Disgraceful State of Things in Parramatta Asylum.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XX, Issue 2081, 15 June 1887, Page 3

Disgraceful State of Things in Parramatta Asylum.

During the Dibb* and St 1 atncl. tenmugs administration, about eight mouths ago, a Royal Commission was appointed to enquire into the condition of the (u>vernment Benevolent Asylum in New South Wales. lu the Legislative Assent, bly on May 10th, Mr Dibbs rose with a copy of the report of the Commission in hia hand, and fairly electrified the House with quotations from the evidence, and the statements he made concerning the management of various institutions and the treatment of the inmates. Prior to the appointment of the Board abundant evidence was produced to show that at the Newington Asylum 200 old people from 40 to 100 years of age were left shivering without clothing or the necessaries of life ; and with food insufficient to sustain life. He at once changed the diet, with the result that the death rate was re■dneed from II to 3 per month. Quoting from the report, and giving his own experience, llr Dibhs said mea's were served irregularly, and in tin dishes, and without knives and forks ; the inmates ate out of their bauds aud oti their beds. was no table and only one broken chair in a room where fourteen persons were congregated. Dead bodies were left among the living for 3b hours after death resulting from a loathsome disease. (Cries of " Shame.”) For several weefe the bed-lineu was not changed. Tl.» warders were cruel and heartless persons who could neither read nor write and were placed in charge of the inmates, aud in one instance fatal results nearly re-

suited. Evidence was adduced to show thri the unfortunate inmates had beeu •tarred by neglect, and that medical comforts never reached them. The medical officer had neglected his duty, and evidence showed he used language to patients which no gentleman would under any circumstances use. In one case when a person asked for admission the doctor told him to ,l go in the yard to die, and be damned,” and the man did go •at and die. Neither could the matrons and wardens be absolved from the charge of neglect. The treatment of the inmates had been of such a character that k it would have been degrading to iuF ÜBtnan savages. Consumptive patients were fed on dry bread and tea without milk, though there were cows on the 1 premises. 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 bed by the liair of the head and sluiced with cold water, and a mop with human filth stuck into his mouth. (Cries of Shame). This man was kicked and beaten literally to death, aud his braised and blackened body was carried to the grave without , inquest, which was the reason an l" exposure of the treatment be had received * was not previously made. His statements were supported by reliable evidencc, aud he thought he was justified in bringing the matter forward, aud asking that the whole system, which cos*erued T>oo jieople. should he changed. Sir Henry Parke® took exception to the correctness of the statements, and added that he had no hesitation in saying that the acts referred to were exceptions to a rule of kindliness and cleanliness. Mr Dibbs, in reply, reiterated the c&arges against the doctor, matrons, and warders, aud called for their immediate suspension, leaving the question of absof late guilt to be determined by additional investigation, i The Commission refers to the Asylums i at Newington, George street. Paramatta, and Macquame street Parramatta, aud in the complaints against these institutions they are about equally compreI bended.