OUR LUNATIC ASYLUMS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1947, 18 June 1891, Page 15

OUR LUNATIC ASYLUMS.

(Fbom Oub Own Cobkbsfondent.) Wellington, June 12.

The annual report of Dr Macgregor, the inspector of lunatio asylums, was presented to Parliament to-day. He states that the number of lunatics in the colony was 1797, an increase of 3d over the previous year. The proportion of insane to population Ts 1 in 951, exclusive of Maoris, or lin 374 including Maoris— as com' pared with 1 in 308 in Viotoria, 1 in 344 in England, 1 in 377 in New South Wales, 1 in 427 in South Australia. The Porirna Asylum (Wellington), for chronic cases, will accommodate over 500 cases at a cost of £35,000. He fears there is no near prospect of special accommodation for criminal lunatics, inebriates, and idiots. The cost per head has been reduced by £1 0s Id per annum, and is now 10a OJd per head weekly in New Zealand, as against 12s 9|d in Victoria. In his report Dr Macgregor says, in reference to the Seacliff Asylum* — "Our most urgent requirements at present are a residence for the medical superintendent at Seacliff, so as to pre* mit of the room he now occupies being Used for their purpose as public offices. So long as the present absurd arrangement is allowed to continue it will be impossible to get good married men to remain, and the whole working of the asylum will be greatly hampered, The fact of allowing the main entrance of the asylum to become merely the front door of the doctor's room?, compels the main entrance to the asylnm and the public approach* thereto to be by the back door; The effect of thfa has been, ever since the asylum was opened,To turn the whole of its working topsy-turvy, to exclude the patients practically from the sunny slope in front, and to confine them to sunless courts in the rear, all to save the cost of a wooden house for the doctor.''

Dr Macgregor's latest report on the Seaoliff Asylum is as follows :— " I found that during the past year Dr King has initiated and successf ally carried oat a very great improvement in the drainage and ventilation of this asylum, that now there is no reason to apprehend any dangerous effects from the original deficiency of plans in these respects. He has also effected great reforms and improvements in the internal administration of the institution. The new billiard room, the instrumental band, under the skilful leadership of Mr Hay, and the ornamentation and polishing of the wards, have greatly increased the efficiency and attractiveness of the asylum. Notwithstanding the vigour with which the rules are enforced, and the breaches of discipline which, have occurred in the process of securing their enforcement, the best spirit prevails among' the (staff, and I think that a point has beep attained beyond which, discipline having been succe.Bsfnly vindicated, it will very seldom be necessary to have recourse to extreme measures', for the future. A feature of special interest is the new airing court laid out in front of the building on the female side. Very soon, I' hope, that by building a suitable house for the medical superintendent the whole front will be set apart for the use of patients; ' The new and commodious farm buildings are nearly finished. Such a list of improvements effected in one year is a record of which any superintendent "might feel proud. The total number of patients is 275 males and 201 females, and I have to repeat my gratification with the con lifciqn in which I found them. Their treatment is in all respects satisfactory, and the administration of the institution as a whole is admirable. ' Ntf"*orm of restraint is in use except that in certain cases looked gloyes are put on to prevent patients from injuring themselves and canvas dresses for a few destructive patients. The number of patients who are induced to do some kind of work is very great, and their general appearance and health are in consequence strikingly improved."