New Zealand Times. MONDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1874.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4231, 12 October 1874, Page 2

New Zealand Times. MONDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1874.

The Hon. Captain Fraser, whilst addressing members of the Legislative Council resxsecting the state of the lunatic asylums throughout the Colony, and the advisability of adopting a more modern system in the treatment of the patients, drew rather a gloomy picture of the state of things prevailing. Not only did he state that there were abuses of a general character that required rectifying, but, said he, there were some of those of the specific nature that has sometimes caused private asylums to bo associated in the minds of many intelligent persons with much that is dark and terrible in the treatment human beings have received, from time to time, at the hands of others. He gave an instance of a gentlemen with a little mind but a large estate—perfectly harmless —who had been confined as a dangerous lunatic, in order that his friends might fatten upon, his property. If this be true, and it remains uncontradicted, there is treatment of a very horrible character being administered in the very midst of us, somewhere or another in this flourishing Colony. Captain Fraser, who said ho placed his information in the hands of the Colonial Secretary, whom he knewtobe of ahumane character, and whose bounden duty it would be to have justice done to this man, ought to have been somewhat more explicit. The man, said he, had already been confined so long that partial paralysis had taken place. He had been allowed shamefully to languish in an asylum for the last seven years, although the inspector had reported, as long ago as 1871 that he thought the patient, who was “of a very harmless disposition, and not laboring under anj dangerous delusion, should be permitted to visit the different parts of the Colony, under proper superintendence, and that his income, instead of accumulating for the benefit of others, should be expended for his own comfort, and the consequent prolongation of his life.” An authoritative statement of such a case seems to demand inquiry. For, if it be correct, there may be even worse things done, for aught we know. Mr. Charles Reade, in one of his lately published novels, powerfully sketched the cases of certain persons who were immured in private asylums, on the too easily obtained certificates of medical men, and who were driven to insanity by the treatment they received. His allegations were challenged by medical authorities, but he affirmed that they were founded on facts that had been brought under his observation. Captain Frazer said that “many of the inmates of the asylums of New Zealand” were treated, not humanely, but as if they were ‘ ‘ wild beasts.” In the English asylums “he found excited patients in the airing courts playingskittlesand tennis who, inNewZealand, would have been locked up like wild beasts.” And, again, here “the excited insane walked backwards and forwards in a small yard like wild animals.” There can be no question that this is what Captain Fraser intended to say, for wo quote from Hansard. We submit that he ought to have named the asylums he referred to. As the case stands, all are classed in the same category. There is other testimony to hand that dhe lunatic asylums of the Colony are not, taken as a whole, conducted satisfactorily. The Superintendents of Wellington and Otago shared his views, and intend to have their asylums placed under the charge of physicians of eminence, who had devoted their to the study of this 'particular branch in pathology, and who would be imported let the expense be what it might. Captain Fraser intimated his intention to proceed to England at the close of the session, and he hoped that there, with the assistance of the Agent-General, he might be able to prevail on some suitable gentlemen to accept the appointments. But the idea of the gallant Captain, although not opposed to that of Dr. Paley of Melbourne, who specially reported on the lunatic asylums of the Colony, is not exactly in unison with it. Dr. Paley, having a view to the fact that the General Government had no power to cause the Provincial Governments throughout the Colony to place their asylums in charge of medical men, advised that all asylums containing over 100 patients should have a resident medical superintendent, that those with fewer be visited daily by a qualified medical practitioner, and that one having knowledge and experience in the treatment of the insane and the management of asylums should be appointed inspector of all asylums in the Colony. Captain Fraser thinks that the smaller hospitals might bo daily visited, as they are now, and therefore there is but little real difference between his view and that of Dr. Paley. The only one is that he

thinks the Government, before it appoints the inspector, ‘ ‘ should ascertain whether it would not be more advantageous to adopt the modern system in the larger establishments.” Why there should be delay, and why the fact that medical gentlemen are to bo imported from England to superintend the larger asylums need prevent the Government appointing an inspector to report upon large and small alike, does not appear. The Asylum of Taranaki only contained three patients when last reported upon, and that at Napier had had thirteen in it during the year 1873 ; but it is by no means clear that a properly qualified inspector could not give the keepers of these establishments valuable directions in respect to the treatment and management of patients. Indeed, a number of these may be found in Dr. Paley’s report, which, according to Captain Eraser, is very nearly valueless. For reasons that may be supplied, it may be described as being of quite as much value as the general description given of the asylums of the Colony by the hon. gentleman—one that is a good deal at variance with facts.

In the discussion on the subject that took place in the Council, Colonel Brett took occasion to remark that Captain Fraser’s speech might have created an unfavorable impression, that would be unfounded, respecting the Asylum at Christchurch. He considered it a pleasing duty to mete out a little praise to rhe governor of that institution—brother of Mr. Seagar, the superintendent of the Mount View Asylum, Wellington—as he “was an able, intelligent, and earnest Government servant, exercising considerable ability and skill in his specialty. He, with the assistance of his brother, had erected a splendid organ, which was daily played upon. He had had the whole of the rooms decorated with amusing and instructive prints and pictures. He also had periodical concerts, theatricals, and evening parties, with dancing and so forth. He had cultivated a great variety of plants, and had a large number of birds about the place. It would be a great loss to Canterbury if he were superseded.” On visiting the Wellington Asylum we were surprised to find that Captain Fraser had been there this year, and had, in the visitor’s book, expressed his satisfaction at the management of it. After seeing it, the idea of human beings being there treated as wild beasts is an absurdity. There is nothing to hinder any number of the patients taking their hats or bonnets and walking away. Their clothing and bedding are of the best quality, their food is excellently served, and they have whatever luxuries they desire that the medical officer will permit. • All this is very creditable to the Provincial authorities. The Superintendent is in no way stinted in the expenditure of money for the welfare of the inmates of the establishment. It stands in a mere post-and-rail enclosure of about seventy acres of land, and this is being utilised in divers ways. A large orchard has been planted by the patients. One, two, or more, as the case may be, have taken the kitchen garden in hand. Although the Asylum has not been open more than a year, the walls are decorated with prints and engravings, very neatly framed by the patients. The concert room, also used as a church, has a very nice harmonium in it. In the sitting-room of the female patients there is a very handsome piano, kindly presented by Mr. Burrett. There are various birds about the place, and in the library are a number of philosophical instruments. There is a weekly concert, dance, or evening party ; and it is eagerly looked forward to by the inmates. Indeed, non-permission to attend it is the only punishment attempted. There is also a fine magic lantern with which the patients are frequently amused. The sitting-room of the male patients has a capita) billiard table in it. The attendants seem to be admirably qualified to discharge their duties, and there have been only two escapes attempted since the building was opened. There are faults in it, but these are more of an inherent character than consequences of neglect. It is of timber, and the strongroom should have been made stronger. Provision ought to have been made for proper ventilation, because lunatics cannot be expected to live in accordance with sanitary laws. Between regular ventilation and occasionally opening a window to let in adraughtthere is a wide difference. Gas, we were glad to see, is being laid on, but water also ought to be, in case a fire should be kindled ; and the place ought to be securely enclosed. But, in respect to the treatment of patients, all is, we believe, as satisfactory as possible. They are afflicted with various monomanias, and in some cases are quite mad ; but their monomanias are carefully studied. Whilst harmless they are allowed as much liberty as sane persons, and when a paroxysm is impending—signs of which are easily discerned by the initiated—they are carefully attended to. There is nothing at the Mount “View establishment to justify Captain Fraser’s allegations. This statement can be borne out by numbers of Wellington visitors to it. Mr. Travers inspects and annually reports upon it, and Dr. France, who visits it daily, also reports annually.