Our Public Institutions

Observer, Volume 2, Issue 28, 26 March 1881, Page 292

Our Public Institutions

No. I.— The Whau Lunatic Asylum,

A D the question been put to us a fortnight ago, " What do you know of the Lunatic Asylum ?" our reply would probably have been "Not very much, save that the place is said to be overcrowded and not particularly well managed." Now, thanks chieiiy to the courtesy of the inspector, Mr. Thomas Macilarlane, we are better up on the subject, and, as it seems only right that people in general should know a little about tliese public institutions, we have determined to jot down concisely, and without prejudice, what we saw during an afternoon visit to the Whan, leaving our readers to form their own opinions as to management, efficiency, etc. The Whan Lunatic Asylum stands, as most of you will be aware, about three miles from Auckland, on the Great North Road. When this site was fixed upon, cavillers grumbled at its barren bleakness, and prophesied that, what with the heavy clay soil, and the unprotected nature of the country, it would never develop into a really nice place. That they were utterly ■wrong, anyone who has visited the Wliau recently must be aware. The Asylum is surrounded by spacious and well cultivated grounds literally teeming with vegetables, and there is also a model farm connected with it which supplies the patients with almost everything in the way of food, save bread and butchers meat. The building itself, now that the new wing lias been completed, will compare favourably with any of the large pauper asylums in the old country. We don't know who the architect and contractor are, but they appear to have done their work (both inside and out) most efficiently and so well deserve the encomiums of the press. As we drove up to the Asylum door a new patient — a cabinetmaker named Collins, committed that morning — was being received. He appeared a quiet respectable looking tradesman ■without any indications of madness about him, and we thought it a little hard that he should be placed (as he was almost immediately) amongst raving maniacs. Subsequently one of the party made this remark to the Doctor, but he replied that such treatment does people with delusions good. It shows the unfortunates they are different from other folk, and makes them pull themselves together. Well, this may be so, but we can scarcely credit it. To live in the same room with some of the patients in that asylum would drive many a s««cman mad, and cannot but irritate minds already partially diseased. When the new wing is opened it surely would not be very difficult to classifiy the patients a little. At night they are already alassified ; but during the day those who for various causes have to stay in doors or in the yard are all together.

DR. YOUNG,

The business that took us to the Wliau was to see the man whom, it was alleged in a recent issue of the Observer, had been locked up to gratify the malice of a country creditor. Not being able to interview the party who gave us the information, we couldn't tell Mr. Macffarlane the fellow's name, but Dr. Young opined it was a man named David Cargo, who is tolerably sane, save on certain points. This old fellow was sent for and interrogated by the Inspector. He is impressed with the idea that lie lias been robbed by one of his sons, and, when allowed, will pour forth a perfect flood of incoherent talk on the subject. Before he was committed to the Asylum he used to be perpetually badgering Mr. Barstow ami other officials with his grievances, and, as he wouldn't live quietly atliome with his son, but went wandering- about the country, the police had him committed to the asylum. There can be no doubt that Cargo is better there than at large, but we think patients of this stamp, who are mere harmless monomaniacs, and have relatives who could look after them if they chose, should be paid for. The expense of keeping a man like Cargo ought not to rest altogether on the country. He would do no harm if set free, and it is entirely to oblige his friends that he is taken care of. Mr. Macffarlane has been devoting considerable energy lately to ridding the asylum of improper patients. He found there were a large number who ought to be either paid for or taken care of by their friends, and in all feasible cases he has insisted on one or other of the alternatives being chosen. Mr. David Cargo having been allowed to talk uninterruptedly for about twenty minutes, burst into tears, kissed Mr. Macffarlane's hand rapturously, and was dismissed. The party then proceeded to make a tour of inspection under the guidance of the head warder, Hardy. This official, though still quite a young man has been twelve years in the establishment,' and possesses the full confidence of both Doctor and Inspector. He doesn't look as if he found life very enjoyable (who would amongst lunatics) but evidently takes great pride in his work and

thoroughly understands the peculiarities of the jmtieiits. The re are f o urteen warders al together, and none of them appeared to us particularly .strong men. They manage, Hardy .says, with very little violence. Occasionally, of course, a patient breaks out and has to be overpowered ; but the warders touch obstreperous maniacs as little as possible, trusting rather to good natured remonstrance than brute force. It is only fair to state we saw nothing to indicate that the patients are ever illuscd, and we had every opportunity of conversing with them and questioning them. The hints thrown out on this subject a fortnight ago were derived chiefly from anonymous letters, lint, as they have not been followed up in the way the writer (who said he was a warder) promised they would be, we suspect their genuineness. If, however, this correspondent has any boiiaji.de complaints to make let him write to us again and disclose his identity. We will not reveal it, but the name will be a guarantee that his statements are not just malicious lies. The yard in which the rowdy and epileptic patients are confined is a terrible place. When our party entered some were leaning up against the wall) moody and downcast ; others walked quickly backwards and forwards along a short strip of ground, apparently buried in deep thought; and others again were gaping openmouthed at their more violent brethren. One old fellow, a half-caste named Geo. Clark, driven mad by study, whilst qualifying to become a clergyman, was rushing hither and thither yelling nt the top of his voice a long yarn about the infamy of mad doctors and the horrors of a lunatic asylum. All the time we

GEORGE KEES,

were there he kept on this passionate tirade, talking so fast one could scarcely comprehend him, and literally foaming with" anger. The doctor says lie goes off like this for "about ten days in every month. Ordinarily lie is very quiet indeed, and can scarcely be induced to 'speak. Another violent patient who attracted attention by his vagaries, was a villainous looking fellow, with an^ appalling squint, whom drink drove mad. This worthy came up to Hardy, and, in language of the filthiest" character, threatened to strike him. He put up his list and seemed about to let out, when the head-warder good naturedly pushed him aside and told him not to be foolish. Hardy next drew our attention to a quiet looking chap, with hi.s face covered with scars. " You might think the warders did that, gentlemen," he said, "so I should like you to question him." This we did, and lie told us that when "the horrors" came on he felt impelled to damage himself in some way. Last time he was thus 'troubled, he banged his face against the wall and tore out the best part of a splendid beard. No, no one Mused him. He was very well treated and had nothing to complain of. Prominent amongst this noisy throng we noticed a quiet and well dressed elderly man of about fifty, who stood beside us and noted the observations of the party with evident interest and intelligence. This was Mr Black, a very bad epcliptic patient. When well he is perfectly quiet and sensible, but at any moment he may drop at your feet in a lit, and, knowing this, lie prefers being in the asylum where he is well looked after, to trusting himself to outsiders. Mr. Black frequently visits his friends, but is invariably anxious to v get back again. The asylum is his home. Amongst the grown-up madmen in this fearful yard we were sorry to see a nice little rosy cheeked lad named Sullivan, who used to rim the Star not many years ago. He is a very bad epileptic patient, having as many as live'fits a day at times ; but in all other respects appears right enough. We had not seen the little chap for nearly three years, and yet he came up to the writer at once, put out his hand, addressed him by name, and began to talk of some small jobs that had once been entrusted to him. Quite the most extraordinary case in the asylum is that of George Rees, a man who imagines he has got a barrel organ in his stomach. When asked for a tune, lie turns an imaginary handle and emits the most astonishing noises. But we have already exceeded the space at our command and must hurry on to a close. The new wing of the asylum is a model of spacious comfort and cleanliness, and the dayrooms will be an immense boon to the patients. Owing to the crowded state of the old wings there are no day rooms there, and the consequence is that when tea is over, the patients have no resource but bed. This reminds us not to finish without explaining that the bulk of the patients are employed working on the farm and grounds, which extend over

159 acres. Only the very bad ones are confined to the yard. Mr. Thomas Macffarlane seems to know all the notable cases by name, and goes up and chats with them in the friendliest fashion. The warder confided to us that he fears the Inspector may get a crack in the eye some day, for lunatics are kittle cattle, and their tempers are not to be relied upon. Mr. Macffarlane considers the management of the asylum has greatly improved since Dr. Young took charge. The fact is that gentleman throws his whole heart into the work, and things are very different now towhat they used to "be.