Public Institutions.

Otago Witness, Issue 1499, 7 August 1880, Page 21

Public Institutions.

OUR LUNATIO ASYLUMS. The annual report of the Inspector of Lunatic Asylums has been laid on the table of the House. The following is a summary :— The number registered as insane on December 31st, 1879, was 1056, being— males 695, and females 361. Compared with the numbers of the pro vious year there was a decrease at Christchurch of two, Napier four, New Plymouth three j and an increase at Dunedin of 50, Auckland 35, Wellington 19, Hokitika seven, Nelson one— makiDg a total increase of 101, The proportion of insane to the estimated general population at the end of the year (Maoris excluded) was one to every 445, This compares favourably with the proportions found in older countries. The total number of patients admitted during the year was 399, of whom 248 were males and 151 females. Among the number were 79 readmissions. The admissions exceeded those of the previous year by 21, the increase consisting of one male and 20 females. In this Colony persons suffering from transient and comparatively trifling affections of the mind are sent to asylums who would not be treated so in other countries. Tho admissions were in proportion to the general population 1 in 1162. The proportion in England in 1878 was 1 in 1854, and in Victoria lin 1324. In New Zealand intemperance figure* largely, being the cause of 84 admissions. This prominent cause of insanity was in many inßtances combined with others equally powerful, and often an inherited malady. In the report of the English Commissioners for 1878 drink appears to be the cause of exciting or predisposing 213 per cent, of the male and 7 9 per cent, of the female, and 14 per cent, of the total admismm ijrto asylums. In Auckland it was the

cause in 8 per cent, of the males and none of the females admitted, whereas the percentage of cases among the male admissions due from this causa in Wellington was 24 ; Christchurch, 27; Dunedin, 32; Nelson, 40; Hokitika, over 56. That hereditary predisposition has only been ascertained to exist in 40 cases is rather a proof of the difficulty of getting information than a reason for supposing that it; is not present in a great many more. A great number of patients belong to the most curable olass of cases, while comparatively few belong to tho least promising olass. Six ad* missions were under 10 years, and 15 over 60. People are sent to asylums of these ages often as much because they are poor and friendless as because of insanity, and this might be said of many others. Included among the admissions are 4 males and 6 females committed as habitual drunkards to the asylums at Christchurch and Dunedin by order of the Judges, under the Lunatics Act, 1868. The total 1 number under care during the year was 1354. Of these, 188 were discharged as recovered, 31 as not recovered, and 71 died. The proportion! of recoveries varies greatly in different asylum?.. At Christchurch it was 28 80; at Dunedin, where hitherto there has been fully twice ashigh a death-rate, it was 7 09. Of the patients; left at the end of the year, 6 were children under 10 years of age, and 54 were over 60; 48 were born in New Zealand, and 92 in foreign countries. The total ex. penditure on management and maintenance for the year 1879 was L 35.360 6s sd, whioh is :L93 more than the previous year ; but the* amount received for the maintenance of patients and sale of asylum produce was L3795— L1294 more than the previous year. This deducted from the above leaves L 31.384 13s 6d as the actual expenditure by the Government, or Ll2Ol less than in 1878. Although there was an increase of 106 in the total number under treatment, the cost of maintenance per head was L 33 9s lOd, or, deducting repayments, L 29 10a 6d, being less than the previous year by L 3 10s lid. Allowing for repayments, it was at. Auckland L 26 8s lOd, Christchurch L 27 11s 6d,, Dunedin L 27 12s 6d, Nelson L 3119*, Napier L 33 Us, Wellington L 34 Us 2d, Hokitika L 4»! 5i Bd. The leading cause of the difference iru the cost of maintenance is the difference in. wages given, which for male attendants range from L6O at Nelson and Auckland to Ll2O afc Hokitika. Besides the inequalities which, still exist in the rate of wages, there is another reason why the outlay in this item varies so graatly— that is, that on account of the unusual difficulty in the way of supervision experienced in some asylums, owing to their faulty construction and overcrowded condition,, a much larger proportion of attendants) is required than in others. So great is tho I difference in the relative numbers of attendants I to patients in Auckland and Dunedin, that despite the enormous inequality in the rate of wages, the cost per head for salaries and wages is almost the same in both institutions. It is not possible for one general inspector to maintain such a system of inspection over the Colony as is really necessary. Deputy or local inspectors are almost indispensable for carrying out the Lunatica Act, but the amount of gooa which they rtuy do cannot be measured merely by the provisions of the Act. Tae, same remark applies to ofnoial visitors, and several 1 , should be appointed to each asylum, Such/ institutions can hardly be subject to too muchinspection, either in the interest of the lunatics, the publio, or the officers in charge, to whom,, if they are properly performing their dniies, it is particularly welcome. The exceaß of patients 1 over accommodation at the end of the year was 1 259, but the works already undertaken are calculated to meet the requirements of three years hence. The total contract cost of new buildings in course of construction is. L 122.054.