H.—7

6

error for which there is some excuse for the uninformed, when one reviews a number of years as is done hereunder: — Proportion of the Insane to the Population estimated to 31st December of each Year. 1878 ... ... ... .. lin 471 01-2-12 per 1,000 1883 „ 393 „ 2-54 1888 ... ... 361 „ 2-77 1893 „ 330 „ 303 1898 300 „ 3-33 1903 284 „ 3-53 1904 285 „ 3-51 1905 286 „ 3-49 1906 286 " 349 The larger proportion now, as contrasted with the past, means nothing more than accumulation. There is apparently a stasis at present, after a trifling improvement. The actual facts with regard to the incidence of registered insanity are disclosed by the Admissions, when, against the 94 patients added to the total, there were (exclusive of transfers) 48 more a.dmitted. The ratio of this year is, however, above the average; but one has to take the general tendency—the higher or lower ratio to population in any single year is of no moment. It is instructive to contrast the rising proportion of total insane to population with the Proportion of Admissions to Population estimated to 31st December of each Year. 1878 ... ... 0-83 per 1,000 1903 ... ... 0-70 per 1,000 1883 0-78 „ 1904 0-68 1888 0-59 „ 1905 0-69 1893 ... ... 0-68 „ 1906 ... ... 0-71 1898 ... ... 0-63 In these returns the insane of the Native race and all transfers from one hospital to another have been omitted. Though the numbers have fluctuated, they have never touched the higher rates of the first two years quoted, the years which show best for the proportion of insane to population. On the Ist January, 1906, the number of insane persons in our mental hospitals was— males, 1,836; females, 1,276: total, 3,11.2. The number of those admitted during the year for the first time was —males, 341; females, 217 : total, 558. The readmissions numbered—males, 60 ; females, 60: total, 120. The number transferred from one hospital to another during the year was —males, 6; females, 13: total, 19. Discharges and Deaths. The percentage of recoveries on the admissions was —males, 3975; females, 47*73: total, 42-94, as compared with—males, 4U39; females, 4821 : total, 44*19, for the previous year. The percentage of deaths on the average number resident during the year was 748, as compared with 707 for the previous year. The percentage of deaths on the admissions was —males, 36-96; females, 32-20: total, 35*05. The admissions, discharges, deaths, and persons remaining each year from 1876 will be found in Table XV in the Appendix. The following are the Proportions per cent, of Discharges and Deaths to Patients treated. 1878 23-33 1903 16-39 1883 18-64 1904 14-16 1888 18-27 1905 16-27 1893 14-22 1906 ... ... .. 15-48 1898 1839 This is a tale of yearly residua, chiefly of chronic cases who continue to be " patients treated " until they die or are discharged. It does not demonstrate that the death and discharge rates are falling. Table II in the Appendix deals with general figures relating to admissions, discharges, and deaths during 1906. Nineteen patients were transferred from one hospital to another, becoming technical admissions in the receiving hospital and technical discharges (unrecovered) in the other: however, in percentages of recoveries on admissions, transfers are omitted. It was Dr. MacGregor's intention to reform our statistics, but, recognising that the matter was not. urgent, he wisely deferred it until changes, the result of anticipated legislation, could be incorporated. A decided fault in our statistics is that they deal not with persons but with cases, which may include the same person over and over again. For example, a person labouring under recurrent insanity may, on his first attack, be admitted to hospital A—one case —and be discharged therefrom —one recovery; he may! D « readmitted to the same hospital —another case —and redischarged—two recoveries and one person; he may next be admitted to hospital B—first