10

H.—7

ENTRIES OF VISITS OF INSPECTION TO THE VARIOUS MENTAL HOSPITALS.

Auckland Mental Hospital. 23rd March, 1910. I visited this Hospital on the 10th, 11th, 14th, 16th, 17th, 18th, and to-day, seeing during the course of the visit all the patients, giving each an opportunity to converse with me, and inspecting the buildings and various parts of the estate. To sum up my impressions in a few words, I feel confident that the care of the patients, the cure of the curable, and the contentment, so far'as possible, of all, is dominating the management, and that the relations between the patients and staff are highly satisfactory. Special interviews were accorded to patients desiring the same; in each case the question being that of discharge. There were no rational complaints. In all but two of the above cases the mental condition of the patients obviously unfitted them for liberty. In one of the remaining two, after due consideration, I decided against liberation ; in the other I agreed with Dr. Beattie that discharge depended upon a change of environment from that from which the patient had been admitted. With this view the patient acquiesced, and arrangements are being made accordingly. The general health of the patients is good. The food inspected was of excellent quality and sufficient. On the 17th there were on the register 756 patients (male, 465; female, 291), of whom 13 (m ■ 7 ; f., 6) were absent on trial, leaving 743 (m., 458 ; f., 285) resident. Of these, 462 (m., 305; f , 157) were usefully employed, the farm and garden absorbing 191 men. The average number at Divine service is 153 (m., 96; f., 57), and the recreation of the patients is duly attended to I saw a bowling-match played against an outside team, and on the 15th was the annual picnic, in which 360 patients (m. 237; f., 123) participated. The busy life, the good food, the open-air recreations, have certainly left their impress upon the patients, the general body of whom looked cheerful and bionzed. With respect to the Hospital buildings, I found every part scrupulously clean and well ordered. , , Dr Beattie is now living in the Medical Superintendent's residence, which has been well and economically built by the staff and the patients, with a little outside assistance. His old residence is almost ready for the accommodation of forty women patients. I expect that they will be moved in by the first of the month. „,,,,,. The Wolfe Bequest Hospital building is progressing favourably ._ I feel confident, both in respect of site and convenience of working, that it will fulfil anticipations. The placing of the laundry machinery was finally dealt with on the 18th, when Mr. Holmes, Engineer-in-Chief of the Public Works Department, visited with me. I have once more to express my satisfaction with the working of this Hospital, with the good work of the staff, and my confidence in the management.

Christchurch Mental Hospital. 11th December, 1909. I inspected this Mental Hospital on the 9th, 10th (including a night round), and this morning. Dr Gow who had recently returned from a holiday in Britain, was again m charge. lam glad to find him in excellent health. We discussed various matters requiring attention. The most pressing need at present is for additional single rooms for women, and a site was selected for these. , „ . . , „„ „ , -, o\ My last visit was in August. In the three months' interval 43 patients (males, 30 ; females, 13) have been admitted, 23 discharged recovered (m., 13; f., 10), 7 (m) unrecovered, and 6 (m., 4; f 2) have died; leaving an increment of 7 patients (m., 6; f., 1). Twenty-eight patients (m 24, f" 4) were absent on probation. All the resident patients were seen, and given an opportunity to' speak to me. No rational complaint was made. The number of unemployed is 78 (m At, f 41) • those doing useful work and thereby contributing to their health and happiness numbered 513 (m., 272; f., 241). The recreation of the patients is well looked after. During the visit 1 saw them at cricket, bowls, tennis, and croquet. The staff is working harmoniously. They stand in the following ratio to the patients: Day attendants, 1 to 1030; day nurses, 1 to 1044. I was pleased to find everything in good order. 29th April, 1910. At getting-up time on the 15th I came to see the male patients bathed in the new general bathroom They were put throvgh with great thoroughness and expedition. After being soaped and led under warm showers (temp. 95°) they seemed to enjoy a turn ,n the swimming-bath emp 90°). The time occupied in undressing, bathing (shower and swimming) and dressing an inrHvidual was twenty-four minutes, but, as the patients went through m batches of ten, taking rix Snnl to £?&£, 100 patients were bathed in an hour. The estimated cost for heating the my s tour I inspected this Hospital on the 24th and succeeding days, finishing this evening.