THE COLONY'S INSANE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12415, 26 July 1902, Page 2

THE COLONY'S INSANE.

(Fitou.iOun Own Correspondent.) ! ' WELLINGTON, Juiy 24. - According to tho annual report of tho ! lunatic asylums of tho colony, which was presented to Parliament to-day, tho num- | ber of registered insane persons on the : 31st of December, 1901, was 2773 (males I 1654, females 1110), boing an increase of j 101 (inaleß 73, females 28) over tho provious year. The insane of tho colony aro distributed as ■ follo\v3 Males. Females. Total. Auckland .. 322 103 515 Christehurcli .. 30? 213 s<lG Dunedin (SeaclifT).. 423 , 22G CJ9 Ilolcitiku. .. .. ' 85 31 11C Nelson .. .. 8J 51 130 Porirua .. '.. .. 2G4 051 515 Wellington . .. 102 100 253 Ashburn Ilall (private asylum) . 20 21 41 Totals., ... .. 1654 ll]9 • 2773 The proportion of the male insane to t'lio male population exclusive of Maoris is 3.97 per 1000, .or 1 in 252. and inclusive of Macrii 3.78, or 1 in 264. The proportion of the female, insane to the femalo population exclusive of Maoris is 2.96, or 1 in 337, and inclusive of Maoris 2.84, or 1 in 352. Tho proportion of the total insane to the total population exclusive of Maoris is 3148, or 1 in ?.% and inclusive of Maoris 3.34, or 1 in 30D. On the Ist of January, 1981, the number of insane persons in the asylums was.:— Milos, 1581; females, 1091;— total, '2672. The number of those admitted during the year for the first- time was:—Males, 281; females. 136:—total, 467. Tho roadmmsions numbered:—Males', 92; females, 38;— total, «■ 130. ■ Tho percentage of recoveries on the admissions was:—Males, 39.06; females, • 46.64;—t0ta1, 4?,.17, ns compared with 39.64 for the previous year. Tho average cojt per patient for the colony was £28 la 11 £d, | as against £27 lis lljd in 1900. I Tho totaJ receipts for the, mle of produce, ! etc., from ike farms' for 1901 amounted to I £3178, as against £2493 for the present year. The cost of maintenance was lowest | at Auckland, where the average was £24 6s, or £17 6s 2d after deducting receipts for : maintenance, sals of produce, etc. The cost was highest at. Wellington, where ihe. figures were £56 63 3i and £23 6s. SEAOLIFF ASYLUM. 111 his annual report, Dr F. Truby King writes:—"ln regard to the statistics : A point of special 'is the. very .large number of admissions^—viz,, 141,' and, "although nearly the half of this number were discharged, either relieved or recovered, the number remaining js a serious chargo. A great increase has ■ been made in our accommodation during the last few years, but lias not been sufficient to overtake the pre-existing overcrowding to provide for newcomers. Wo have now 70 more patients than the cubic spaco warrants', and this makos itself 'fj.lt in . an unduly high death rate, especially from, respiratory diseases, which caused 22 deaths during the year.' I 1 if teen deaths were, due to ■ tuberculosis. Tho light and airy new buildings which have been erected of late maintain the 'health of the patients lodged in them, butin the main building .it is impossible to secure 4 proper standard', of light, air, and dryness, and, when we have to contend with the fcqv.eta of epidemics, of influenza, and of monies, us lias been the case during tho past year, the oHTeeta of overcrowding aro especially manifest. Various works in connection with tho estate have boon carried out, and the usual recreations have been provided during tho year..' I regret to have to record .1 homicide''by one of the pjitients, which is, however, the only accident of the kind which has happened at the asyium .during 13 years. The act wan a remarkable one. a suicidal, melancholic patient killing a sleeping Ohinaman with a- stako wrenched from a flower pot. The man hiu! tried unsuccessfully to kill himself before coming to the asylum, and, finding the direct road to death still closed to him, he sought to effect his purpose indirectly by committing murder, thinking that lie would lie hanged for doing so. There is a slight increase in tho gross cost pet" head this year, but this is more than accounted for 'by the large which have to he refunded from the Public Works Department. TWitci this, the necessary repairs and additions to buildings. etc., charged here against annual expenditure ' have been very heavy. The thanks of the authorities are due to the Otago Daily Times and Witness Company and to the livening Star Company ,for copies of their journals (supplied free). Very acceptable donations of hooks, periodicals, etc., hove also been received from private individuals. To my colleague Dr Falconer and to tho etaff I'have to convoy my thanks for thoir cordial assistance in carrying out the work of the institution." The Inspector-general, reporting 011 November 28, 1901,' writes:—"l ifound six mules and five females in bed. all being carefully treated. I sn.w an excellent dinner served out, tho distribution occupying exactly 10 minutes. Tho plates were warm, and tho order and quietness very satisfactory. The total number of males is 417, females 223: six males and eight females are wet. or dirty cases; 210 men are working outside and 103 inside: 15 women are in tho garden picking gooseberries. A very beautiful site lias been .chcseu for the'new nurses' home. The building ia very suitable and very picture-quo iu design. Both this

""i mi r ? w new rooms o» tho femalo Blue will be ready for occupation as soon as tho needful furnituro can be procured. No further building operations ought to bo undertaken hero: tho overcrowding must be provided for elsewhere. '