H.—No. 10.

8

REPORT OF JOINT COMMITTEE

Dr. France.

130. Suppose a female patient was violent, would men have to be called in ? They could not help doing so, if she was very violent. The matron would get one man to assist her, and she would have to call in more if force was required, but probably she would get one of the female patients to assist her. 131. The Chairman.] Tou have only two assistant-keepers?' The force has been increased lately very much. There are two assistant-keepers and a cook, as well as the master. The cook would not, unless a fourth man was required, interfere in any such matter. The general form of violence on the part of females is that they tear their clothes. 132. Does the matron never leave the buildings ? She leaves less frequently perhaps than anyone, once in two months, but there is nothing to prevent her going out whenever she thought proper to do so. 133. In that case the women would be left without a female attendant ? Tes. 134. And what rule is there for the keepers ? They go out alternately. 135. But it is only since June you have had two there? Only since June: formerly there was only one there, and he acted as cook. 136. Will you be good enough to state how many patients were cured? During nine years, up to January this year, there were forty-eight admissions and twenty-nine were discharged, and there were nine deaths. There were ten patients in the asylum when I went there. Two died soon after they were admitted. One was a case of acute mania, a case of general paralysis brought on by intoxication. They were really sent to the Asylum to die. 137. I suppose you had no special knowledge of insanity before you went there? No. 138. Do you adopt any plan of treatment? We do not shave their heads, blister or purge them, or anything of that sort. We adopt the plan used in any well-managed asylum, restraining them gently, and in case of any bodily ailment, treating them for it. 139. Do the patients ever get out; leave the asylum ? No, there is no arrangement for their going away. 140. The Hon. Captain Fraser.] Do they never leave the asylum ? No. 141. Have you any yard for exercise? They go out of the buildings into a paddock containing about five acres. There are two enclosed yards attached to the rear of the buildings. There is'a front garden of about a quarter of an acre in which they walk about. 142. I saw a man walking about in the yard barefooted, and his feet were quite blue and covered with chilblains? Originally that man was dangerous in this way. When visitors were there he would suddenly become violent aud kick them, and would sometimes break his boots to pieces. The peculiar colour was caused by exposure, and was what is called pigmentary. It was not from chilblains, for his feet were that colour in the warmest weather, and you sec this with sailors' feet. He was a sailor, and the fact of the matter is he would not have boots on. 143. Female patients were also walking upon the bare floor and had no covering to their feet? Some will kick their shoes off and destroy them. 144. The women are not. most refractory? One is very violent, she has been there for ten years. 145. Do the female patients never get out? The females get out in the front, in the garden more particularly. I had a croquet ground prepared and a bagatelle table, but the men have the best of the amusements at present: they have a pack of cards and a set of draughts. We want the amusements increased, and especially the out of door amusements, but there is no suitable place at Karori. 146. If the site were nearer the town the inhabitants would take some interest in the Asylum ? Nobody ever goes to Karori, and people never talk about it except from hearsay. 147. I looked at the book for visitors, and saw very few names since I was there two years ago ? At present the roads are passable, but last winter they were impassable in places. 148. Do you require more female attendants ? We ought to have three female attendants including the matron. Some female patients are very troublesome, and one of the three violent women is the most filthy in her habits. Otherwise they are all in good bodily health. The one I refer to has been in three years, and she is the daughter of a lunatic. Her mother has been one for sixteen or eighteen years, aud her father died in a lunatic asylum. 149. The Hon. Captain Fraser.] Do you allow the patients out of control occasionally ? Wo have no means for doing so. 150. How do you mean no means? No means of letting them out excepting as cured. 151. If their friends gave a guarantee? They have no friends, they aro paupers. 152. Are there any out with friends at present ? No, none are out. We cannot send them out to get a living or employment. In one instance a man went away to the neighbourhoood of the place he came from, but he, 1 think, got tipsy, for he came back, and was worse than he was previously. A man who was a patient two years ago came there again and wanted to stop. He slept there, and said he had not slept so well for a long time. He was as shabby as possible, did not \\ish to leave, and was quite at home. Ido not know whether the mau ought to have been sent there. In a week's time he might be as well as we are. 153. The Hon. Mr. Menzies.] What is the most common cause of insanity here ? Perhaps an hereditary tendency. A great many suffer from blows on the head and other violence. Several of the men have severe scars on their scalps. The head of one was so covered with scars that it appeared as though he had had severe bouts at single stick. 154. The Hon. Captain Fraser.] Was he not able to explain how he got the scar? No, he would say nothing for days, lie was suffering from aphasia, but he improved very much. 155. The,Hon Mr. Menzies.] Is drink a common cause ? Drink is the most common exciting cause. 156. As regards men or women I think drink has had a great deal to do with the origin of the attack in both, but the tendency to drink is brought on by the previous condition of mind. ■' (The witness then withdrew.)