MENTAL HOSPITALS

Otago Witness, Issue 3002, 27 September 1911, Page 53

MENTAL HOSPITALS

INCREASE IN INSANITY. (From Our Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, September 21. Dr Frank Hav in his report on the mental hospitals of the Dominion draws attention to the increase in the number of patients from'3s4B this year to 3b tU. This year they are distributed as follows :—Auckland, 790; Christchurch, 679; Dunedin (Seacliff and Orokonm), 880; Hokitika, 192; Nelson, 190; Porirua, 897; Ashburton Hall (private mental hospital), 42. Tables are published showing that there is undoubtedly a tendency towards an increasing ratio, and 1910 with its 7,4 admissions in excess of the previous year stands higher for all admissions (7.70 to 10,000) than any previous year since 1900, and shares with 1908 a similar position with respect to first admissions. It will be seen that while in the average of the 10 previous years every 1462 persons in the population contributed an inmate to the mental hospitals, in the year" under review an inmate was contributed by every 1299, and with regard to persons whose insanity was for the first time brought under the notice of the department, every 1604 persons in the general population contributed one in 1910 and every 1804 persons one in the average of the 10 previous years. In regard to the admissions it is noted that about 44 per cent, are classed. as . curable, and about 26 per cent, only are placed in the more hopeful class.- The causes of insanity are summarised as follows :

On the phase of the subject Dr Hay writes :—" Popular talk in recent years on the subject of heredity at a time when the phases of opinion held by scientists have been under discussion and less dogmatic views are expressed by publicists, has left the man in the street wondering if there is anything in it after all, there being so hiariy men' in the street as well that they should be told that the leader of all the schools are agreed that commonly the important factor which makes the difference-when one individual does and another does not become under a like stress is a tendency which may be and commonly 'is transmitted by heredity. In this connection it may not be out of place to express a hope that the community will take full advantage _ of the eugenics education societies which have been founded. The mating of individuals is a matter it is thought to be the outcome of free choice, but to the right and left are artificial barriers which few overleap, such as social position and religion, and eyes are not turned from the path which leads to limited selection. With the spread of knowledge and higher ideals it is not too much to hope that in time there will arise the eugenic barrier, which will as naturally exclude from selection the palpably unfit." In regard to the important question of accommodation, the report says the Wolfe Bequest Hospital at Auckland is completed and in occupation. At P.orirua the extensive additions were N filled by transfers from Mount View, and it may reasonably be anticipated that the admission rate at both these institutions will continue to rise. In Auckland, as a result of the large settlement taking place in the province, and at Porirua, because it now gets the admission rate, must be added the general rise in admissions which is to be expected from an increasing population, and one may fairly assume an annual expenditure of from £12,000 to £15,000 in buildings to keep pace with this increase. But for the next two years a sum largely in excess of this is necessary, especially as surplus accommodation was one of the features of the classification scheme. We considered the first instalment of this relief should by now have been almost ready for occupation at Tokanui by patients from other mental hospitals. Sketch plans to accommodate 2bo were made and handed over for development to the architect detailed for the work, with whom all particulars were discussed. He unfortunately became ill, and as the serious turn his illness took was not at first anticipated work was suspendeu in expectation of his return. When, however, the illness was prolonged another architect was detailed for the work. The requirements were discussed with him, and one of the plans was got through. . For this tenders are about to be called in the meantime, to afford im-

mediate substantial relief for overcrowding. Plans for an addition at Auckland have been completed, and specifications are being got out. This once out of hand, the plans and specifications of two other buildings at Toka.nui will be got through in order that they may be started before the first is completed. These preliminary buildings for the new institution are being placed on a piece of land jutting out from the main estate towards Te Puhi Railway Station. This land was purposely included to avoid delay of roading when the. buildingss come to be erected, there being a public road from the station to the site about a mile and a-half distant. The court sits next month to fix the price of the Native part of the land. The building at Auckland will be for 240 patients, and will have a home for nurses and one for attendants. In a separate house there will also be accommodation for an assistant medical officer. The building will be for the class of patient commonly designated as " refractory," and thus the main mental hospital will be left for the classification of wellbehaved patients. The design of the additions follows the configuration of the site, but has been so arranged that all rooms will have ample sunlight and fresh air, and the observation of patients will be greatly facilitated. There is a central kitchen block, from which four dining rooms radiate, one for each ward. Two of these wards are for 50 and two for'7o patients. Each and every ward has a small associated dormitory, the rest of the sleeping rooms being single and cross-ventilated. In the manner first adopted in the additions to Porirua, and there working successfully, the wards are complete in themselves, and therefore the kitchen and administration blocks and one male and one female ward will be built first, in order that they may pass into occupation when the two other wards are being completed. At Seacliff the recommendations approved at my last visit have been put in hand. Hospitals on the lines of the Wolfe Bequest should now be gone on with at Sunnyside and Porirua. The work this year has been beset with difficulties. LOCAL INSTITUTIONS. (From Our Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, September 21. Reporting on the Ashburn Hall licensed mental hospital, the Inspector says : —" I inspected this hospital in company with Dr Ronaldson, of* the Haddington District Asylum, Scotland, who was travelling through the Dominion, and expressed a desire to visit the institution. He took occasion to express his gratification at finding at the Antipodes an institution so home-like, comfortable, and complete. The number of patients resident is 42—23 male and 19 female. Tflere were also seven volnuntary boarders. One patient is absent on trial. All the inmates were conversed with, and no complaints were made. All looked well, and were neatly and suitably clad. The food inspected was of good quality, and to patients at all able to appreciate niceties, was served as in a well-appointed private house. Dr Wm.. Brown, late of Dunedin, has been added to the proprietors, and it has been learned from him that it is not his intention to in any way interfere with the liberal policy under which the hospital has been managed. To the devotion of Mrs Milne, matron, and the skill and judgment of Dr Alexander as medical superintendent, the continued and deserved success of the hospital is a tribute. Dr Truby King, in his report on .-Seacliff Mental Hospital, says : —"The deaths during the year were 53, just over 5 per cent, of the number under care. Of the deaths 14 were between 70 and 80 years of age, and two were between 80 and 90. The incidence of death from general paralysis was unusually large—viz., 12 in the year. Nine patients died from senile decay, and five from epilepsy. There is in the institution at the present time one male aged 76, who has lived for an unbroken period of 48 years in the mental hospitals of Dunedin and Seacliff. In other words, since the early days of Gabriel's Gully. There are 11 Chinese inmates, but their numbers are gradually diminishing. The general health of the population has been good throughout the year, and there have been ho casualties or serious accidents. The thanks of the authorities are due to the Otago Daily Times and Witness Company and the Evening Star Company for newspapers and journals supplied free."

Males. Females. Total. Hereditary 8.65 12.42 10.15 Congenital mental defectit Previous attack 6.99 11.11 8.63 7.38 9.24 8.12 Critical periods ... Alcohol 19.20 21.66 20.18 16.67 -4.14 11.68 Other toxins 7.17 1.60 4.95 Mental stress ... 5.06 13.06 8.25 Disease of nervous system 4.85 5.42 5.08 Other bodily disorders , ... Child-bea"ring, etc 5.48 5.42 7.97 5.46 3.17 Physiological defect or error Traumatic ' ... ' ... ' '...- ' "... 3.58 0.32 2.23 2.32 0.32 1.52 Unknown ... ... ■•• ••• 12.65 7.32 10.53