LUNATIC ASYLUMS OF THE COLONY (REPORT ON) FOR 1896.

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1897 Session II, H-07

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Sess. 11.—1897. NEW ZEALAND.

LUNATIC ASYLUMS OF THE COLONY (REPORT ON) FOR 1896.

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

The Inspector of Asylums to the Hon. the Minister of Education. I have the honour to lay before you the following report on the lunatic the colony for the year ending the 31st December, 1896 :— * The number of registered insane persons on 31st December, 1896, was 2 315—males 1 390 ■ females, 925; an increase over the previous year of 101—males 61, and females'4o ' ' The insane of the colony are distributed as follows : , , , -, Males. Females. Total nu Ck l a u d v ■• 273 152 425 Christchurch . ... 2 68 210 478 Dunedin (Seachfi) 355 2 19 574 Hokitika ... 71 39 110 Nel?on 76 59 135 £?"™\ 133 108 241 ™ m g to £ ■■ ... 194 121 315 Ashburn Ha 11... ... ... 20 17 37 1,390 925 2,315 The proportion of the male insane to the male population of New Zealand is — New Zealand (exclusive of Maoris) 3-69 per 1000, or 1 in 271 New Zealand (inclusive of Maoris) ... ... 3-49 or 1 in 287 The proportion of female insane to the female population,— Exclusive of Maoris 2 -74 or ] in 365 Inclusive 01 Maoris ... ... ... 2-60 or 1 in 384 The proportion of the total insane to the total population Exclusive of Maoris 3.34 „ or lin 308 Inclusive of Maoris 3 . 07 or 1 in 326 Admissions. On the Ist January, 1896, the number of insane persons in our asylums was 2 214 Of these 1,329 were males and 885 females. The number of those admitted for the first'time was 364— males 237, and females, 127. The readmissions were 59 men and 43 women : total, 102. Deaths. The percentage of deaths on the average number resident during the year was 5-29 as compared with 661 last year. OVERCKO WDING. I have so often called the attention of Parliament and the Government to the terrible condition into which all our asylums, especially Wellington, have been allowed to lapse owing to overcrowding that nothing more can be done or said by me. I can only express my earnest hope that orders will be given to finish the Porirua Asylum as soon as possible. We shall be fortunate indeed if some calamity or scandal does not occur to horrify the whole country. I regret that illness has compelled Dr. Fooks to resign his position as Medical Superintendent of Auckland Asylum after seven years of faithful service in the department. He carries with him the sincere sympathy and respect of all who have served under him, and I earnestly hope he may soon recover his wonted health and vigour. A suitable refuge and school for idiots and imbeciles is urgently needed, to enable us to rid the other asylums of those poor creatures, whose presence is a great hindrance to the comfort of all the patients, and especially to the recovery of sensitive curable and convalescent cases. At Ashburn Hall provision has been made for the reception of inebriates I—H. 7.

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Financial Ebsults of the Yeak. The total gross expenditure for the year was £61,535 9s. 7d., and the total net expenditure £49,284 10s. Bd. The net cost per patient was 3s. 10d. less than the previous year, the figures being £22 9s. 10-Jd. for 1896, and £22 13s. B*,d. for 1895. Sunnyside Asylum again shows the best results for the year, the net cost per patient being £16 16s. Bfd. The large sum of £2,695 13s. 2d. was received for maintenance, and £1,109 15s. for sales of produce, &c. The following figures give the cost per patient at each asylum : — £ s. d. Auckland ... ... ... ... ... ■ ... ... 22 5 8$ Christchurch ... ... ... ... 16 16 8f Seacliff ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 23 13 l\ Hokitika ... ... . ... ... ... ... ... 24 10 9| Nelson ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 20 7 11* Porirua ... 23 7 8 Wellington 20 4 11*,

MEDICAL SUPEEINTENDENTS' EEPOETS. AUCKLAND ASYLUM. SlK,— I have the honour to submit my report on the Auckland Asylum for the year ending the 31st December, 1896. During the year a total of 102 patients were admitted, including 75 males and 27 females; 62 males and 19 females were admitted for the first time. There were 20 males and 11 females discharged recovered, and 1 male discharged relieved. The deaths numbered 27 males and 10 females, a total of 37, the cause of death being verified by post-mortem examination in twenty-seven cases. Included in these is one case of a man who when admitted was found to be suffering from rupture of the bowels, and who died ten hours after admission. A post-mortem examination showed the rupture to be due to perforation of a typhoid ulcer. While there were a total of 392 patients—246 males and 146 females —in the Asylum at the beginning of the year, there were in the Asylum on the 31st December 273 males and 152 females, a total of 425, showing an increase for the year of 33 patients. The recovery rate is low, but this is to some extent due to the high admission rate, which showed an increase of 50 per cent, on that of the previous year. This increase is no doubt due to the large influx of population consequent on the mining revival in the province ; indeed, a considerable number, of the men admitted were from the Coromandel Peninsula, whither they had been attracted in the hope of getting employment during the past year. Since I assumed charge of this Asylum I have been impressed with the difference in the type of patient most commonly admitted in Auckland as compared with that prevailing in the southern portion of the colony. Here we have a large number of partially-demented and congenitally-weak individuals, who, at their best, are barely able to maintain themselves under the specially favourable climatic conditions of this province, and who, losing ground by ill success in making their precarious livelihood, are arrested most likely for vagrancy, found to be insane, and sent to the Asylum. I have frequently had much difficulty in deciding in such cases which way my duty lay, whether I should discharge them or detain them in the Asylum. After a few months' care in the Asylum they usually improve sufficiently to gain their discharge; but one knows that immediately they are thrown on their own resources they will begin to lose ground, and sooner or later will be recommitted to this or some other institution. It is one of the drawbacks that Auckland must suffer from, as a result of its mild climate and other favouring circumstances, that it will always attract an undue proportion of incapable and defective individuals, whose presence is certainly not to the advantage of the community. The administration of the Asylum during the year has been, at least on the male side, mainly a struggle to provide for the care and safety of a large excess of patients with perilously inadequate accommodation. The new auxiliary building was occupied in the beginning of November, but, although this relieved the general overcrowding, it did little to relieve the strain of providing for acute and excited and dangerous cases. It is the grave deficiency in the number of single rooms that has been the chief anxiety for long past, and where, as was the case last year, there are a large number of new cases to provide for, the endeavour to secure the safety of the patients, to say nothing of their proper care and treatment, becomes a matter of extreme difficulty. The absence of a padded room and of observation-rooms on the male side was seriously felt, but, as provision has been made for these in the block now being built, things promise to be better in the near future. At the same time an increase in the number of single rooms on the female side is urgently needed. The almost simultaneous occurrence of three cases of typhoid fever in the autumn caused some alarm, owing to the crowded state of the wards, but I am glad to report that no further cases occurred, and those attacked made good recoveries. During the winter a course of lectures on asylum nursing was given to the staff, with fair results. Acting on my suggestion, the nurses have voluntarily adopted a uniform which adds much to the appearance of the wards, and tends to cultivate and preserve a healthy esprit.

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Owing to the artisans having been much employed in works in connection with the new watersupply, dairy, &c, their labour has not been available for many desirable improvements about the building and courts, but during the year a large portion of the inside of the building has been repainted and decorated. On the farm steady employment has been found for a large number of men, and a good deal of work has been done in reclaiming hitherto useless country for cultivation. A serious item in connection with the farm was the necessity for destroying a large number of unhealthy cattle. At one time it appeared desirable to destroy the whole herd, but by judicious weeding carried out with the assistance of Mr. Park, of the Stock Department, and care in buying new stock, the herd is now looking exceedingly well, and is, I am informed, second to none in the province in point of health and freedom from constitutional taint. There were several changes in the staff during the year. I succeeded Dr. Hassell in January, Dr. Craig exchanged with Dr. Beattie as Assistant Medical Officer in March, while Miss Erskine replaced Mrs. Skillen as matron, the latter having been obliged to resign at the beginning of the year on account of ill-health. Dr. Craig resigned his position at the end of the year, much to the regret of those with whom he had been associated. Dr. E. A. Fox, who has been for some time relieving at Seacliff, succeeds him. I desire to thank the officers of the Asylum for their loyalty and for the manner in which they have faced with success the many difficulties which had to be encountered during the year. I also desire to recognise the courtesy and zeal of the local officers of the Public Works Department in carrying out the works they have in hand in connection with the institution. I have, &c, The Inspector-General of Asylums. Bknest E. Fooks, M.B.

CHEISTCHUECH ASYLUM. Sic,I have'the honour to forward my annual report on this Asylum for the year 1896. There were 78 admissions during the year, inclusive of 16 readmissions—namely, 55 males and 23 females—which shows a reduction of 7, omitting those transferred from the Wellington Asylum in 1895, as compared with the previous year. The discharges " relieved " or " recovered " amounted to 44—viz., 34 males and 10 females ; three others were discharged under " transfer " to other asylums or on " bond," " not improved," and one after escape, under section 158 of the Lunatics Act, making a total of 48. If to this latter number is added the deaths, numbering 18, we arrive at the comparatively small increase, 12, of the year's insanity in Canterbury, as shown by the Asylum population at the end of 1896. Of those admitted during the year 24 were discharged—viz., 20 males and 4 females; while 4—viz., 3 males and 1 female —died. The death rate has been low, especially compared with that of the previous year, but there was no epidemic of influenza or other unusual cause to augment it, and with one exception, referred to later on, the verdict of the Coroner's jury, held in all cases, was death from natural causes, or, in other words, from those usually found in asylum statistics. A case of typhoid fever developed in a female patient shortly after admission, but, owing to the measures adopted, the disease was confined to her, and she ultimately made a good recovery from it. I regret to have to record that my hitherto good luck in freedom from serious accidents, extending over a period of nearly thirteen years' service, has at last been broken, for within a day or two of the close of the year a male patient met his death by misadventure—whether suicidal or accidental it is impossible to say—by falling from a height on the floor of his room, whereby he fractured his skull. He had been put to bed in the padded room for his own safety, as he had some marks on his head which indicated that he had been butting it against the wall. The attendant, one of the oldest and most experienced in the service, had visited him regularly, and had only just given him some nourishment, when, on returning in about twenty minutes, he found him lying dead on the floor. The Assistant Medical Officer was at once summoned, and resorted to artificial respiration, but life was quite extinct. There were indications which proved that he had managed to climb up to the window, and had fastened his counterpane to the iron-wire grating by which it was protected, but for what purpose, whether to break the glass, which he had done wantonly on one or two previous occasions, to effect his escape, or for the purpose of self-destruc-tion, must remain a mystery. The grating, however, gave way, which no doubt was the cause of his fall and death. At the inquest the jury evidently took the view that the death was purely accidental, and I may add that he had not at any time, either before, as far as I know, or subsequent to his admission, shown any disposition to suicide. I had been confined to my house for some time owing to illness, and was so still when the accident occurred, but I made careful inquiry into the circumstances surrounding it, which were fully reported to you at the time, and it is only right I should add that no blame seemed to be attachable to any one. The jury recommended that the floor of the room should be padded like the sides; there are, however, grave objections to this, but their other recommendation —viz., that the pads should be carried up to the ceiling—is much more practical, and if this had been so the patient could not have reached the window with the same facility. With this exception, and one or two minor fractures caused by falling in fits or blows from fellow-patients, the accidents were of a trivial nature. In connection with this subject, however, I should mention that a patient who escaped from a working-party eluded all efforts for his recapture, and, though the police got timely notice that he was at large, he was only brought back to the Asylum by a private individual after the expiration of

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fourteen days, when he had been written off the books under section 158 of the Lunatics Act. Being in a very exhausted condition, he was, however, taken in, but only to succumb the same night from the effects of hunger and exposure. During the year extensive alterations have been carried out in connection with the steam service under the direction of the Public Works Department, which, I regret to say, have not proved all that could be desired. Numerous leakages, damaging to the walls and ceilings, have, occurred, owing to defective expansion joints, and will need to be remedied, for which plans have been recently prepared and submitted for your approval by the Asylum Engineer. The new laundry has been at length completed and occupied, to the great comfort of the patients and attendants employed at this work, and the relief of the increased and increasing demands upon it. No proper provision, however, has been made for the removal of the steam from the boilers, though I drew attention to this oversight fully two years ago, with the result that the steam condenses on the roof and falls in the form of water on those working below. The whole of the lower flat of the female division has been tastefully repainted in two, and at places in three, coats of oil-colours during the year, adding greatly to the cheerfulness, and probably also to the sanitation, of the wards, which had so long been unsightly. It is to be regretted, however, that, owing to the action of damp on the walls at the south-western end of the building, much of the work has been greatly damaged and disfigured. In addition to this, much painting has been done by the Asylum painter-attendant and patients both inside and outside the building, including a large portion of the outer woodwork of the female division, which was beginning to perish from exposure, and I hope to continue this another year. The new airing-courts, though not yet ready for occupation, are far advanced towards completion, and would doubtless have been now occupied but for the unavoidable delay arising in connection with the completion of the new laundry. They will be spacious, cheerful, convenient for observation, and easily drained in winter, for which purpose a concrete drain will be formed at the bottom of the sunken fence enclosing them, along the entire front of the main building. In the meantime the female patients have had greater liberty at daily exercise on the cricket-ground and adjoining parts. In previous winters the female airing-court has always been flooded and water-logged for a considerable portion of that season, so that it could not be used. This work, as well as the fencing and laying-down of the asphalt paths in the laundry drying-green, has occupied a great deal of the time of the Asylum staff; but, while I venture to say that it has thus been more satisfactorily done, it has effected a considerable saving on the original expenditure contemplated. The laying-out of the grounds in front of the building has been further extended by the formation of a landscape garden opposite the female wards, and I propose, during the coming winter months, to continue this work, as well as the planting and laying-out of the new airing-courts on the north side of the Asylum. A tennis-court or croquet-ground is also in process of formation in a convenient situation. The question of the transfer of patients from one asylum of the colony to another has occupied my consideration for a long time, and I have more than once brought it under your notice. I have seen such good results from this change, not alone here but also in England, that I regret we cannot avail ourselves of its salutary influence oftener. Its beneficial effects are well known to asylum superintendents with experience of it, and in this colony, where it might be effected with little or no expense by means of the Government steamers or the State railways, as between here and Seacliff, lam decidedly of opinion it would be worth extended trial. Ido not refer to the transfer of patients in large numbers merely as a convenience—to relieve a congested state of one asylum— but to a careful selection of cases which would be likely to benefit thereby. We know the salutary effect of change of air, scene, surroundings, and, in fact, of life, on cases of bodily illness, and why not also on those mentally afflicted, or even more so ? Every asylum physician can call to mind cases which, after progressing to a certain stage, came to a standstill for no accountable reason, yet ought to go on to complete recovery; for such cases change would seem to be the very best tonic, but premature discharge from the asylum is not what is needed, and might prove disastrous by inducing a relapse. In the present day, when there is so much being done elsewhere in the direction of hospital and scientific treatment of the patients of asylums, it behoves us here to give the curative aspect of our responsibility a prominent place. Our facilities in this respect are very greatly hampered as compared with the Home asylums and those of other countries by financial difficulties, therefore it is all the more incumbent on us to make the best use of the means at our disposal. There is yet another class which I think would be largely benefited by transfer and change, while at the same time it would help to reduce our maintenance rate by making them to some extent self-supporting. I refer to a class of chronic patients who cannot be induced to employ themselves, but who, in many instances, have been good asylum workers for years. Asylum superintendents know the difficulty of inducing such patients to resume employment, and the evil influence they have on those around them ; yet how often have we all seen such patients start afresh on transfer from one asylum to another, even from one ward or from the direction of one attendant to another, sometimes. Eecently, in conversation with Dr. Hassell, he told me that he noticed this in the transfer of patients between Mount View and Porirua. If, then, it is admitted, for I suppose no one will now deny it, that employment is advantageous—nay more, necessary—in the treatment of the insane in asylums, I think I have made out a case for the more frequent transfer of selected cases between the several asylums of the colony. I have so often addressed you on the overcrowded state of the sleeping-accommodation that it seems almost superfluous to do so again here, but no report on the condition of the Asylum could properly omit the subject, especially as, owing to the increased and ever-increasmg demands on it, it has become more urgent. I have recently pointed out to you how provision can be made for this

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increase of females at the most trifling cost —by the completion of a dormitory left unfinished at the time of the restoration of the female division, which would afford sleeping-room for at least forty patients, thus providing for the present overflow, and probably also for the ordinary increase of the next five years. I have also suggested an extension of some of the present male dormitories to accommodate from eighty to a hundred additional males ; this also can be accomplished at an exceptionally low rate, so that there would seem to be no further reason for the overcrowding which necessitates so many patients sleeping in out-of-the-way corners all over the building on the floors, where they cannot be kept under proper care and supervision, and I strongly recommend the advisability of it to your favourable consideration. The permanent removal of patients to other asylums from the districts to which they belong, and in which their relatives reside, has obvious objections, and, unless for some such reasons as those referred to above, has nothing but expediency to commend it. The farm, despite unfavourable seasons, continues a source of profit as well as healthy occupation for the male inmates ; the most recent addition, a block of 50 acres leased from the Church Property Trustees, and taken over in a very dirty, neglected condition, is gradually improving under cropping which permits of its cleaning. Fire practices to test the appliances and familiarise the staff with their working, and the patients with the rescue shoots, are regularly held under the direction of the captain of the brigade. It is a subject for regret that financial considerations still prevent the supply of uniforms to those of the staff in direct attendance on the patients, but with very commendable spirit the female attendants provide it for themselves. I drew attention last year to the great prevalence of goitre amongst the patients, one in every five of whom suffered from it in more or less degree, but acknowledged my inability to trace its cause. I have since had the water in use tested by Professor Bickerton, who has reported as follows : "In all respects, save the proportion of chlorine, this water is very pure ; there is nothing whatever from a chemical point of view to account for the prevalence of goitre." lam myself rather disposed to assign the cause to telluric influence; at any rate, the fact is so remarkable, the disease so disfiguring, and the scientific importance attached to the conditions so great that it affords an interesting field for investigation, and demands close consideration and inquiry. As regards its treatment, when the swelling becomes large and interferes with respiration, or is otherwise inconvenient, I find that it generally yields, though only temporarily, to inunction with iodine ointment. Eeligious services have been held regularly on Sunday mornings by the clergymen of the Church of England and Eoman Catholic religions, whose ministrations are much appreciated by a large number of the inmates ; and in the afternoons large bodies of patients go for walks beyond the ground, which are very popular with them. In referring last year to the increased salaries and leave of absence granted to the attendants I expressed a hope that it would have a good effect on them generally. lam pleased to be able to say that, with the exception of a few cases of misconduct amongst the men, notably two of theft, necessitating prompt dismissal, the staff generally has shown very commendable zeal, trustworthiness, and interest in their work. I may perhaps, with pardonable pride, be allowed to refer to our continued low rate of maintenance, as shown in Tables XX. and XXI. of your last annual report, this Asylum having been for some years conspicuous in this respect. I cannot and do not wish to take to myself all the credit of this, and my chief object in referring to it is to express my acknowledgments and obligations to my fellow-officers for their ready and consistent support of my efforts in the direction of economy, to which must be credited to a large extent the success of my endeavours. To Mr. Eussell, the clerk and steward, in particular is due the credit of the very large sum collected for the maintenance of patients, which for several years has exceeded that collected at any other asylum, and which I have reason to believe will also be the highest for the year under review— 1396—notwithstanding the larger numbers elsewhere. I can only add that I trust his services, and those of others which I have recommended to your favourable consideration, will be rewarded in some more substantial way than words. In the early part of the year Dr. Gane, the then Assistant Medical Officer, sustained a severe injury to his foot in alighting from a tramcar at the Asylum entrance, necessitating his absence from duty for several months, without any definite prospect of his ability to resume work, which reluctantly compelled the department to terminate his engagement. Dr. Arthur Crosby, at the time Junior House Surgeon at the Hospital, was selected out of several applicants to fill the vacancy, and by his assiduity, energy, and devotion to his work has proved himself well deserving of choice. I have, &c, Edwd. G. Lbvingb, M.8., The Inspector-General of Asylums. Medical Superintendent.

SEACLIFF ASYLUM. Sib,— In presenting my annual report I have the honour to acknowledge the generous treatment of the Government in granting me leave of absence during winter to recuperate my health. Dr. E. M. Beattie, who, as the senior Assistant Medical Officer in the service, acted as interim Medical Superintendent, conducted the affairs of the institution with great energy and devotion, Dr. E. A. Fox acting as assistant.

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At the beginning of 1896 there were 561 patients. During the year 83 patients—s7 men and 26 women —were admitted. The whole number under treatment during the year was 644, and the average number resident was 555. There remained in the Asylum at the close of the year 350 males and 212 females, and there were absent on trial 5 males and 7 females. The number of admissions (83) was six less than the previous• year, and the number discharged "relieved" and "recovered" was 41 (the same number as last year). The proportion of discharges to admissions was thus 3 per cent, higher in 1896 than in 1895—-viz., 49 per cent, as compared with 46 per cent. These figures however, have, little value for the purpose of comparative statistics, as the probation system, which is largely availed of here, prevents a considerable proportion of temporary recoveries from appearing in the discharged list. A patient on trial returned before the completion of the probationary period does not count as a discharge, whereas he would do so if sent out under the ordinary system. Thus the proportion of patients discharged relieved and recovered, though apparently just under 50 per cent., is in reality considerably above that figure. In the apparent causes of insanity among patients admitted that of "over-study " is of special interest. It is certainly important that parents and guardians should clearly recognise that prolonged and excessive mental strain, and neglect of exercise, recreation, and rest, especially among girls, during the period of rapid growth and development, cannot be continued without an ultimate dwarfing of both mind and body, and grave peril to the integrity of the organism. In the stress of competition for honours and prizes the brain is so often worked at the verge of the breaking-strain, to the neglect of everything else, that one is inclined to wonder that entire mental collapse does not result more frequently. If the secondary effects of overpressure among girls in imparing the potentialities of reproduction and healthy maternity were more widely known it would probably prove a greater incentive to moderation than the more striking but comparatively rare causation of insanity. During the year 29 patients died, or 4-| per cent, of the number under treatment. Of these deaths 12 were of patients admitted during the year. Bight of these averaged sixty-five years of age, and were admitted in advanced stages of fatal organic disease, such as Bright's disease, heartdisease, and general paralysis. The causes of death of the remaining four were general paralysis, pneumonia', syphilitic meningitis, and asphyxia. In the last-mentioned case death was due to hanging, this being the only suicide during the last six years. Among the chronic cases the principal cause of death is old age. There are at present 100 patients whose ages vary from sixty to ninety-seven, and of these 20 have been in the Asylum from thirty to thirty-five years. The chapter of accidents for the year has been unusually large. A fracture of the neck of the femur occurred in a decrepit partially-paralysed patient through falling on the floor ; a fracture of the humerus in an atrophied arm, and the fracture of a rib in a violent maniacal patient. This last was alleged to have been caused by an attendant, but evidence was wanting. While working in the garden one patient assaulted another with a spade, causing two severe wounds of the head before the attendant could intervene. The overcrowding still continues, and is specially embarrassing in the case of the women, as the building does not afford proper facilities for classification. There are, fortunately, very few idiots at the Asylum; but even so it would be a great advantage if these were kept in a separate establishment. All the patients in any way fit for work have been kept employed at various occupations— the men mainly at the farm, garden, workshops, &c, the women in the laundry, kitchen, :sewing-rooms, &c, the average number employed being 427 —viz., 290 men and 137 women. The ordinary works incident to the development of the institution and estate have been continued. The North Park for women is now almost ready for occupation, and a covered way has been constructed from the main building to the auxiliary. Sheds and yards for the permanent maintenance of about six hundred fowls are nearly completed, and we now have abundance of eggs for all purposes. The slipping of the ground of the whole countryside continues, and necessitates a considerable •expenditure in the repair of the water-supply and drainage pipes. A bookbinding department, worked by one of the patients, has been established during the year, the services of a skilled bookbinder having been engaged to give the necessary instruction. Beligious services have been conducted weekly. Eecitations and amusements, such as sports, picnics, walking parties, tennis, cricket, theatrical entertainments, dances, concerts, &c, have been provided as usual, in addition to billiards, cards, &c. The thanks of the institution are due to the Otago Witness Company for copies of their journal supplied free, and to the various persons who have sent books, periodicals, and other presents ; also to entertainment companies for their gratuitous services. To the officers and staff I have to convey my thanks for their hearty co-operation in carrying -out the work of the institution. I have, &c, The Inspector-General of Asylums, Wellington. P. Teuby King, M.8., B.Sc.

WELLINGTON AND POEIBUA ASYLUMS. Sib,— I have the honour to submit to you the following report on the Wellington and Porirua Asylums for the year 1896 : — Wellington Asylum (Mount View). In commencing this report the subject uppermost in my mind is the deplorable overcrowding •of the patients, concerning which something was said in the last annual report. Since then what was bad has become worse. During the year, by excess of admissions over discharges, removals,

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and deaths the population in the Asylum has increased by 22, and a further increase of 13 has already taken place up to the end of the second month of this year (1897). Our present position is this : that, while we have sleeping-accommodation for 139 male and 83 female patients, we have actually living in the Asylum 199 male and 122 female patients—a total surplus of 99 patients who are not legally housed. The day-room and other accommodation is also lamentably deficient. Setting aside the inconvenience to administration, the difficulties of supervision, and the dangers to bodily health which the congested state of the Asylum causes, there is no doubt that this crowding together of the patients tends to retard recovery in many cases, and is a source of no little irritation, as our records bear witness. In no ordinary hospital of the colony would such a state of affairs be tolerated. Turning to the statistics of the year, it will be observed that 126 patients (67 male and 59 female) were committed to the Asylum, and 70 (33 male and 37 female) were discharged. In this enumeration I leave out of account the interchange of patients that took place between the two Asylums—Mount View and Porirua. The proportion of recoveries to admissions was a little over 44 per cent. The proportion of deaths to average number resident was somewhat under 7 per cent. Nearly half (45 per cent.) of the deaths occurred in patients who were resident in the Asylum under twelve months. One male patient died, aged eighty, who had been an inmate for thirty years. The general health of the patients has been good considering the overcrowding, and we have to congratulate ourselves that no accident of any consequence has to be recorded. The average number of patients usefully employed was 233 (151 male and 82 female) — i.e., about 80 per cent, of the inmates. These figures may, I think, be considered satisfactory, when our large proportion of acute cases and recent admissions are taken into account. Of the male patients employed, about 80 usually worked outside in the gardens, on the grounds, or attending to the stock, about 12 were engaged in the workshops or at their trades, 10 helped in the kitchen, and the remainder had work of various kinds in the wards. Of the female patients employed, about 20 were usually engaged in the Asylum laundry, and the remainder occupied themselves at needlework and household duties in the wards. During the year considerable progress was made by patients' labour in forming the new approach to the Asylum from Drummond Street. This work, which was commenced during my superintendency here seven years ago, will, I think, be a great improvement when completed. Shortly after taking charge of the Asylum, in January, 1896, I found that owing to the great consumption of water in the city the water-pressure in the Asylum mains sank to a very low ebb in the daytime, when our water-supply was practically useless for fire-extinguishing purposes. The danger of fire in a large wooden building like Mount View Asylum is obviously very great. I therefore recommended that a reservoir of our own should be constructed on the hill adjoining the Asylum, and this work has been done by our patients' labour. The reservoir is of concrete, is connected with the Asylum water-system by a 4 in. pipe, and holds 35,000 gallons, which is kept in reserve for fire-extinguishing purposes. When turned on, this hill reservoir raises the pressure in the Asylum main to 65 lb. to the square inch, and is thus capable of throwing powerful jets of water from the fire-hoses. Our means of coping with an outbreak of fire may now be considered satisfactory. As a further safeguard against fire, the lighting of the building by electricity instead of using gas as at present is well worthy of consideration. There has been an unusual number of changes in the staff of sixteen male attendants on ward duty. Most of the vacancies took place in the early part of the year, when the disturbing influence referred to in the last annual report had not subsided. Altogether seven resigned, including the three charge attendants, two were dismissed as unsuitable during their term of probation, and one was transferred to Porirua Asylum. Notwithstanding these changes lam fully satisfied the efficiency of the staff has not deteriorated. Towards the end of February the matron (Miss Erskine) was transferred to Auckland Asylum, and Miss Boulcott, the senior charge nurse at Porirua, was promoted to fill the vacancy. This appointment has proved satisfactory. Eeligious services have been held at the Asylum by ministers of various denominations on Sunday afternoons. Entertainments for the patients took place every fortnight, and thanks are due to various entertainment companies who contributed to these amusements, and to others who gave donations to the Christmas-tree and the recreation fund of both Mount View and Porirua Asylums. Pobieua Asylum. The average number of patients resident during the year was 234 (128 male and 106 female). There has been an increase of twelve in the number of inmates by the excess of admissions from Mount View over the removals and deaths. The class of patients are almost without exception of a chronic type ; only one was discharged as recovered and one as relieved. The deaths, as in the previous year, only amounted to three—all old people —a remarkably low proportion to the average number resident. The average number of patients employed was 193 (120 male and 73 female). Usually about 75 of the men were out on the farm. Some of them did very little, and probably, considering the short hours they work, the average work done by ten patients is equivalent to that accomplished by one ordinary farm-labourer; sixteen usually worked in the garden, eight at some trade, seven in the kitchen, and fourteen in the wards. Of the women employed, nineteen or twenty were at laundrywork and the others were engaged at various household duties. The list of casualties is a short one. The only accident of a serious nature occurred early in the year, when an old man was pushed by another patient and fell on the staircase, sustaining a fracture of the neck of his thigh-bone. Considering the nature of the injury he made a good recovery. lam much impressed with the advantages of the estate for the purposes of an Asylum. The

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site of the building on high ground commands a picturesque view of Porirua Harbour. The ground slopes downwards on all sides from the building, and affords facilities for good drainage. The whole property consists of nearly 1,000 acres, a third of which is arable, and about two-thirds hill-country suitable for grazing cattle and sheep. There is thus considerable scope for farming operations, and there is no occupation which has a greater influence for good on both the bodily and mental health of the patients. Much has been done in the general improvement of the farm, and steady progress made in improving the breed of our large herd of dairy cows. The stock of sheep are doing well, and have been considerably increased. Owing to the fact that nearly all our available labour was required on the farm, no great improvement has taken place in the grounds about the Asylum. Some trees and shrubs were planted, as well as a new orchard formed in a suitable site. Nearly all the native bush has been cleared from the run years ago, but a beautiful bit of native forest, upwards of 100 acres, adjoining the waterworks of the Asylum, and about a mile and a half away, still remains undisturbed. This, I think, should be carefully preserved and securely fenced against the inroads of the cattle. The original scheme for disposal of the sewage from the Asylum was working unsatisfactorily, most of it escaping into and polluting the stream which runs along the valley to the south of the building. It was therefore decided to adopt the system introduced with such complete success during my tenure of office at the Auckland Asylum. A series of settling-tanks have already been 3onstructed by our own labour, and concrete carriers are being made to distribute the fluids on the sloping ground to the south of the Asylum. When these works are finished the land irrigated will well repay the labour spent on it. The addition to the Asylum, designed to accommodate seventy-eight more male patients, was begun early in the year, and, notwithstanding the urgency of the work, it has made but slow progress. The delay, no doubt, was partly due to the necessity for pushing on the building operations required for the better accommodation of the electric plant and engineer's department. Something must be done to remedy the defective workmanship and bad material used in parts of the building exposed to the weather. In many places the walls inside are damp and mouldy, and the moisture continues to come through. Painting the brickwork on the outside has proved useless. Thanks are due to the Rev. E. Drake for coming to Porirua Asylum once a month and holding a religious service. I have tried to enlist other ministers, with a view to having the services every Sunday, but owing to the inconvenient distance from Wellington I have not succeeded. I have, &c, Geay Hassbll, M.D., To the Inspector-General of Asylums. Medical Superintendent.

ENTRIES OF VISITS TO THE DIFFERENT ASYLUMS. Auckland. 17th September, 1896. —I have, after careful examination of this Asylum, to report my satisfaction with its condition. The staff is efficient and harmonious. Notwithstanding the extreme overcrowding, which has caused the greatest anxiety to all who were in any degree responsible for the management, the working of the institution is very satisfactory The new buildings at the Auxiliary are nearly finished, and the approach of summer makes the difficulty less every day. It has been fortunate indeed that no serious accident has befallen during the trying ordeal the Asylum has undergone. When the additions to the male wing are completed the building will have reached its maximum extension, except, perhaps, that it may be possible and necessary to add a range of single rooms on the female side. The number of patients to-day is 400—males, 254 ; females, 146. None were under restraint, and only two women were confined to bed. None were in seclusion. Of the men, 176 were usefully and healthfully occupied. Of the women, 102 were engaged in some employment, which helps to relieve the monotony of their lives. I was present at meal-times, and found the food abundant and well cooked, and of excellent quality. The bedding and clothing are clean and comfortable. All are well shod. Except for the impossibility of classification there is little to find fault with. The farm is being brought into good order. The utilisation of the sewage is immensely increasing the fertility of the low-lying parts of the farm and garden, nor is there the least trace of any over-saturation of the soil. The new dairy, built of concrete, is nearly finished. The splendid spring of pure water close by the farm-steading is to be pumped up to a reservoir on the hill, so that soon we shall have an ample pressure for all purposes, and thus become quite independent of the town supply. All the statutory books are in order. The visits of Messrs. Cooper and Ewington and Mrs. Gollings, so well known in Auckland, have helped in a great degree to remove the feelings of suspicion with which this, like other institutions of the kind, are always regarded. Eeligious services are regularly held, and there is a fire drill every Saturday. I regret very much that, owing to some mistake in issuing the authority for providing furniture for the new building, there is a danger of still further delay. 22nd February, 1897.—T0-day I completed my usual inspection of this Asylum. I saw all the patients in company with Drs. Fooks and Fox. None were in seclusion, except one Maori, who was suffering from acute mania, and was being restrained by a camisole to prevent him injuring

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himself. All the wards were in the usual satisfactory condition, except that owing to the recent admission of some violent cases the refractory female ward was somewhat noisier than usual. I found every case was under careful and vigilant treatment. The acute cases were all being carefully and frequently fed. Nothing but the utmost watchfulness on the part of the medical men and the staff as a whole could have secured such remarkable immunity from accidents as I find to have been obtained in spite of the terrible overcrowding which has prevailed during the year. In the main building very great difficulty has been experienced from the want of single rooms and a padded room on the male side. The extension of the west wing is being pushed forward, and I hope that within three months this serious defect in our arrangements will have been remedied. The food, clothing, and bedding of the patients are carefully attended to. I heard none but the usual complaints of unjust detention and loss of liberty. The Deputy Inspector and the Official Visitors are unremitting in their visits and their attention to the wants and complaints of the patients. To my great regret Dr. Pooks has been obliged to resign his position, largely, I fear, owing to the heavy strain which the crowded state of the Asylum has laid upon him. There is no more arduous position in the public service than that of our Medical Superintendents under the present conditions. Three out of the four in charge of our large asylums have lately broken down in health, one after the other, and I think the time has come when some scheme must be devised by which periodic leave of absence—say, one year in six—must be granted as a right. From the day he joined the service I have found Dr. Pooks a very pleasant colleague, an able and conscientious administrator, and in every respect a man it was a pleasure to be associated with. His leaving is a great loss to the department, and he carries with him the unfeigned respect and good-will of all who have been brought into official relations with him. Cheistchubch. 21st October, 1896, —I have seen all the patients and inspected every part of the Asylum. The order, cleanliness, and comfort of the patients are most satisfactory. The new laundry has been finished, and will be in use next week. The vigour and care of Dr. Levinge are manifest in every detail of the Asylum organization. 2nd April, 1897. —The bedding, clothing, and feeding of the patients of this Asylum leave nothing to be desired. Their medical care and treatment are sedulously attended to by Dr. Levinge and Dr. Crosby. The new airing-court has been carefully laid out, and will soon be fit for occupation, to the great relief both of patients and attendants. Steady progress is made towards improving the environment of the patients, and the doctor has explained to me what appears to be a very promising plan for coping with what has hitherto been one of the most difficult problems in asylum management all over the world —namely, the laying-out of a garden contiguous to the female airingcourt, where all who can be induced to take an interest in light outdoor gardening will be employed in the open air. I have long thought that the sentimental prejudices which attach to field-work for women have been a great hindrance to the best and most rational treatment of many forms of mental disease in the sex. If only we could get sufficient money to provide the necessary accommodation, 1 am sure the officers of the asylums would be second to none in their energy and ability to successfully treat the terrible forms of disease with which they are called upon to struggle with such inadequate means. It is a pleasure to go over the farm, and I know that the pecuniary results are such as to strike with astonishment visitors from our own and other countries. The staff as a whole is very efficient, and working very harmoniously. Dr. Levinge seems to have conquered for himself a firm place in the respect of Canterbury. All the books and documents are in perfect order, and the management as a whole deserves the fullest confidence of the public. 22nd May, 1b97. —Pound everything in admirable order. Seaclifp. 13th October, 1896.—This Asylum is in good order throughout. During Dr. King's absence, Dr. Beattie, with the assistance of Dr. Pox, has maintained the efficiency of the staff, and has carefully and devotedly attended to the comfort of the patients. Dr. King has returned to his work greatly improved in health and spirits. Complete harmony prevails among the staff. The total number of patients is 562 —males, 352; females, 210. To-day 226 males were employed in the open air. The diet is abundant and excellent in quality. The bedding and clothing are ample and good. The proportion of patients who spend their time and energies in some form of useful work is very high. Only four men and two women were confined to bed. All the acute and recent cases were being carefully attended to. The new female airing-court is now nearly complete, and I cannot conceive anything more appropriate and beautiful. Mr. Buckley, the gardener, deserves the greatest credit for the skill and care which he has expended on this work. It is a great pleasure to find at every visit how skilfully the surroundings of the Asylum are being developed, and what care and ability are being shown in making the most of this splendid estate. The farming operations are in a forward state. The decorations of the interior of the building are a pleasure to see, and are being rapidly pushed forward. The covered way to the upper building will be. a great comfort in bad weather, and its inexpensive rustic character will soon be covered with greenery. All the statutory books are in order. The Deputy Inspector and Official Visitors visit regularly, and forward their reports to the Minister. 29th March, 1897. —This Asylum has been carefully examined by me in all its departments. The patients show a high average of health in their looks. Their clothing is suitable. The food is abundant, and of good quality. I saw every corner of the building and annexes, and found everything in perfect order. I made an unusually searching examination into the correctness with which 2—H. 7.

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the stock is cared for by charge attendants, and found that great care is being exercised throughout the institution. All the statutory books are properly kept. My first care on every visit is to see all the ailing and acute cases. I found on this occasion five males and four females confined to bed, and all were being carefully attended to by the doctor and nurses. Two of these were manifestly dying, and had a nurse constantly present. The total number of patients is 584, an increase of 22 since my last visit. The pressure on the dormitory space is therefore very great, and causes the most serious anxiety to all the staff. As has been so often pointed out, and lately with great point by Mr. Caradus, the Official Visitor, the difficulty of necessary classification makes it impossible to secure on the female side the conditions essential to proper treatment of the patients. Dr. King is so oppressed with this state of things that he has offered among his friends to find the money required to supplement a large sum out of his own pocket in order to provide some relief for this painful state of things. The surroundings of the Asylum are, thanks to Dr. King's initiative, and the admirable way in which he has been seconded by Mr. Buckley, the gardener, rapidly being improved. A very gratifying step in advance has been made in the treatment of the patients by allowing about seventy males the freedom of the domain on parole. I was greatly pleased to witness the zest and enjoyment of all who were present at the Saturday sports. Hokitika. 14th December, 1896. —Every department of this Asylum is in good order. All the patients were found, on examination, to be suitably clad. The bedding and clothing are abundant, and scrupulously clean. Dr. Macandrew is unremitting in his attention to the medical care of the patients. The staff is efficient ; I could find no indication of carlessness or neglect. The food is of excellent quality, abundant in quantity, and well cooked. Mr. Gribbens's management is vigorous and careful as well as kind. The total number of patients is 70 men and 37 women. There was only one man in bed with bed-sores, which I examined, and found they had been carefully dressed this morning. I made inquiries as to the possibility of relieving the overcrowding at the other asylums by transferring some patients to Hokitika, but find that even if we occupied the large hall for a dormitory we should be utterly unable to provide day-room accommodation. Nelson. 24th May, 1896.—1 have this day made an examination of this Asylum. The number of patients is 129, and about twenty more than can be suitably accommodated. The males are 76, and the females 53. Two of the male inmates are inebriates, who cannot be separated as the law requires from the other patients ; one male was confined to bed, suffering from epileptic fits, and one was secluded for being violent and noisy. Seventy-four men and fifty-three women were scattered about over the farm and garden ; eight men and seven women were unable to wash or dress themselves ; only nine men and nine women were found incapable of any sort of employment. I met a band of men in charge of Attendant Devanny taking a walk on the Port Boad. All the patients are suitably clothed ; the bedding is clean and sufficient, but a considerable proportion of the beds require to be replaced ; the food sufficient and wholesome. The wards are kept clean, and, considering the overcrowding, comfortable. I hope to see an improvement in the store and the stockkeeping on the female side on my next visit. I am disappointed to find the new dairy which was promised long ago has not yet been taken in hand. I authorised Mr. Morrison to appoint another permanent attendant on the male side, owing to the increase in numbers. A new house for the Superintendent has been urgently recommended by Mr. Melhuish, the Official Visitor, and I agree that it is necessary. Some of the books, which v have been allowed to get into arrears through Dr. Boor's state of health, must be written up at once. Divine service and amusements are regularly attended to. The institution as a whole is in good order, and proves the ability and care of Mr. and Mrs. Morrison. 20th December, 1896.—1 examined this Asylum on the 9th of this month, and to-day I find everything in the usual satisfactory state. There is only accommodation for 104 patients, and to-day the total amounts to 134 patients and two inebriates. This amounts to serious overcrowding, and there is great urgency for the immediate undertaking of the new dormitory and the Superintendent's house. The patients are all well clad and well fed, and the utmost care and attention is manifested by the staff. Dr. Boor's resignation after twenty-four years' service I have received with sincere regret. His careful attention to duty, his tact, and skill were invaluable. I was always confident that nothing would go wrong so long as he was able to hold the position of Medical Officer to the Asylum. Nothing could exceed the pleasure which I have always had in my official relations with him, and I earnestly hope that in his retirement he will enjoy the repose which his long and honourable career has so well deserved. He leaves the service carrying with him the deepest respect and heartiest good-will of all who have had any relations with him. Poeibua. 28th May, 1896. —I have this day made a careful inspection of this Asylum, and I found everything in satisfactory order. I visited all who were unable to be up in their beds. Examined all the patients, male and female, as regards their clothing and general health ; was present at the dinner, which was abundant and wholesome. The beds are all clean, and the bedding is sufficient. The stock is well kept. There are only two bricklayers at work on the new wing. sth August, 1896. —I have seen all the patients; nobody in bed ; all warmly clad. Dinner abundant and nutritious. Everything in good order; farming operations being vigorously prosecuted. The progress that is being made with the new buildings is very slow, but the work appears to be well done, and the bricks of good quality. 29th October, 1896.—Examined every part of the Asylum, and found everything going on well. All the patients were up and looking exceedingly well. Dr. Hassell has been resident here himself

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for ten days. The progress that is being made with the new building is dishearteningly slow; only three bricklayers at work. 4th January, 1897. —The patients are all looking very well. The day-rooms and dormitories are in good order. The dinner was abundant, well served, and of good quality. I found everything in good order except that the fire-brigade is not familiar with its work, and is so slow as to be almost useless. 22nd March, 1897. —I have found everything in good order. 28th April, 1897. — I examined every part of the building, and am pleased to find that the plastered portions of the walls appear to have successfully kept out the wet during the recent severe storm. Was present at dinner, and found it good and abundant. The patients are all suitably clad, except that some of the male patients had no buttons on their flannels. I regret that so much delay has taken place in fixing up the steam connections with the wards, for the weather is now getting so cold that it is of vital importance to have the rooms warmed at once. The rate of progress with the building of the new ward is still distressingly slow. Wellington. 18th May, 1896.—1 visited this Asylum on the 14th, 15th, and 16th May. Every patient was seen, and the whole building and annexes carefully inspected. The total number of patients was 301—males, 191; females, 110. One very violent and dangerous female patient was under restraint for reasons which I found satisfactory ; three women were secluded; three males and four females were confined to bed under medical treatment. The excess of patients over the legal limit was 41 men and 20 women. This fact shows how urgent is the need for the completion of Porirua Asylum. Every effort is made to employ as many as possible in some form of healthy outdoor occupation. Ninety men were engaged on the farm and garden, while 40 men and 37 women were usefully occupied in the wards. I saw the meals served, the food being good and well cooked. The bedding and clothing are clean and sufficient. The suicidal cases numbered 13 women and 21 men; all these are under special supervision, cards of instructions being issued to the responsible attendants. The number of general paralytics is 1 woman and 8 men; the epileptics number 10 women and 21 men. Divine service is held regularly, and the distraction and amusements of the patients are systematically provided for. All the statutory books and documents are in order. The admissions (for the first time) exceeded those in any other asylum, while the readmissions for the year number 18. Owing to departmental exigencies Dr. Hassell has been put in charge of Mount View and Porirua Asylums ; and, in consequence of this, Porirua, which for a time was a separate institution in charge of Dr. Burns, is no longer so. The voluntary retirement of Dr. Burns from the service of the department was greatly regretted by all who came in contact with him. Dr. Thomas Eadford King has been appointed assistant to Dr. Hassell, and resides at Porirua. Miss Boulcott, the new matron appointed on Miss Erskine's promotion to Auckland, fills the position very satisfactorily. I found three or more patients in the refractory male ward had been greatly excited by the recent inquiry by Mr. Martin, and were busying themselves in making notes of real and imaginary shortcomings on the part of the attendants, but I could ascertain no facts to justify their complaints. The greatest care and self-control is exercised by the attendants in dealing with these men, who are constantly endeavouring to annoy and thwart them in the performance of their duties. Mr. E. H. Eraser, the Deputy Inspector, accompanied me in one of my visits, and I discussed with him the various points requiring our consideration in the working of the Asylum. He takes a constant active interest in all that concerns the welfare of the patients. 3rd August, 1896.—Visited every part of the Asylum, and found everything in good order. The female refractory noisy, owing to an unusual number of excited cases. 7th December, 1896.—1 have examined both sides of the Asylum ; seen all who are unable to be about, and the recent cases. Everything going on satisfactorily. 31st December, 1896.— I have seen every patient, and have gone over all the wards. Notwithstanding the overcrowding the staff are doing their utmost to keep everything in order. 11th May, 1897.—1 went through all the asylum; saw all the patients; examined their clothing, their dinner, and their bedding, and found the whole satisfactory. I satisfied myself that all the recent and acute cases were being properly looked after. Two patients were temporarily secluded for sufficient reasons. Eive men and seven women were confined to bed, all of whom I saw and examined in company with Dr. Hassell and Dr. Perry, the assistant medical officer. A patient, well known as an inveterate grumbler, and very cunning and malicious in making charges of ill-treatment against attendants, has requested to be transferred to Auckland because of the milder climate, offering to pay his expenses. I have written him saying that in my opinion the climate of Wellington is better for his health, but that, if it will not involve any cost to the public, lam willing to grant his request. I have heard many complaints from this man, but they have all in my opinion been unfounded. He is a man of considerable education and ability, and most dangerous to deal with owing to the cunning plausibility with which he is able to set forth his delusional grievances as facts. is another most difficult patient for the same reasons. Nothing but long experience of mental disease can enable any one to judge between their plausibly narrated delusions and facts. The total number of inmates this day is 327 —showing an excess of 63 men and 42 women over the number for which proper accommodation is provided. No rhetoric is needed to show the miserable state into which this asylum has been allowed to sink, owing to the delay in finishing the Porirua Asylum. It has been found necessary, in consequence of the excessive increase of patients in Wellington District, to appoint Dr. Perry to relieve Dr. Hassell of part of the terrible strain which the medical care of such numbers imply in these circumstances. The difficulties of administration are enormously increased ; the harassing anxiety and care required to avoid accident and scandal are

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very great. Public opinion demands that insane patients shall be treated with every attention, but will not and cannot make any allowance for the difficulties which the officers have to contend with. I had made arrangements to transfer forty or fifty females to Sunnyside, but the local increase made it impossible, so that we are compelled to face another winter in this condition. The statutory books and documents were examined and found in order. Ashburn Hall. 9th October, 1896.—1 found everything about this institution in good order. I examined all the patients, and found all, with one exception, to be chronic cases. Another patient is, I am convinced, suffering from an incurable form of mental disease. The new building on the male side, containing seven rooms, is admirably designed, and is now ready for occupation. One or two of the worst cases ought to be transferred thither at once, in order to relieve the others from the frequent noises they make, especially at night. The rooms are all admirably clean and comfortable, especially on the female side. The food is good, abundant, and well cooked. The bedding and clothing are all that could be desired. Dr. Burns is in charge, and his varied experience both at Home and in our own public asylums is a guarantee for the good management of this Asylum during Dr. Alexander's illness. Mr. Hume's lamented death is a great loss, and it is especially deplorable that such a long and honourable career as his should have been disturbed at its close. He was the kindest and most sympathetic of men in his dealings with his patients, and as an asylum administrator I have never met his superior. 25th March, 1897.—Dr. Hay, late of James Murray's Eoyal Asylum, Perthshire, has lately taken charge of this institution. From his experience of one of the best private asylums in Scotland, and my personal experience of him, J believe him to be admirably fitted for his duties here. I find everything in good order, and the moral and medical treatment of the patients is carefully attended to. I have seen all the patients, none of whom are confined to bed. I have, &c, D. MacGeegoe, M.A., M.8., M.C., Inspector of Asylums.

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APPENDIX.

Table I.—Showing the Admissions, Readmissions, Discharges, and Deaths in Asylums during the Year 1896.

Table II.—Admissions, Discharges, and Deaths, with the Mean Annual Mortality and Proportion of Recoveries, &c., per Cent. on the Admissions, &c., during the Year 1896.

Table II.— continued.

Table II.— continued.

m. £', I, SSL. 1,329 885 2,214 In asylums, 1st January, 1896 Admitted for the first time Readmitted 237 59 127 43 364 102 I 296 170 466 Total under care during the year Discharged and removed — Recovered Relieved .. .. .. Not improved Died 104 25 20 86 70 16 12 32 174 41 32 118 1,625 1,055 2,680 235 130 365 Remaining in asylums, 31st December, 1896 .. 1,390 925 2,315 Increase over 31st December, 1895 101 Average number resident during the year 1,347 882 2,229

In Asylums Admissions in 1896. Total Number of Asylums. on 1st January, 1896. Admitted for the First Time. Readmitted. Patients under Care. Total. Auckland.. Christohurch Dunedin (Seaolifi) Hokitika Nelson Porirua Wellington Ashburn Hall (private asylum) M. F. 246 146 261 205 346 215 69 37 71 53 124 105 189 107 23 17 T. 392 466 561 106 124 229 296 40 M. 62 45 40 13 6 15 54 2 F. T. 19 81 17 62 15 55 10 23 7 13 8 23 49 103 2 4 M. F. 13 8 10 6 17 11 1 .. 2 3 T. 21 16 28 1 5 M. 75 55 57 14 8 15 70 2 F. T. 27 102 23 78 26 83 10 24 10 18 8 *23 62 fl32 4 6 M. 321 316 403 83 79 139 259 25 F. 173 228 241 47 63 113 169 21 T. 494 544 644 130 142 252 428 46 16 18 2 29 2 Totals .. 1,329 885 2,214 237 127 364 59 43 102 296 170 466 1,625 1,055 2,680 * Transferred from Wellington Asylum. t Including 3 males and 3 females transferred from Porirua Asylum.

Asylums, Patients Discharged and Died. In Asylums on 31st December, 1896. Discharged recovered, Discharged not recovered. Died, Total Discharged and Died. Auckland .. .. .. Christohuroh Dunedin (Seacliff) Hokitika Nelson Porirua .. .. .. Wellington .. Aahburn Hall (private asylum) M. 20 31 18 5 2 1 26 1 F. 11 8 10 5 3 30 3 T. 31 39 28 10 5 1 56 4 M. 1 7 8 F. T. 1 2 9 5 13 2 2 M. 27 10 22 7 1 1 17 1 F. 10 8 7 1 1 2 3 T. 37 18 29 8 2 3 20 1 M. 48 48 48 12 3 6 65 5 F. T. 21 69 18 66 22 70 8 20 4 7 5 11 48 113 i 9 M. F. 273 152 268 210 355 219 71 39 76 59 133 108 194 121 20 17 T. 425 478 574 110 135 241 315 37 4 22 3 3 *7 15 f37 1 4 Totals 104 70 174 45 28 73 86 32 118 235 130 365 1,390 925 2,315 * Including 3 males and 3 females transferred to Wellington Asylum, 'orirua Asylum. t Including 15 males and 8 females transferred to

Asylums. Average Number resident during the Year. Percentage of Recoveries on Admissions during the Year. Percentage of Deaths on Average Number resident during the Year. Percentage of Deaths on the Admissions. Auckland Christchurch .. Dunedin (Seaoliff) Hokitika Nelson Porirua Wellington Ashburn Hall (private asylum) .. M. P. 252 145 266 206 348 207 72 37 74 55 128 106 186 109 21 17 T. 397 472 555 109 129 234 295 38 M. F. T. 26-67 40-74 30-39 56-36 34-78 50-00 31-58 38-46 33-73 35-71 50-00 41-67 25-00 30-00 27-78 M. F. T. 10-71 6-90 9-32 3-76 3-88 3-81 6-32 3-38 5-23 9-72 2-70 7-34 1-35 1-82 1-55 0-78 1-89 1-28 9-14 2-75 6-78 4-76 0-00 2-63 M. P. T. 36-00 37-04 36-27 18-18 34-78 23-08 38-60 26-92 34-94 5000 10-00 33-33 12-50 10-00 11-11 *38-81 *50-85 *44-44 50-00 75-00 66-67 *25-37 *5-O8 *15-87 50-00 0-00 16-67 Totals 1,347 882 2,229 f37-41 f44-02 f39-82 6-38 3-63 5-29 t3O94 f20-12 t27-OO » 3 males and 3 females transferrec 'orirua and B males and 3 females trai 1 from Porirua not included. + 15 males and 8 females transferred from Wellington to tsferred from Porirua to Wellington not included.

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Table III.—Ages of Admissions.

Table IV.—Duration of Disorder at Admission.

Table V.—Ages of Patients discharged "Recovered" and "Not recovered" during the Year 1896.

Table V. — continued.

14

Ages. Auckland Christ- Dunedin Auckland. churoh (Settcllfl) . Hokitika. Nelson. Porirua. Wellington. i Ashburn Hall (Private Asylum). Total. Under 5 years From 5 to 10 years , 10 „ 15 „ „ 15 „ 20 „ „ 20 „ 30 „ „ 30 „ 40 „ „ 40 „ 50 „ „ 50 „ 60 „ « 60 „ 70 „ , 70 „ 80 . 80 „ 90 „ Unknown M. F. T.| 14 5! 22 5 27' 16 11 27! 15 5 20 13 1 H 4 15: 3 0 3, I M. F. T.i M. F. T. Oil Oil j 1 0 I 1 0 1 1 3 0 3 112 12 7 19 14 7 21 II 6 17 13 3 16 12 4 16 11 4 15 6 5 11 9 5 14 9 1 10 7 2 9 10 12 13 M. F. T.I M. F. T. 10 1 Oil 2 2 4 112 1 1 2: 1 3 4 3 3 6[ 1 2 3 2 13 112 3 4 7 4 15 2 0 2 14 10 2st| 8 10 18 M. F. T. 2 0 2 4 4 8 4 15 3 3 6 2 0 2 M. F. T. I M. F. T.| 1 1 2, .. 1 1 2 1 .. 7 6 13 : 0 1 1 10 17 27 0 1 1 15 14 29 1 1 2 17 11 28 1 1 2 9 6 15 4 4 8; 6 1 7 0 "l lj .. M. F. T. 112 13 4 2 2 4 17 15 32 64 45 109 64 41 105 61 29 90 43 22 65 30 9 39 12 2 14 1 0 I! 1 "l 2 Totals 75 27 102 55 23 78 57 26 83 15 8 23 70 62 132' 2 4 6 296 170 466

Auckland. Christchurch. Dunedin (Seaeliff). Hokitika. Nelson. Porirua. Wellington. Ashburn Hall (Private Asylum). Total. First Class (first attack, and within 3 mos. on admission) Second Class (first attack, above 3 mos. and within 12 mos. on admission) Third Class (not first attack, and within 12 mos. on admission) Fourth Class (first attack or not, but of more than 12 mos. on admission) Unknown M. F. T. 47 6 53 M. F. T. 16 5 21 M. F. T. 27 6 33 M. F. T. 2 6 8 M. F. T. 6 3 9 M. F. T. 10 5 16 M. F. T. 34 34 68 M. F. T , 0 2 2 M. F. T. 142 67 209 6 2 8 7 4 11 7 3 10 3 0 3 Oil 112 9 6 15 33 17 50 14 11 25 12 9 21 8 4 12 2 13 2 3 5 3 14 2 13 43 30 73 8 8 16 7 2 9 15 13 28 3 14 0 3 3 4 2 6 24 21 45 Oil! 61 51 112 13 3 16 4 2 6 17 5 22 Totals 75 27 102 55 23 78 57 26 83 14 10 24 8 10 18 15 8 23 70 62 132! 2 4 6 296 170 466

Ages. Auckland. Recovered Eecovered ze^teA Christchurch. Eecovered x J°le<L Dunedin (Soacliff). Recovered re *°L<l Hokitika. M. F. T. M. F. T. 10 1 M. P. T. M. F. T. M. F. T. M. F. T. M. F. T. M. F. T. 'rom 5 to 10 years . 10 , 15 „ . 15 „ 20 „ » 20 „ 30 , „ 30 „ 40 „ , 40 „ 50 , » 50 „ 60 , . 60 „ 70 „ „ 70 „ 80 » „ 80 „ 90 „ Fnknown 13 4 3 3 6 6 3 9 4 2 6 5 0 5 10 1 11 4 15 6 1 7 3 14 5 2 7 5 0 5 10 1 ] 0 1 12 3 3 0 3 Oil 4 3 7 4 15 7 3 10 2 2 4 10 1 10 1 12 3 10 1 112 3 14 112 0 2 2 112 12 3 10 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 2 0 2 0 1 1 1 0 1 Totals 20 11 31 10 1 31 8 39 7 2 9 18 10 28 8 5 13 I 5 5 10 0 2 2

Nelson. Porirua. I Wellington. Ashburn Hall (Private Asylum). Total. Ages. Ee- Not re- Ee- Not recovered, covered, covered, covered. ' Ee- Not covered. ' recovered. Re- Not recovered, covered. Recovered. J^ Prom 5 to 10 years „ 10 „ 15 „ . 15 „ 20 „ , 20 „ 30 „ , 30 „ 40 „ , ±0 „ 50 „ , 50 „ 60 , . 60 „ 70 „ , 70 „ 80 , , 80 „ 90 „ Unknown M. F. T. M. F. T. M. F. T. M. F. T. M. F. T. M. F. T. M. F. T. M. F. T. M. F. T. M. F. T. 10 1 10 1 Oil 10 1 10 1 10 1 0 1 1 112 2 13 5 12 17 5 11 16 6 3 9 5 16 2 13 2 0 2 5 5 10 5 2 7 5 6 11 4 2 6 10 1 12 3 Oil Oil 2 0 2 10 1 112 5 7 12 24 24 48 23 20 43 22 11 33 17 6 23 11 1 12 5 0 5 7 7 14 8 6 14 11 8 19 8 3 11 5 4 9 Oil Oil 10 1 2 2 4 10 1 Totals 2 3 5 10 1 4 3 7 26 30 56 22 15 37 13 4 45 28 73 3 14 104 70 174

H.—7,

Table VI.—Ages of the Patients who died.

Table VII. —Condition as to Marriage.

15

Ages. [ Auckland. Christchurch. Dunedin (Seacliff). Hokitika. Ashburn Nelson, j Porirua. Wellington. ( p§*JJte [ Asylum). Total. M. P. T. j M. F. T. M. F. T. M. F. T. M. F. T. M. F. T. M. F. T. M. F. T. M. F. T. Prom 5 to 10 years , 10 „ 15 „ „ 15 „ 20 , „ 20 „ 30 „ „ 30 „ 40 „ „ ±0 „ 50 „ „ 50 „ 60 „ „ 60 „ 70 , „ 70 „ 80 „ „ 80 , 90 „ Unknown loi: 5 0 5 5 2 7 3 2 5 7 3 10! 3 2 5 3 14 oil 2 0 2 2 13 13 0 3 2 4 6 12 3 •■ 4 1 5 j 3 0 3 5 0 5 4 3 7 3 3 6: 3 0 3 10 1 10 1 2 0 2 10 1 112 10 1 Oil 101 2 0 2 2 13 2 0 2 I 5 1 6 0 2 2 2 0 2 10 1 4 15 10 1 10 1 11 2 13 14 4 18 13 3 16 22 7 29 11 11 22 13 5 18 10 1 Totals • 27 10 37 10 8 18 : 22 7 29 12 3 17 3 20 10 1 86 32 118 7 1 8 1 1 2

Admissions. Discharges. Deaths. Auckland— Single Married Widowed Unknown M. F. T, 51 14 65 16 13 29 8 0 8 M. 13 7 1 F. T. 8 21 2 9 1 2 M. F. T. 17 3 20 9 4 13 13 4 Totals 75 27 102 21 11 32 27 10 37 Chkistchurch— Single Married Widowed Unknown 34 9 43 20 13 33 112 21 15 1 1 1 22 9 24 0 1 0 1 8 2 0 0 2 10 2 4 3 3 1 1 Totals 55 23 78 38 10 48 10 8 18 Dunkdin (Seaclifi) — Single Married Widowed Unknown35 11 46 16 11 27 6 4 10 12 13 1 6 18 7 20 2 3 12 8 2 3 15 1 9 3 5 Totals 57 26 83 26 15 41 22 7 29 Hokitika — Single Married Widowed Unknown 9 5 0 3 12 5 10 2 2 4 1 3 4 7 5 5 1 1 0 0 1 5 1 2 Totals 14 10 24 5 7 12 1 8 Nelson — Single Married Widowed Unknown 7 0 1 4 11 5 5 1 2 2 0 0 0 2 1 2 2 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 Totals 8 10 18 2 3 5 1 1 POBIRUA — Single Married Widowed Unknown 9 6 5 14 3 9 2 3 0 0 2 1 2 5 1 1 0 '6 2 1 2 Totals 15 8 23 5 3 8 2 3 Wellington— Single Married Widowed Unknown 39 23 62 24 33 57 7 6 13 23 17 40 24 26 50 12 3 6 6 5 0 2 1 6 8 6 Totals 70 62 132 48 45 93 17 3 20 Ashbubn Hall (Private Asylum)— Single Married Widowed Unknown 0 2 2 2 2 4 0 4 4 0 4 4 1 0 1 Totals 2 4 6 4 4 8 1 0 1 Totals — Single .. Married Widowed Unknown 184 71 255 89 85 174 23 14 37 77 39 116 67 52 119 4 7 11 10 1 48 8 56 28 10 38 10 13 23 Oil Totals 296 170 466 149 98 247 86 32 118

H7

16

Table VIII.—Native Countries.

Table IX.-Ages of Patients on 31st December, 1896.

Table X.-Length of Residence of Patients who died during 1896.

Countries. Auckland. Christchurc: 1 (Seacifff?. HoMtika. Nelson. Porirua. "Wellington. Ashburn Hall (Private Asyluna). Total. England Scotland Ireland New Zealand Austral'n Colonies France Germany Norway Sweden Denmark Italy China Maoris Other countries .. M. F. I, 109 54 163 28 10 38 55 45 100 48 34 82 3 14 M. F. T. 105 80 185 34 20 54 70 55 125j 29 32 6l| 5 3 8; 10 1 4 0 4 3 0 3 1 0 1 10 1 2 0 2 M. F. T. 65 78 143 104 62 166 85 56 141 39 14 53 9 3 12 |M. F. T. 16 7 23 10 2 12 21 19 401 11 6 17 2 3 5 M. V. T. 26 13 39 4 7 11 ,20 10 30 20 24 44 2 13 0 2 2 Oil M. F. T. 30 36 66 22 9 31 44 40 84 14 17 31 5 16 3 0 3 3 14 112 2 13 3 0 3 112 10 1 2 13 2 0 2 M. F. T. 61 37 98 18 6 24 46 28 74 42 36 78 2 2 4 M. F. T. 8 5 13 5 7 12; 1 1 2| 5 4 9j 1 0 l! M. F. 420 310 225 123 342 254 208 167 29 14 4 2 40 12 7 7 12 3 16 3 8 2 22 0 11 7 46 21 T. 730 348 596 375 43 6 52 14 15 19 10 22 18 67 5 2 7 18 1 19 2 3 5 2 0 2 2 13 3 0 3 15 0 15 10 1 10 1 11 3 14 7 6 13 13 4 2 13 6 17 112 10 1 4 0 4 3 0 3 3 0 3 2 0 2 2 0 2 Oil 10 1 4 0 4 0 1 1 2 0 2 10 1 -4 6 10 15 0 15 13 20 33 10 1 I 2 0 2 Totals .. 273 152 425 268 210 478 355 219 574 71 39110 76 59 135 133 108 241 194 121 315 20 17 37| 1,390 925 2,315

Ages. Auckland. I Christchurch. S JHokltika. Nelson. Porirua. Wellington. Ashburn Hall (Private Asylum). Total. 1 to 5 years 5 „ 10 „ 10 „ 15 „ 15 „ 20 , 20 „ 30 „ 30 „ 40 „ 40 „ 50 „ 50 „ 60 „ 60 „ 70 „ 70 „ 80 „ 80 „ 90 „ Unknown ' M. F. 1. .. 0 2 2 ..4 5 9 .. ' 46 21 67 .. ; 68 82 100 • .. ! 60 42 102 .. i 55 31 86 ..31 10 41 .. J 8 8 16 .. i 1 1 2 M. F. T. 0-11 112! 4 3 7 28 31 59 : 54 52 106 63 56 119! 63 40 103 ! 43 16 59 9 6 15, 112 2 3 5! M. F. T. 0 11 0 11 112 7 11 18 1 44 28 72! 67 44 lllj 80 37 1171 99 63 162; 44 27 71 9 4 13 : 2 2 4 2 0 2 M. F. T. 10 1 0 11 0 2 2 J 3 2 5! 7 1 8 6 3 9 18 8 21 ,25 15 40 18 3 18 1 0 2 2 M. F. T. 112! ! 4 2 6! j 6 4 10 11 18 29 19 11 30; 22 15 37; 10 5 15 3 3 6; M. F, T. 2 13 15 7 22 36 25 61 37 25 62 25 21 46 12 5 17 2 0 2 M. F. T. 112 3 4 7 10 9 19 28 24 52 40 27 67 51 36 87 38 12 50 17 8 25: 6 0 6 M. F. T. ■• Oil! 2 2 4! 7 2 9 4 3 7: 2 7 9. 2 2 4 1 3 0 3 M. F. 1 1 1 6 6 9 34 34 176 118 289 203 327 218 329 204 174 76 40 23 3 3 10 30 T. 2 7 15 68 294 492 545 533 250 63 6 40 1 2 3 4 24 28 Totals .. J273 152 425 268 210 478 355 219 574 71 39 110 76 59 135, ,133 108 241 194 121 315 20 17 37 1,390 925 2,315

Length of Residence. I Auckland. Christ- Dunedin church. (Scacliff). Hokitika. Nelson. Porirua. Wellington. 1 Ashburn Hall (Private Asylum). Total. I M. F. T, 2 0 2 2 0 2 2 0 2 10 1 2 0 2 2 13 2 2 4 6 17 M, F. T. 112 St. F-. T. 10 1 12 3 10 1 3 0 3 4 15 5 16 12 3 10 1 10 1 M. F. T. M. F. T. M. F. T. M. F. T. 112 112 M. F. T. M. F. T. 5 2 7 5 3 8 4 0 4 9 1 10 7 2 9 13 4 17 8 4 12 11 2 13 2 2 4 5 16 3 2 5 12 3 13 7 20 Fnder 1 month 'rom 1 to 3 months .. „ 3 „ 6 » 6 „ 9 „ 9 „ 12 „ 1 „ 2 years , 2 „ 3 „ „ 3 „ 5 „ „ 5 „ 7 „ » 7 „ 10 „ „ 10 „ 12 „ „ 12 „ 15 „ iver 15 )ied while absent on trial 10 1 0 11 0 11 112 10 1 Oil 112 10 1 2 0 2 2 0 2 Oil 10 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 4 0 4 10 1 3 14 3 0 3 2 0 2 10 1 3 0 3 112 Oil 4 4 8 Oil 10 1 10 1 112 2 0 2 o V i 4 "i 6 2 0 2 o Y i 10 1 Totals 27 10 37 10 8 18 22 7 29 7 18 112 1 2 3 17 3 20 10 1 86 32 118

17

H.—7

3—H. 7.

Table XI.—Length of Residence of Patients discharged "recovered" during 1896.

Table XII.—Causes of Death.

Auckland. ™". Dunedin (Seacliff). j Nelson. Porirua. Ashburn Hall (Private Asylum). Total. Length of Residence. Hokitika. Wellington. Under 1 month Prom 1 to 3 months , 3 „ 6 „ „ 6 „ 9 „ „ 9 ,,12 „ „ 1 „ 2 years .. „ 2 „ 3 „ .. , '8 „ 5 „ .. „ 5 „ 7 „ .. „ 7 ,,10 „ .. „ 10 ,,12 „ .. „ 12 ,,15 Over 15 years M. F. T. 2 0 2 4 3 7 5 3 8 4 2 G 2 13 3 14 M. F. T. 4 15 9 4 13 5 2 7 7 18 10 1 3 0 3 2 0 2 M. F. T. 2 0 2 4 15 7 2 9 14 5 3 0 3 M. F. T. 4 15 M. F. T. Oil 2 13 M. F. T. M. F. T. 2 13 12 11 23 6 8 14 2 5 7 2 2 4 2 13 0 2 2 M. F. T. 10 1 M. F. T. 11 2 13 33 21 54 25 16 41 14 13 27 9 0 15 9 5 14 2 4 6 12 3 Oil 112 0 2 2 Oil Oil Oil Oil 1 0 1 oil 0 11 112 oil 0 "\ 1 Totals 20 11 31 31 8 39 18 10 28 5 5 10 2 3 5 10 1 26 30 56 13 4 104 70 174

Causes. Auckland. Christchurch. Dunedin (Seacliff). Hokitika. Nelson. Porirua. Ashburn Welling- Hall ton. (Private Asylum). Total. M. F. T. M. F. T. 112 M. F. T. M. F. T. SI. F. T. M. F. T. M. F. T. M. F. T. M. F. T. 112 10 1 2 0 2 0 11 10 1 10 1 2 2 4 24 5 29 112 1 1 2 4 1 5 4 2 6 0 11 10 1 1 0 1 Acute pneumonia and phthisis .. Alcoholic degeneration Apoplexy Biliary calculus Bright's disease Bronchitis Cancer Degeneration of brain .. Diarrhcea Dropsy Epilepsy Exhaustion Exhaustion and pneumonia Fracture of base of skull Hemorrhage from wound, base of neck Heart-disease Heart-disease and abdominal tumour Intestinal obstruction Pachymeningitis haemorrhagica.. Paralysis, general Pericarditis Peritonitis Perforation of typhoid ulcer Phlebitis, infective Phthisis Pleurisy Pneumonia Senile decay Suffocation by hanging Syncope Syphilis Tuberculosis, general.... 10 1 0 11 8 3 11 10 1 1 1 2 2 1. 3 I I 10 1 10 1 112 2 13 0 11 10 1 0 11 10 1 10 1 0 11 10 1 10 1 0 11 5 0 5 0 11 1 0 1 0 11 10 1 2 13 11 2 13 2 0 2 10 1 10 1 4 2 6 0 1 1 10 1 6 0 6 10 1 10 1 10 1 13 0 13 0 1 1 '20 2 1 0 1 10 1 3 5 8 10 1 4 2 6 C 5 U 1 0 1 2 13 t 0 1 10 1 4 0 4 0 11 2 0 2 10 1 10 1 13 4 10 1 10 1 .. 10 1 2 0 2 1 1 2 2 0 2 0 2 2 10 1 10 1 12 3 112 10 1 10 1 10 1 0 1 1 12 3 1 0 1 1 0 1 10 1 0 11 10 1 1 0 1 t I Totals 27 10 37 10 8 18 I 22 7 29 ! I ! 7 1 8 112 12 3 17 3 20 j 86 32 118 10 1

H.—7

18

Table XIII.—Causes of Insanity.

Causes. Auckland. Christchurch. Dunedin (Seacliff). Hokitika. Nelson. Porirua. Ashburii Wellington. .^^ Asylum). Total. M. F. T. Oil M. F. T. M. F. T. M. F. T. M. F. T. M. F. T. M. F. T. 0 3 3 M. F. T. M. P. T. 0 4 4 Oil 10 1 0 11 11 0 5 5 25 26 51 10 1 Oil 10 1 4 6 10 42 5 47 10 1 9 5 14 10 1 5 16 Oil 4 5 9 112 Oil 112 Oil 4 2 6 5 16 9 0 9 0 1 1 4 3 7 23 2 25 1 0 1 7 0 7 10 1 2 13 0 2 2 6 5 11 5 16 16 12 28 15 4 19 2 3 5 8 0 8 Oil 2 1 3 0 2 2 11 8 19 79 46 125 Amenorrhcea Brain-disease Bright's disease Child-bearing Climacteric Congenital and hereditary .. Debility .. Depravity Disappointment Domestic trouble and worry Drink Dyspepsia Epilepsy Fever Financial anxiety Fright .. Grief Heart-disease Hysteria Ill-health Imbecility Influenza Injury Injury to head Insomnia Love Masturbation Opium eating Organic disease Otitis Overstudy Overwork Previous attack Privation Religion Senile decay Shock Solitude Spiritualism Sunstroke Uterine trouble Worry Unknown 12 3 2 2 4 6 17 4 15 10 1 2 13 Oil 112 10 1 2 02 4 13 Oil 10 1 4 0 4 123 112 l 6' l 0 55 5 6 11 14 5 10 0 10 10 1 3 0 3 2 6' 2 Oil 112 0 s' 3 12 3 4 15 oil 101 oil oil 0 33 101 o i" l o i - l oil 3 'i 4 10 1 10 1 2 '6 2 10 1 Oil 10 1 0 66 10 9* 19 15 3' 18 101 1 i' 2 o i' l l i' 2 4 15 12 3 10 1 oil oil 4 0 4 4 6' 4 101 1 i" 2 9 0 9 oil 4 2 6 2 0 2 2 0 2 2 0 2 10 1 Oil 112 5 0 5 10 1 7 07 101 112 101 0 2 2 2 13 8 19 10 1 Oil 3 0 3 0 1 ll 0 1 lj 6 5 11 2 0 2 3 2 5 2 0 2 10 1 10 1 101 G 2 8 10 1 3 0 3 0 i' 1 2 13 o i' l 10 1 0 *2 • 2 5 5 10 3 14 0 2 2 101 .. 1 6' 1 Oil 1 6' 1 3 0 3 23 9 32 2 6' 2 16 8 24 Oil 10 1 4 2 6 5 8 13 17 19 36 12 6 18 4 0 4 3 2 5 Totals .. 75 27 102 55 23 78 57 26 83 14 ]0 24 8 10 18 15 8 23 70 62 132 2 4 6 296 170 466-

H.-7.

Table XIV. —Former Occupations of Patients.

19

Occupations. Auckland. Christchurch. Dunedin Hl , ldtik ,, (Seacliff). M0ItltlKa - Nelson. Porirua. Ashburn Wellington. ( j™J te Asylum). Total. Males. Aboriginal natives Barbers Blacksmiths Bootmakers Brewer Bricklayer Bushman Butchers Cabmen Caretaker Carpenters, cabinetmakers, &o. Carters .. .. .. Chemist Clerks and accountants Clergyman Commission agents Contractor Cook Dairyman Dentist's p,ssistant Drapers Drover Engineers .. Engine-driver Farmers, graziers, &c. Farm-hands, shepherds, &c. .. Fellmongers . ,. Ferryman Fisherman Gardeners Grocer Gum-diggers Hawkers Labourers Lay reader Malster Manager, shipping company .. Miners Oysterman Photographer Police officer Post Office cadet Printers Eabbiter Saddlers Sailmakers, &c. Sailors Sawmillers Schoolmaster Settler Soldier Solicitor Station manager Stonemason Storekeeper Storemen Student Tailors Travellers Waiter Warehouseman Wheelwright No occupation "Unknown M. F. T. 5 0 5 1 0 1 10 1 1 0 1 M. P. T. M. F. T. M. F. T. M. F. T. M. F. T. p. M. F. T. M. F. T. 5 0 5 2 0 2 2 0 2 4 0 4 10 1 10 1 4 0 4 3 0 3 10 1 10 1 11 0 11 3 0 3 10 1 9 0 9 10 1 2 0 2 10 1 10 1 10 1 10 1 4 0 4 10 1 4 0 4 10 1 30 0 30 5 0 5 2 0 2 10 1 10 1 5 0 5 10 1 9 0 9 4 0 4 97 0 97 10 1 10 1 2 0 2 17 0 17 10 1 10 1 10 1 10 1 4 0 4 10 1 2 0 2 3 0 3 7 0 7 3 0 3 10 1 10 1 10 1 10 1 10 1 10 1 10 1 2 0 2 10 1 3 0 3 2 0 2 10 1 10 1 10 1 11 0 11 2 0 2 10 1 10 1 10 1 2 '6 2 l 6' l 1 6' 1 1 0 I 1 l 6' l 1 0 1 2 02 2 6' 2 10 1 I 5 0 5i 10 1 101 I 1 0 1 1 6' 1 l 6" l 3 0 3 10 1 10 1 3 0 3 l 6' i 3 0 3 10 1 10 1 2 0 2 2 0 2 10 1 l 6' l 1 6' 1 10 1 2 6' 2 l 6' l 101 1 o' 1 2 6' 2 2 6' 2 7 0 7 2 0 2 10 1 l 6' l 3 0 3 3 0 3 10 1 1 o" 1 2 02 10 1 13 0 13 10 1 10 1 10 1 l 6' l 10 1 2 0 2 1 6' 1 10 1 1 '6 1 10 1 9 0 9 10 1 23 0 23 10 1 10 1 10 1 10 1 2 0 2 24 0 24 13 6' 13 27 0 27 2 0 2 8 0 8 4 6' 4 10 1 5 6' 5 4 0 4 3 6' 3 10 1 10 1 10 1 10 1 1 6' 1 10 1 10 1 1 6' 1 10 1 10 1 2 0 2 1 0 1 10 1 10 1 10 1 10 1 10 1 1 0 1 10 1 3 0 3 10 1! 10 1 10 1 1 0 1 .. 10 1 10 1 l 6' l 1 6' 1 1 6' 1 1 6' 1 10 1 10 1 10 1 101 i 6' i 1 6' 1 1 6' 1 i 6' i 1 6' 1 10 1 2 0 2 2 0 2 2 0 2 2 o' 2 101 4 '6 4 I Females. Aboriginal natives Barmaid Charwoman Cook Domestic duties Domestic servants Dressmakers Housekeeper Machinist Music-teachers Nurse Prostitute Schoolgirl School-teacher Shopwoman Washerwoman No occupation Unknown 0 2 2 0 12 12 0 11 11 0 11 0 13 13 0 4 4 Oil Oil 0 11 0 2i'21 Oil 0 2 2 0 6 6 0 8 8 oil 0 3* 3 0 2 2 J Oil oil 0 27 27 0 17 17! 0 3 3 oil 0 33 0 2 2 0 11 0 11 0 11 0 89 89 0 40 40 0 5 5 0 11 0 11 0 2 2 Oil 0 11 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 2 2 0 18 18 0 2 2 o 'i i| oil 0 i' 1 o 'i i oil Oil Oil 0 8 8 0 2 2 oil 0 2 2 0 4 4 oil 0 2 2 Totals 75 27 102 55 23 78 57 26 83 14 10 24 8 10 18 15 8 23 70 62 132 2 4 6 296 170 466

H.—7

20

Table XV.—Showing the Admissions, Discharges, and Deaths, with the Mean Annual Mortality and proportion of Recoveries per cent. of the Admissions for each Year since 1st January, 1876.

M. F. T. In Asylums, Ist January, 1876 .. .. .. .. .. .. 482 254 736 In Asylums, Ist January, 1897 .. .. .. .. .. .. ..1,390 925 2,315

Year. Admitted. Discharged. Died. Eemaining 31st December in each Year. Average Numbers resident. Percentage of Recoveries on Admissions. Percentage of Deaths on average Numbers resident. Recovered. Eelievea. Not Improved. 1876 1877 1878 1879 1880 1881 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 1889 1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 M. 221 250 247 248 229 232 267 255 238 294 207 255 215 230 230 234 231 281 320 379 296 F. 117 112 i 131 151 149 127 152 166 153 160 165 161 146 161 160 201 158 179 256 302 170 T. 338 I 362 I 378 399 378 359 419 421 391 454 372 416 361 391 390 435 3S9 460 576 681 466 M. 125 123 121 112 100 93 95 102 89 95 99 103 116 93 98 •88 89 101 107 105 104 F. 81 57 68 76 67 65 59 78 77 76 60 78 92 53 88 74 76 89 76 77 70 T. 206 180 ; 189 188 167 158 154 180 166 171 159 181 208 146 186 162 165 190 183 182 174 M. 17 20 14 15 36 41 49 13 17 10 11 34 31 31 23 33 17 15 24 25 F. 8 9 ! 14 13 25 36 32 20 9 5 17 17 28 30 17 24 17 12 11 19 16 T. 25 29 28 i 28 l 61 77 81 33 26 15 28 51 59 61 40 57 38 29 20 43 41 M. 6 3 8 ' 5 8 5 10 18 73 12 F. 6 2 3 3 2 1 7 9 12 29 8 T. 12 9 6 11 7 9 12 19 30 102 20 M. 36 42 51 55 54 49 60 65 68 73 57 74 78 70 76 79 74 78 64 101 86 F. 12 21 17 16 20 14 19 18 24 22 19 27 26 30 35 41 34 23 35 42 32 T. 48 63 68 71 74 63 79 83 92 95 76 101 104 100 111 120 108 101 99 143 118 M. 519 581; 638 695 769 827 892 938 981 1,009 1,053 1,041 1,074 1,095 1,115 1,154 1,229! 1,308 1,329 1,390 F. 264 291 319 361 396 406 442 483 514 542 604 643 640 687 702 734 763 810 J 860 8S5 925 T. II. 783 491 872 541 957 601 1,056 666 1,125 703 1,175 747 1,269 796 1,375 860 1,452 911 1,523 965 1,613 984 1,696 1,034 1,6811,045 1,7611,0464 1,797 1,078 1,849,1, 089J 1,917J1,125 2,039!l,172 2,1681,241 2,214ll,313 2,315il,347 F. 257 277 303 337 371 388 421 475 497 528 559 613 641 660J 685 699J 714| 758 812 849 882 T. 748 818 904 1,003 1,074 1,135 1,217 1,335 1,408 1,493 1,543 1,647 1,686 1,707 1,763 1.789J 1,839| 1,930 2,053 2,162 j 2,229 j M. 54-53 49-20 48-98 45-16 4366 4008 35 58 40-00 37-39 32-31 47-82 40-39 ; 53-95 40-43 42 61 37-61 38 53 35-94; 39 63 41-27 37-41 F. [ 66-01 1 50-80] 51-90 50-33 44-96 5110 38-81 46-98 50-32 47-50 36-36 48-75 63 01 32.92 55 00 36-82 48-10 49-72 45-18 46-66 44-02 57-56 49 72 50-00 47-11 44-17 44-01 36-75 42-75 42-45 37-66 42-74 43-61 57-62 37-34 47-69 37-24 42-42 41-30 41-03 43-40 39-82 M. 8-21 7-76 8-48 8-25 7-68 6-29 7-53 7-55 7-46 7-56 5-79 7-15 7-56 6-69 7-05 7-25 6-58 6-66 516 7-69 6-38 F, 3-58 7 58 5-61 4 74 5-39 3-60 4-51 3-78 4-82 4-16 3-39 4 40 4-05 4-54 5-11 5-86 4-76 3-03 4-31 4-94 3-63 T. 6-70 7-70 752 7-07 6-89 5-55 6-49 6-21 6-53 6-36 4-91 6-13 616 5-86 6-29 6-71 5-87 5-23 4-82 6-61 5-29 2 3 12 14 8 9 55 ! 128 20 2 1 5 30 2 9 84 139 12 4 4 17 44 10 18 139 267 32 J 5,359 ; i 1 366 772 1,390 527 1,917 , 941 559 1,600 8,477 I J8,836 I 2,158 1,537 3,695 497 379 876 406 • • I • • ..

H.— 7.

Table XVI.—Showing the Admissions, Readmissions, Discharges, and Deaths from the 1st January, 1876, to the 31st December, 1896.

Table XVII.—Summary of Total Admissions. Percentage of Cases since the Year 1876.

Table XVIII. —Expenditure, out of Immigration and Public Works Loan, on Asylum Buildings during the Financial Year ended 31st March, 1897, and Liabilities for the same.

Table XIX. —Total Expenditure, out of Immigration and Public Works Loan, for Repairs and Buildings at each Asylum from 1st July, 1877, to 31st March, 1897.

4—H. 7.

21

Persons admitted during period from 1st January, 1876, to 31st December, 1896 .. Beadmissions M. F. T. M. F. T. 4,463 2,785 7,248 896 692 1,588 Total cases admitted Discharged cases— Recovered ■ Relieved Not improved Died 5,359 3,477 8,836 2,158 1,537 3,695 497 379 876 406 366 772 1,390 527 1,917 4,451 2,809 7,260 Total cases discharged and died since January, 1876 Remaining in asylums, January 1st, 1876 ., 482 254 736 Remaining in asylums, January 1st, 1897 1,390 925 2,315 Average numbers resident since January, 1876 941 559 1,500

Males. Females. Both Sexes, Recovered Relieved .. Not improved Died " .. Remaining 40-27 9-27 7-58 25-94 16-94 44-20 10-90 10-53 15-16 19-21 41-82 9-91 8-74 21-69 17-84 100-00 100-00 100-00

Asylums. Net Expenditure for Year ended 31st March, 1897. Liabilities on 31st March, 1897. Auckland Wellington Porirua Christchureh Dunedin (Seacliff) .. Nelson Hokitika £ s. d. 9,565 4 4 175 10 0 4,873 16 10 1,169 11 1 280 11 0 338 17 3 £ s. d. 2,675 3 6 140 10 0 2,872 16 1 1,160 5 5 331 1 9 8 18 1 Totals 16,403 10 6 7,188 14 10

Asylums. 1877-89. 1889-90. 1890-91. 1891-92. 1892-93. Auckland Wellington Wellington (Porirua) Christchurch Dunedin (Seacliff) Napier Hokitika.. Nelson £ s. a. 66,470 0 8 19,875 2 6 5,597 9 7 72,304 12 6 108,356 17 7 147 0 0 1,059 10 7 3,282 13 7* £ s. d. 90 19 6 10,962*'18 11 4,400 13 7 £ s. d. 1,663 8 9 83 16 1 5,390 10 4 1,387 11 9 £ s. d. 1,411 7 8 12,474 18 0 2,014 5 3 500 0 0 £ s. d. 1,076 4 10 5,981 8 11 2,990 6 7 1,310 13 10 62' 0 0 200 0 0 43 9 1 361 1 9 514*16 3 528' 9 8 Totals .. 277,093 7 0 15,716 12 0 8,929 17 16,915 7 2 11,886 18 10 Asylums. 1893-94. 1894-95. 1895-96, 1896-97. Total let Expenditure, 1st July, 1877, > 31st March, 1897. Luckland Vellington Vellington (Porirua) Ihristchurch )unedin (Seaclifi) Tapier lokitika.. felson £ s. a. 1,033 19 3 15,272 2 3 545 4 5 1,881 19 3 £ S. d. 505 10 7 880 11 1 8,007 10 2 2,159 0 9 1,879 17 8 £ s. d. 2,994 10 4 275 4 0 768 15 5 4,863 10 1 1,810 11 2 £ s. d. 9,565 4 4 175 10 0 4,873 16 10 1,169 11 1 280 11 0 £ s. d. 84,811 5 11 21,2'J0 3 8 52,975 16 2 102,399 19 11 121,808 15 10 147 0 0 1,187 5 4 5,849 6 7 223 8 1 200 0 0 22* 5 8 200 0 0 338*17 3 Totals .. 18,956 13 3 13,632 10 3 10,934 16 8 16,403 10 6 390,469 13 5 • Includes £200 charged as unauthorised.

7

22

Note.—Including the first four items in Table XX., the net cost per patient is £22 9s. IOJd., as against £22 13s. B£d. for the previous year, being a decrease of 3e. lOd. per head.

Table XX.— Showing the Expenditure for the Year 1896.

Table XXI.— Average Cost of each Patient per Annum.

Approximate Coat of Paper. —Preparation, not given ; printing (1,625 copies), £18 12s. 6d.

By Authority: John Mackay, Government Printer, Wellington 1897 Price 9d,-}

v Items. Auckland. Christchurch. Dunedin (Seacliff). Hokitika. Nelson. Forirua. Wellington. Total. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. 1,000 0 0 77 0 0 180 0 0 902 3 0 437 5 10 20 16 8 99 15 2 400 0 0 2,885 8 4 1,078 6 2 648 6 8 587 1 8 18,039 7 2 15,729 13 0 3,531 5 2 4,621 3 5 426 15 1 102 2 10 2,463 10 10 8,305 8 7 Inspector* Assistant Inspector* Clerk* Medical fees* Contingencies* Deputy Inspector Official Visitors Visiting Medical Officers Superintendents Assistant Medical Officers Clerks Matrons Attendants and servants Bations Fuel and light Bedding and clothing Surgery and dispensary Wines, spirits, ale, and porter Farm Necessaries, incidental, and miscellaneous ! ■ ■ •" 15 18 6 591 13 4 250 0 0 113 6 8 85 0 0 3,507 4 5 2,925 1 0 749 13 7 946 1 10 52 14 4 20 17 10 360 1 7 1,362 14 0 5 5 0 600 0 0 239 1 3 180 0 0 90 0 0 3,738 18 0 2,915 12 6 1,122 14 5 884 16 3 57 16 5 9 5 9 651 4 8 1,257 13 2 20*16 8 39 18 0 600 0 0 339 4 11 180 0 0 100 0 0 4,744 2 2 4.013 2 10 417 12 1 1,288 5 10 145 9 7 23 11 6 711 11 0 3,393 6 4 7 7 0 150 0 0 300 0 0 85 0 0 935 1 6 881 19 3 75 0 4 160 11 6 6 16 6 1 11 6 7 7 0 250 0 0 163 15 0 73 15 0 997 13 0 1,029 5 3 178 1 10 236 16 9 44 .1 2 12 12 0 162 16 2 356 14 0 16 12 8 25 0 0 250 0 0 77 10 0 1,857 18 6 1,663 16 9 447 17 0 448 19 1 41 3 7 20 18 3 364 9 11 698 3 3 77 0 600 0 0 175 0 0 75 16 8 2,258 9 7 2,300 15 5 540 5 11 655 12 2 78 13 6 13 6 0 213 7 6 1,020 14 8 216 3 2 Totals Repayments, sale of produce, &c. 10.9S0 7 1 2,133 4 9 11,752 7 5 3,805 8 2 16,017 0 11 2,874 6 0 2,819 10 9 144 15 0 3,517 17 2 886 10 5 5,912 9 0 440 15 3 7,939 8 5 1,965 19 4 61,535 9 7 12,250 18 11 Actual cost 5,973 9 1 49,284 10 8 8,847 2 4 7,946 19 3 13,142 14 11 2,674 15 9 2,631 6 9 5,471 13 9 * Not included in Table XXI.

Asylums. Provisions. Salaries. Bedding and Clothing. Fuel and Light. Surgery and Dispensary. Wines, Spirits, Ale, &c. ■ Total Cost wKi' Total Cost Eepayment per Head, less Farm. "???■; per for Main- Repayments opllanpous Patient. tenance. ior Jlainceilaneous. tenanoe. Increase in 1806. Auckland Christchurch Dunedin (Seaclifi) Hokitika Kelson Porirua Wellington £ s. d. £ s. d. 7 7 4J 11 9 10J 6 3 6| i 10 5 7J 7 4 7J ! 10 17 1 8 1 10 13 11 1 7 19 7 11 12 2 7 2 2£ 9 10 4J 7 15 11J ' 10 11 3i £ s. d. 2 7 8 1 17 G 2 6 5 1 9 5J 1 16 Si 1 18 4J 2 4 5J £ s. d. 1 17 9J 2 7 6f 0 15 0J 0 13 91 1 7 7J 1 18 3J 1 16 7J £ s. d. 0 2 7f 0 2 5J 0 5 3 0 13 0 6 10 0 3 6i 0 5 4 £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. 0 1 Of 0 18 If 3 8 7f 27 13 2 0 0 4j 1 7 7 , 2 13 3J j 24 17 11| 0 0 10| 1 5 7| 6 2 3J ! 28 17 2£ 0 0 3J .. 1 19 8 ! 25 17 41 0 1 11J I 1 5 8 2 15 3J 27 5 4f 0 1 9| 1 11 If 2 19 8 25 5 i 0 0 10| 0 14 Si 3 9 2J 26 18 3 £ s. d. 4 11 5J 5 14 2§ 4 12 l| 14 6 5 12 4 12 2 5 15 11 £ s. d. 23 1 8J 19 3 9 24 5 1 24 12 10J 21 13 Of 24 3 2 21 2 4 £ s. d. 22 5 8J 16 16 8J 23 13 7| 24 10 9J 20 7 11J 23 7 8" 20 4 114 £ s. d. 22 8 31 18 4 9J 23 4 11 24 0 4| 21 2 6" 20 18 91 21 7 9} £ s. a. ] 0 2 6f| 1 8 Of! £ s. d. 0 9 6 0 10 5 0 14 6J 2 8 10| 1 2 9f Averages 7 3 7 10 16 10J 2 2 21 1 12 2f 0 3 10| 0 0 11J 1 2 5| 3 15 9| 26 18 0 4 10 3J 22 7 8f 21 6 2 21 8 10J 0 2 8J|

H.—7.

Sleeping- accommodation in Asylums.

Single Rooms.

355 patients in excess. 600 cubic feet space required by Act. 213,000 cubic feet deficient.

By Authority: John Mackay, Government Printer, Wellington.—lB97.

23

Asylum. Number of Patients, August, 1897. Number of Patients Number of to be Single Rooms, accommodated, in Common Dormitories. Common Dormitory Accommodation : Cubic Feet. Statutory Accommodation in Common Dormitories: Number of Patients. Number of Patients in Excess of Statutory Accommodation. Auckland Christchurch Seacliff ... Hokitika ... Nelson Porirua* ... Wellington 425 494 582 116 136 259 317 57 81 139 18 29 7 67 368 413 443 98 107 252 250 211,335 197,716 189,617 57,263 39,262 167,016 100,173 352 329 316 95 65 278 167 16 84 127 3 42 83 Totals 2,329 398 1,931 962,382 1,602 355 * It will be noticed that at Porirua accommodated. The floor-space, howeve: gives a larger number of cubic feet space there is apparently room for r, is not sufficient for more th for each patient than the stati : twenty-six mo ian 252. The g; utory requireme ire patients thi reat height of snts. an the number the dormitories

Asylum. Number of Single Rooms. Total Space: Cubic Feet. Cubic Feet for each Room. Luckland Jhristchurch... ieacliff lokitika lelson 'orirua Vellington ... 57 81 139 18 29 7 67 52,296 69,651 105,885 12,301 25,723 6,168 60,867 917 860 762 684 887 880 908 Totals 398 332,891 836