H.—4.

3

Much more striking instances of the comparatively unfavourable nature of the admissions in English asylums than the one just given could be adduced, such as that of the Cheshire County Asylum, at Macclesfield, where, in 1873, the last year for which I have its report, only 30 per cent, belonged to the first class, and as many as 43 per cent, belonged to the fourth. As time goes on an increasing number of relapsed and long-standing cases will be found among the annual admissions in New Zealand asylums, and the proportion af recoveries will dwindle down to that of older countries. Deaths. —There were 68 deaths during the year; and the rate of mortality, calculated on the average number resident, was 752, which is almost the same as that of the previous year, and considerably lower than that of country and borough asylums in England in 1877, which, in the report of the Commissioners, is stated to have been 1031. The causes of death are shown in Table X. As in the preceding year, about two-thirds of the deaths were due to diseases of the nervous system. Two suicides by strangulation occurred, one at Dunedin —in which case the patient was apparently not even suspected of being suicidal by the Asylum officers —and one at Wellington, in which case the inclination to self-destruction was believed to have subsided. Tho number of deaths from diseases of the lungs, though small in comparison with that which is usual in other asylums, is greater than in the two previous years. This was partly duo to the severity of the winter, which was especially felt at Dunedin Asylum, where the mortality was nearly double that of the previous year. Asylums. Christchurch Asylum. —The uumber of patients in this Asylum on the Ist of January was 204. During the year 99 were admitted, inclusive of 10 habitual drunkards. Fifty-six were discharged as recovered, Bof whom were habitual drunkards ; 2 were discharged as relieved; and 9 died ; leaving, at 31st December, 236, of whom 152 were males and 84 were females. The following is the report which was made on the asylum when it was visited in December last:— "This Asylum has been inspected on the 11th, 12th, 17th, and 18th instant. It now contains 145 males aud S2 females, which is 24 more males and 6 more females than at last visit. The overcrowding of the male department is such that it is in a very dangerous condition indeed, and its proper management is quite impossible. Every day-room is used as a dormitory, and excited, discontented, and violent patients are strewn about in all directions as thick as they can lie, on the floors, on the tops of tables, and underneath the tables; and the atmosphere is disgusting in spite of open windows. The building is iv an advanced state of decay, and the flooring in many rooms is dangerously rotten, bending freely beneath one's tread. In two places I put my foot right through it. It is patched right and left with boards or large plates of zinc, to keep out the rats. The wood of which it is made appears to have been originally bad and soft; and everywhere its surface has become incurably dirty by constant cleaning, and incessant tramping up and down of the patients. Tho patients do not appear to be nearly so much confined to the airing-courts as formerly; and to this must be ascribed the marked diminution in that clamorous excitement which was so painfully characteristic of them as a community at last visit. - Their quietness, however, was in many cases seen to be quite superficial on attempting to converse with them, when irritability and downright savageness of temper were discovered, which are certainly duo to the overcrowding, with its attendant evils of enforced idleness and loss of individual treatment. The bedding in the dormitories was mostly found in good condition, but much of that which is used for shakedowns in the day-rooms and asphalted cells which surround the yards is worn out, or soiled and destroyed by the ill-usage to which it is unavoidably exposed. The clothing of the patients is very clean and tidy, and made of good material. Their persons also were noticed to bo very clean. The female department was found in excellent order. Several of the rooms have been oil-painted by one of the attendants, which has greatly improved them.The patients, as a rule, were quiet and well-behaved during the visit, but there are among them some very troublesomo and unmanageable cases—notably, one of acute mania, which has evidently been aggravated by the foolish interference of affectionate friends; and an exceedingly mischievous and turbulent woman, who defies every officer in the establishment, aird devotes all her energy and endless volubility to inciting others to follow her example. It was very obvious that the fear of plausible misrepresentations and injurious accusations of ill-treatment on the part of this unhappy woman, who is even more deluded than long-winded, effectually deterred the matron from exercising towards her that firmness which was requisite both in her own treatment and for the sake of the well-disposed patients, and which can hardly be looked for in officers unsupported by the authority of an experienced resident medical superintendent. The clothing of the women is, for the most part, very neat and of good quality ; but that of several in the refractory ward appears old and worn out. Two sewing-machines which have lately been got should allow a better stock to be kept up. The women enjoy a great deal more liberty than can safely bo accorded to the majority of tho men in their present circumstances; and this has doubtless much to do with their comparatively quiet, contented condition. In two of the wards all the doors are left unlocked during the day, and the inmates can go into their rooms or out into the garden at pleasure. The uorth house, intended for the use of inebriates, is at present tenanted by two such patienis only, the rest of the accommodation being occupied by private or quiet patients for whom there is no room in the main building. It and the nice garden attached to it were found in good order. One of the inebriates preferred an amazing charge of the most outrageous cruelty to a patient by four male attendants, men of good character and antecedents. The charge was carefully investigated in his presence, and found to be utterly false. It was evident, however, that another complaint made by the same person was well founded: it appeared that a female attendant, who bears a high character, but is new to her work, about two months ago, while vainly and most foolishly at! empting without assistance to bring into the house against her will an excited and violent patient, lost her temper in the struggle and gave her a blow, and then pushed her with uunecessary roughness towards the house.