THE LUNATIC ASYLUMS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 10420, 24 July 1895, Page 4

THE LUNATIC ASYLUMS.

ANNUAL REPORT,

(Fubat Oub Own Cokbbsfondent. )

Wellington, July 23. Tha annual report of Dr MacGregor, inspector of lunatic asylums, was laid before Parliament to-day. The inspector, oa is his habit, is refreshingly unofficial in the directness and vigour of his remaiks, bs will be Been from some cf the extracts that I append. Tho inspector saye :—. m.TIS nuJ? ll>er ot registered insane persons on ; the 31st,Docember 1891 was 2168 (males,l3o6, ' e"SS °60)~*n increase over the previous year j of 70 males and 59 female*.

ADMISSIONS. __ On tha Ist January 1894 the nnmber of insane persons in our asylums was—l 229 males, 610 females ;—total, 2039. The number of those admitted for the first time during the year was— males 2/9, females 213^—total, 492." The readiaissions numbered—4l males, 43 females ;— total, 84. _ As compared with laat year, tho total admissions were 576, against 460 As in former years, the proportion of insane to our population looks much larger than it ought to in comparison with other countries, but onr peculiar system 'of local government has the effect of crowding into our asylums all coogeuitally deficient persons, and an unusually largo number of aged people who are sufienng merely from senile decay—people wbo elsewhere find refuge in workhouses and other similar institutions. In fact tho proportion depends on the isijue in each ca?e of a struggle between the"local bodies (who are anxious to relieve the local rate) and the general Government officers (who try to defend the consolidated revenue;. The stipendiary magistrates nave the power of admission on the certificate of two medical men, while the officers of the General Government cannot venture to discharge unsuitable admiHsions unless they previously cau provide some means of providing for ttiem either with friends or in some local refuge. Thus it comes tbat our insane are steadily increasing, especially in times of depression, at a far higher rate than the'real increase of oar population warrants. .. -,-'

KEW BUILDING AND IMPBOYEMENTS. Last year I reported regarding Porirua Asylum that "as soon as, the central block is finished every bed. will be occupied, and still ad the other asylum* are complaining of overcrowding. It i 8 necessary that steps should' be taken without delay to complete the building by adding the two Urge wings so as to accommodate the 500 patients-tor which iit was planned. Judging by the ratei of buiidiug progress in the past and the rapid increase of patients, whom we find ,it impossible to discharge, having no place to send tusm to, the pressure on our space will be terrible before we can be ready to relieve it. Tbe greatest difficulty is experienced,, on the male side of the Auckland Asylum, and I recommend that % su. m f £3000 be voted to extend the number 0. single rooms and provide suitable day rooms." This was the position las£ year:. Nothing has been done since either to-complete tho Porirua Asjlnm or to: extend the -Auckland Asylum, liesidos all this, our difficulties have been multiplied by the total destruction by fi:e of the Auckland Auxiliary Atylum, which had provided admirable accommodation for over 100 p«.tieut». I refrain from, dwelling upon the constant worry aud anxiety uuder heavy a.nd ■ unremitting reapoubibility to the public whioh the inaction of the Government and of Parliament has cast upon myself and the other officer* of the department. My own' health hasibpc-n shaken for. the first time ia my life, and two of tbe best medical superintendents— j Drß Levinge and King—are broken in health i and spirits to such an extent that they had to get a holiday, leaving me with a crippled staff to cope with such difficulties as vI firmly believe nev*-;r had to.be faced by a public officer in this colony. ■ .'.

FINANCIAL RESULTS* OP THE TEAR. The l«t»l Kress expeuditure for the \ear was £58,700 16s 3d, as compared «ir,h v £55.351 5s lld last year—an iccreaseiof £3349 10s 4d. DUNEDIN. .'* '

Accidents.—Beyond the inevitable scratches and contusions, of which a careful record has been kept, thero have only been two cases calling for remark during the year at Seacliff. A man's bowels were ruptured by a tree falling on him, and another had his skull fractured by falling from the nail window. Thi* latter acci-' deut was due to defective'locks, which were worn out, bnt have now been renewed throughout the whole asylum at a Cost of £400. I had imule mauy representations about the necessity for getting new lock* before I succeeded. Seacliff, 23rd August 1894—After careful examination into every 'department of this institution I found everything in good order. The staff is efficient and • conleated; the patieuts ate , weti fed, well clothed, and look "well; every pait of the "building is clean, and kept well warmed audi'ventilated. The total number of patients is 519. the females being 188. I am glad^ to sea that Dr Fooks has arranged to hava the suicidal cases and the epileptics classified so as to admit of more careful Mirveillanco. I regret to find that the. north winy is still moving bodily forward, und that coosi-quently the cracks across the corridor are widw than at my last visit. Mr Ussher is ideviairig means of counteracting the danger arising from this cause. The maiu eewer has been interim pted'*'6wing to the same ew.th movement. Just below the medical superintendent's house -it is a matter of urgency that si.-nift decision should be come to at once as to how to remedy this. Dr Fo;>ks has had to le'ive the house1 and take refuge in the : rooms that were 4s'ed as offices and : reception^ rooms. The -lowering of the I windows in the two front day rooms has been ;ft great improvement, enabling the piueita to enjoy the mtguiticent sea view from whi.-m they were formerly shut out ■ '■■< The laundry has always been a great difficulty, against which the officers have had great trouble in contending. It ia so inadequate to th* requirements of j the winter that uo longer delay is possible./ In addition to the building must be put up a new I drying closet, built on the model of that at | Ponrna. The whole will'require an additional I expenditure pf £500. The'extra leave given to the attendants has been much appreciated. All tbe books and documents -are in eood order except tho store issue book aud "the stock register. December 30, 1894.—N0 one can examine this asylum without being strongly impressed with the care that is being devoted 'to the patients, medically aud otherwiss. The general health of the inmates is -better than in any other of our asylums, largely, I believe, owing to its admirable situation aiid the exhilarating and beautiful surroundings., The dietary is ample aud wholesome, th« dormitories and day rooma airy (thanks to Dr King's improvements), the beds, bedding, aud clothing carefully attended to-in fact, in all essential respects the condition of the asylum is satisfactory. Dr Fooks has maintained the discipline of the asylum, and he has, I believe, secured the goodwill of all his subordinates. Dr Craig, the assistant medical officer, has given great satisfaction, and I am satisfied he hae done his duty well. The only drawback tbat now, as heretofore, marks this asylum as compared with the others is the greater noisiness of tbe rcfractorv wards, especially on the female side. I2m inclined to think this ia due to the highly nutritious and stimulating diet, combined w=th the difficulty of giving them sufficient exercise in the open nir to induce natural fatigue I would suggest that greater efforts be made to meet this difficulty by walking the noisy and boisterous patients, so as to tire them out a little. As regards the exteut to which patients are employed in useful open air work, this asylum will compare favourably with any other institution known to me. The above romar'is apply mamly to the few noisy aud boisterous persons, who of themselves are enough to upset the rest. Afc times on tbe farm 125 men were at work, m the garden 38, in fche workshop 43 giving a total of 216 out of. doors, ia addition to 80 who were employed in the wards Everywhere great difficulty: is experienced in keeping the women suitably occupied, but I am convinced that Miss Beswick dots her best in this.way. The farm is again a disappointment owmg to tne unprecedented drought which has hitherto prevailed. Unfoi'tuuately in mv estimates I assumed we oould not at Seacliff have two bad years running, and our means will be very straitened this year. The amount of restraint employed is reduced to the smallest compass, and every case ia dnly entered Tho new airing courfc will soon be re.dy for oconrmtion, but I am disappointed to see the fence so bigh. Some patients can still get over it and it gives a prison-like lcok to that end of the asylum. I would rather tru-t to vigilant attendant*. Dr Fooks his energetically catri"d on the works stall awaiting completion The amusements and religious service* a- e regalaHv attended to. An air of contentment pervades the place, and I am sure the public may be content. Mr Caraaus, the official visitor, is most careful in hia inspections.