inspector-General of these institutions. He writes in very candid fashion, in his annual report io Parliament, regarding these cases. After pointing out that Kill of the admissions last year were of persons over sixty, and that senility was assigned as the principal cause of their trouble in 118 eases, lie states that it was premature in some, but in others the ordinary decay of old age inipairin« the mental faculties. A large number ■of these old people merely needed a little oversight and nursing, and might >&|11 have speut the evening of their (fays at home, provided someone were at hand to perform dutiful and kindly offices, says Dr. Hay. "1 am not going to make any comment on filial ingratitude—cue does not know the actual state 'o'f things in this cottage or that 'house, and m* be the aged menially in firm, pa rent flirted with sorrowfully —but I consi.'_'j% necessary to point out that patients are sent to ns fronr^lr,.-TM-oplc's Homes and Benevolent Institutions, and that in some of the eases thence received we have noted on admission symptoms which were the prelude of the final dissolution. ■ Wc take over the care of this class, as indeed we must; it cannot be provided for entirely by homo earc or entirely in institutions under Charitable Aid Boards; but a certain amount of common sense should be exercised with regard to those that can and those that cannot be cared for properly outside mental hospii'als. It is useless to plead. 'lf the doctors certify, then our.responsibility ends,'" The Inspector-General urges that Old People's Homes should contain provision for dealing .with ordinary physiological Eenile decay, instead of helping to fill- the asylums. And if the Hospital and Charitable Aid Boards will not undertake the care of these cases, then they should pay the Mental Hospital Department for what it does for those who are mentally weak through old age.