11

H.—7

Sow essentially little the proportions among the insane have been altered may be gauged by comparing the male figures with the 1891 return, and the female figures with the 1896 return, but it is different when the relativity to the population is considered. The - agreement of the female-population proportions with those of England and Wales should be again noted as indicating a more natural distribution, which contrasts with the large excess of single males, throwing the male proportions out of their natural balance. One now finds that the relativity of the unmarried and married insane to the population has completely altered —that, the unmarriageable (or practically so) being excluded, the proportion of married insane is well below that of the married population. Among the men this is obviously influenced by the higher rate of insanity among the immigrant population, which is largely unmarried; but even here, and quite obviously among the women, there is a certain protection in the married state. The following factors should be put on each side of the equation—viz., on one side, the stress occasioned by incompatibility of temper, the group of puerperal insanities, the somewhat rare postconnubial insanities, and the fact that the average age of the married corresponds to a period ct higher liabilit} 7 to insanity; and, on the other side, the various mental disabilities incident to a solitary life, the occasional peculiarities (ultimately showing themselves in recognised insanity) militating against marriage, the emotional states incident to unrequited affection which in the unbalanced may lead to morbid depression in either sex or dissipation in the male, and the fact, most important of all, that the married are in some sense a selected population who have passed the dangers of adolescence, and, as far as men are concerned, the initial hardships in the struggle for existence —or they cannot be greatly disturbed thereby when they express a readiness to provide for two. Allowing for all this it would still seem that the balance is in favour of marriage, and, setting aside our artificial excess of single men, the figures tell better for England, owing, no doubt, to the fact that there are fewer counterbalancing advantages. The Criminal Insane. This contradictory term loosely comprises persons whose insanity has declared itself in some act or omission which had they been in their right mind would have been a crime, and is also extended to include the insane criminal—that is, the criminal sane at the time of his offence who subsequently becomes insane. Generally speaking, the first lot probably, the second lot obviously, are dangerous or undesirable persons to have associated with ordinary persons of unsound mind. Their safe-keeping is impossible without exceptional and expensive supervision, and tends to limit the freedom of patients in the ward in which they happen to be placed. In order to segregate them, the property known as "The Camp," on the Otago Peninsula, is being adapted. Here nineteen working patients have been employed getting the grounds in order, and digging post-holes for an enclosing fence. The ground is so prepared that the fence, which is designed to be 15 ft. high, will not be obvious, and will not obstruct the beautiful view which one gets in every direction. The fence-line measures 35 chains, and encloses not only the castle and recreation-grounds, but the byres, workshops, vinery, fruit-houses, &c, and therefore a patient running away from a working or other party would be arrested by the enclosure, which would merely have to be patrolled while he was sought for in any possible hiding-places. As protests against proclaiming this place as an asylum for the above class are now receiving the attention of the Government it would be out of place to say anything further, save that the alternative suggestions which have been brought forward so far are inadmissible—the locality is quite unsuited for a home for the feeble-minded, or for senile dements. The expenses to 31st December, 1906, were as follows: — £ s. d. £ s. d. Salaries ... ... ... ... 457 4 10 Rations ... ... ... ... 191 8 9 Bedding and clothing ... ... ... ... ... 307 17 2 Fuel and light ... ... ... 17 14 3 Furniture ... ... ... ... 39 3 7 Necessaries, incidental and miscellaneous, — Buggy, horse, and harness ... ... ... 81 2 9 Expenses, removal of Superintendent to the Camp 51 2 10 Ironmongery, tools, &o. ... •■• ... 20 7 9 Live-stock, feed, &c. .. ... ... 18 7 0 Tobacco, soap, soda, &c. ... ... ... 13 19 8 Telephone subscription ... ... ... 8 010 Cartage and stabling ... ... ... 10 1 0 Sundries ... ... ... ... ... 43 10 4 246 12 2 1,260 0 9 It will be noted that some non-recurring expenses are included in the above. As against this there was received by the sale of grapes the sum of £21 12s. 6d.