HORRIBLE STATE OF THE WELINGTON ASYLUM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5359, 20 January 1879, Page 2

HORRIBLE STATE OF THE WELINGTON ASYLUM.

Dr. Skey's rpporfc on "the^c^df^o 3 '^ 1 Wellington Lunatic Asylum ahon-sk^ th " fearfully overcrowded. He aava ■ '1° numbers now in the asylum are - Tlls females, 46 : total, 112, being 40 i when I first drew attention to its a crowded condition. This has now real"; a pitch which is quite uaendurahla ed baffles all attempt at good maoao-t' Almost all thebed-rooms, intendedfort? Snt of one patient only, are o -enpied bv t* * three There is consequently no poasibUiK of safely disposing of excited and v£i 7 patients, and the risk of serious aceid! i even murders, is very great indeed J. ,' speak of abominable vices which are i;,J° to be encouraged by such attribution < persons of disordered passions and h» • of self-control. Passages and lavatorie, ,? used as sleeping apartments. Moat of * associated dormitories are crowded J;-' beds, to which less than half the minimi cubic space thought consistent with „„ 7 health is allotted. The solitary • the male "back ward" is even m,re than_the dormitories. This room 13 20 f? by 15 feet, and when visited on the °9th et " a rainy day, on which the patients conU not get out to the grounds,—it contained patients, packed so closely togetheron that they had not room to move their elbow Although three windows and the doora open, the atmosphere was close and off „ sive, but the superintendent explained it nothing to what it usually was in 1 1 •veaiher, when it is occupied by 35 patient and two attendants, and the windows ha" to be kept shut on account of strong co ;j winds. It is absurd to pretend that thii plaoe, in its present condition, has any claim to be considered an asylum. It would be an undeserved compliment to call it a prison It is not morally justifiable to csntinn. week after week adding to the nam " bars of its inmate 3. Whatever difficulty there cau be in otherwise disposing of the insaue, it appears to be necessary that » circular should be sent to all Resident Magistrates and Acting Justices in tha Pro vinctal District, informing them that no more patients can be received into the asylum until the building has been enlarged or a reduction has been effected in the number of residents. Unless some aach step as this be taken, it seems certain that some dreadful catastrophe will happen. It cannot be too distinctly stated that this asylum is in a dangerous and able condition." °