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is manifest in every department of the institution. Mr. Chapman, the head attendant, is very satisfactory. Mr. Russell's department is admirably managed ; both the stores and the clerical work are satisfactorily looked after, and I acknowledge in the heartiest manner Mr. Russell's devotion to his work and the great value of his services. Miss Campbell's relations to the female attendants are pleasant and harmonious, and the work is well done. The farm continues to be admirably managed. 27th January, 1891.—1 have found every department of this Asylum working well. The new female wing is all that I anticipated in point of comfort and commodiousness. All that is noAv wanted to make the Asylum complete is the erection of the promised additions to the front and the cross block at the end of the male wing. The Worthington pump, Avhich has been imported from England for water-supply and fire-extinction purposes, is now in complete working-order, except that it has not yet been connected with the river. This ought to be done immediately. The farm is being got into admirable order, and, if only we could get the necessary building operations completed, it would be possible for Dr. Levinge to get the immediate surroundings of the Asylum laid out into airing-courts and gardens, thus vastly increasing the amenities of the place. It has been most heartbreaking work for the Medical Superintendent ever since he took charge to find that no sooner has he begun to get the institution into something like order than he has to throw the front into confusion again for another instalment of works Avhich ought to have been completed long ago. The total number of patients this day is 386 ; of these, 230 are males and 156 females. Two women and one man were in seclusion. One woman wore a belt to which her wrists were fixed to keep her from irritating some sores on her face, and another was wearing a canvas dress. A careful record is kept in the medical journal of all cases of seclusion and restraint. The general health of the patients is good, except for the prevalence of goitre, the cause of AA'hich it is somewhat difficult to explain. The drainage of the north house has lately been laid bare, with the result that we find the pipes to have been laid in the most careless fashion. It is a Avouder we have escaped so long Avithout an epidemic of typhoid fever. The internal economy of the Asylum is highly satisfactory, and a good spirit animates the staff. All who have the opportunity of comparing the institution as it now is with Avhat it Avas before Dr. Levinge took charge must be struck with the difference ; and I am thankful to find that the Deputy Inspector and official Visitors bear conclusive testimony to this fact. Seacliff. 9th August, 1890. —I haAe been engaged all to-day and yesterday in making my half-yearly inspection of this Asylum. The weather being wintry I made a particular examination of the clothing, bedding, boots, &c, and found all were suitably and warmly clad. A good many, however, of the male patients had flannels which did not button at the neck, thereby failing to protect the chest sufficiently. I Avas gratified to find great improvements in many of the internal arrangements of the Asylum, all tending towards economy and increase of comfort simultaneously. In the two billiard-rooms the patients—about forty of them—are allowed to enjoy the game up to half-past 8, when the attendants are allowed to have the use of them. A string-band has also been started by the members of the staff, and provided by the Government with instruments. Yesterday afternoon I saAV about three hundred male and female patients having a dance in the upper hall, this band providing the music. The drainage of the whole Asylum is being greatly improved, according to the plans of Dr. King, who is a most competent sanitarian. With the valuable assistance of Mr. Newman, avlio is a skilful plumber, the Avork is being most efficiently and economically carried out. A new and commodious farm-steading is noAv being put up from materials bought at the Exhibition sales—part of the buildings were admirably adapted for our purpose— and will soon be ready for use. The new day-room, which occupies the space filled by the rear portion of the damaged block, is" now ready for use as a portion of a Avard Avhich is to be specially heated by Avater-pipes, and otherwise made suitable for the treatment of cases requiring special treatment and care. This is a great step in advance, for it will enable such cases to be kept from irritating and depressing contact with the rest of the insane inmates. I am sorry, however, that the north window is not three times as large, as it would greatly increase the cheerfulness of the day-room. I observe a great improvement on the male side, both in the appearance of the Avards and in the behaviour of the patients. The total number of inmates this day is 276 males and 206 females. Of these, only twenty-seven males and sixty females are unemployed. The farm gives employment to 140 males each day, the workshops employ forty-four, while the remainder are disposed in the wards, the dining-hall, the kitchen, the laundry, and the garden. To-day 261 men dined in hall and 206 women in their several wards. Ten males and ten females were confined to bed under medical treatment. Only three females were secluded. All the males, AA'ith the exception of those already mentioned, were up and about. Four men and two women were wearing strong dresses or locked gloves. I found no other mode of restraint in use; and a careful record is kept of all such cases, as Avell as of all who are secluded. Every visit I pay impresses me more and more Avith our good fortune in having secured a man of Dr. King's energy and ability to take charge of this large and difficult Asylum. He speaks in the highest terms of Dr. Fooks, his recently-appointed assistant, and already the carefully-kept case-books show that a great change has been made for the better. The head attendant, Mr. Robert Stewart, performs his duties most satisfactorily, and the improved state of things on the male side is largely due to him. 23rd January, 1891. —I find that during the past year Dr. King has initiated and successfully carried out very great improvements in the drainage and ventilation of this Asylum, so that now there is no reason to apprehend any bad effects from the original deficiency of the plans in these respects. He has also effected great reforms and improvements in the internal administration of the institution. The new billiard-room, the instrumental band under the skilful leadership of Mr. Haig, and the ornamentation and polishing of the wards, have greatly increased the efficiency and attractiveness of the Asylum. Notwithstanding the vigour Avith which-the rules arc enforced, and the cases

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