HORRIBLE TREATMENT OF ASYLUM PATIENTS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1584, 19 May 1887, Page 3

HORRIBLE TREATMENT OF ASYLUM PATIENTS.

Stdwbx, May 10. A great sedation was caused in Parliament to-night Dy the recital of charges preferred by Mr Dibbs agaidt the management of the various Government benevolent institutions. Eight months ago a Commission was appointed by the Jennings-Dibbs Government to enquire into the condition of the benevolent asylums, and this evening Mr Dibbi rose with a copy of the report of the Commission in his hand, and fairly electrified the Honsc with quotations from the evidence. He said that prior to the appointment of the Board abundant evidence was produced to show that at Newington Asylum 260 old people from 60 to 100 years of age, were left thirsting without clothing or the necessaries of life, and were given food insufficient to sustain human life. He at once changed the diet, with the result that the death rate was reduced from eleven to three per month. The meals were served irregularly, dinner being given as late as three and four and five o’clock. The food for the oanoer patients was served in tin dishes, and without knives and forks. They ate it out of their hands and off their beds. There was no table, and only one broken chair in a room where fifteen persons were oongregated. Dead bodies were left among the living lor thirty-six boors after death resulting from loathsome disease. (Cries of‘‘Shame.”) For several weeks the bed linen was not changed. The warders were cruel and heartless, Persons who could neither read nor write were placed in charge of the inmates, and in one instance fatal results nearly resulted. Dr. Bowling, the medical officer, had neglected his duty, and the evidence showed that he used language to a consumptive patient which no gentleman would employ under any circumstances. In one case when a patient asked for admission the doctor told him “ to go in the yard and die and be d——and the man did die, The treatment of the inmates had been of sneh a character that it would have been degrading to inhuman savages. One particular case was that of a man who was suffering from paralysis, who, for an offence which could not be helped, was dragged out of his bed by the hair of the head, sluiced with eoli water, and a mop with human filth on it stuck into his month. (Cries of "Shame.”) This man was kicked and beaten literally to death, and his bruised and blackened body carried to the grave without an inquest, which was the reason an exposure of the treatment he received was not previously made. Mr D.bbs argued that the term “ murderers” could be applied to the warden. Dr. Oortii, speaking as a medical man, said that he was aware, from his experiences, that the statements of illtreatment were true. He had sent hospital patients to the Asylums, and they had written begging to be taken back, so that they might die in eomfort. B r Henry Parkes stated that the Government would take action in the matter as hurriedly as possible, bat be refused to suspend the.offioials at once.