THE COLONY'S INSANE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2525, 6 August 1902, Page 14

THE CO LONY'S INSANE.

(From Ocb Owx Coerespoxdext.)

WELLINC4TON, July 2*

According to ths annual rrpcit of the lunatic asylums of the colony, which was presented to" Parliament to-day, the number of registered iiisat'o persons on the 31st of December. 1901, was 2773 (males 1654, females 1119), being an increase of 101 (males 73. females 28) over the previous year The insane of the colony are distributed a« follows: —

The proportion of the male insane to the male population exclusive of Maoris is 3.97 pp-r 1000. or 1 in 252, and inclusive of MaorL, 3.78, or 1 m 26 1 . The proportion of the female insane to the female population exclusive of Maons is 2.96, or 1 in 337, and inclusive of Maoris 2.3*, or 1 in 352. The proportion of the total insane to the total population exclusive of Maoris is 3 48, or 1 in 266, and inclusive of Maoris 3.34, or 1 in 300. On the Ist of January, 1901, the number of insane persons in the asylums was: — Males, 1581; females, 1091;— total, 2672. Tho number of tho<=e admitted during the year for the first time was: — Males, 261; females, 186;— total, 467. The readmiosions numbered:— Males, 92; females, 38;— total, ISO. The percentage of recoveries on t'ae admissions was:— Males, 39 06; females. 46.64-;— total, 42 17. as compared with 39.64 for the previous year. The average co^t per patient for the colony was £28 Is ll^d, ac against £27 lls ll^d in 1900. The total receipts for the sale of produce, etc.. from the farms for 1901 amounted to £3178, as against £2493 for the piesent year The cost of maintenance was lowest at Auckland, where the average was £24 6>, or £17 6s 2d after deducting leceipts^for maintenance, sale of produce, etc. Thp cost was highest at Wellington, where- the figures were £36 63 3^ and £23 6.

SEACLIFF ASYLUM

In hia annual report, Dr F Truby King writes: — "In regard to the statistics : A point of special interest is the very large number of admissions — \iz., 14-1, and, although nearly the half of this number were discharged, either relic-ved or iecovered, the number remaining is a serious charge. A great increase has been made in our accommodation dm ing the la?t few years, but lus not bton sufficient to overtake the pie existing overcrowding to provide for newcomers. We have new 70 more patients than the cubic spate, vvai rants, and this makes itrelf felt in an unduly high death rate, especially' from rc-piratory diseases, which caused 22 deaths during the year. Fifteen deaths wore due to tubsreulocLs. The- light and airy new- buildings which have been erected of late maintain the health of the patients lodged in them, but in the main br.ild.jig it is impossible to secure a proper standard of light, air, and dryness. and, ivhen we Lave to contend with the sequelae of epidemics, of influenza, and of measlcM, a-> has been the case during tho past year the effecU of overcrowding aro especially manifest. Variou3 works in connection with the e3tate liava been carric-l out, and the usual re<:reat:on3 have been provided during the year I regret to have to rpcoid a homicide by one of the pa-tien t 3, which ii. however, the only arcldcnt of the kind which ha 3 happened at ths asylum duriiig 13 year 3 'lhe act was a remrukab'o one, a suicidal, molauchoho patient killing a sleeping Chinaman with a stale wrenched from a flower pot. The man had 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 he would be hanged for doing so. There is a slight increase m tiie gross cost per head Jiio year, but this is more than accounted for by the large sums which have io be refunded from the Public Works Department. Bas.des >-liis the necessary repairs and additions to building's, etc., charged here against annual expenditure have been very heavy. Tiie thanks of the authorities are dr.o to the Otago Daily Times and Witness Company and to the Evening Star Company for copies of their journals (supplied free). Very acceptable donations of books, periodicals, etc., have also been received from private individuals. To my colleague Dr Falconer and to tho staff I have to convey my thanks for their cordial assistance in carrying out the work of the institution." Tbe Inspector-general, reporting on November 28, 1901, writes: — "I found six males and five females in bed. ail being carefully treated. I saw an excellent dinner served out, the distribution occupying exactly 10 minutes. The plates were warm, and the order and quietness very satisfactory. The total, number of males is 417,

are wet, ov dirty, easeg; 210 men are work* ing outside and 103 inside; 15 women are in the garden picking gooseberries. A very beautiful site has been chosen for the new nurses' home. The building is very suitable and very picturesque in design. Both this and the row of new rooms on the female side will be ready for occupation as soon as the needful furniture can be procured. No further building operations ought to be undertaken here: the overcrowding must bo provided for elsewhere

Vuckland CLnstcbiuch Dimeflm (Seucliff) . FJokitika N'el«on Corirua Wellington \=hburn Hall (private asylum) a. Males 322 30T 4 '3 S5 85 264 i:2 20 Females. 193 213 226 31 54 251 100 21 Total. 515 5-J6 649 116 133 515 252 41 Totals .. .. 1651 1119 2-773