11

H.—7

On the 28th there were resident 606 patients (m., 314; f., 292), all of whom were seen. No rational complaint was made. 1 found the wards clean and tidy, the bedding and clothing in good order and appropriate to the season, and the food of good quality and sufficient. Though a large number of patients are under special care, there was comparative freedom from excitement, Those classed as under special care include 42 epileptics, 9 general paralytics, 10 patients who are actively suicidal, and 16 (not above included) who are regarded as dangerous. Out of 107 who are liable to be wet and dirty, the return on the 25th showed that 11 only were actually so. This speaks well for the nursing staff. As heretofore, the patients continue to be well employed, and to enter largely into recreations and social functions. I heard them sing heartily at the harvest festival service, anfl was present at the fortnightly dance. The building of the block of single rooms for women is progressing satisfactorily. I hope to find them occupied at my next visit, as I know that they will add largely to the resources of the Hospital. Being for a disturbed class of patient, the windows will need to be shuttered; provision has therefore been made, independently of the windows, for free cross-ventilation. The following works, now that accommodation has been attended to, should be put in hand — namely, reservoir for the new well, and a boiler-house for an additional boiler. Dr. Gow and I went over the site selected for the reception-house, measuring the ground and arranging how the gardens, &c, should be laid out. The statutory books were up to date and in good order. During the course of the visit Dr. Gow and I took the candidates for registration as mental nurses in the viva voce part of their examination. Seacliff Mental Hospital. 17th August, 1909. The present inspection has lasted from the 13th until to-day, and during that period I have seen the patients under varying conditions —in-doors and out-of-doors, at meals, at work, and at their recreation, and, as usual, have made night rounds. On the 13th the number resident was 782 (males, 468; females, 314), being 49 (in., 23; f., 26) in excess of accommodation. The surplus number will be absorbed soon, as the additional building —an extension on the east of the main building —is now practically completed. The Camp has not been gazetted as a Mental Hospital, but it is under the supervision of Dr. King. Here patients who can be more easily managed are sent on probation, giving them a change of environment, and relieving the accommodation in the mental hospitals for the more actively insane. I have little to add to my last report. As usual, all the patients were seen, each was given an opportunity to speak to me, and I conversed with many. No rational complaint was made. The health of the patients is good. Their food, clothing, and general comfort is properlyattended to, and all that is included under care and treatment continues to be directed and carried out in a manner which is highly satisfactory. The statutory books are up to date, and are neatly and correctly kept. 23rd April, 1910. I visited this Mental Hospital on the 15th, 16th, 19th, 21st, 22nd, and this morning. During the visit the candidates for registration as mental nurses underwent the viva voce part of the examination. The 22nd was devoted to an inspection of the auxiliary at Waitati, and on the 21st I went to the fishing-station at Puketeraki. I may here mention that I visited the Camp on the 20th, and found everything going on satisfactorily. All the patients there are on probation, and, though the institution is not a part of Seacliff, it is under the medical supervision of Dr. King and his assistants. The number of patients resident at the Mental Hospital on the 16th was 810 (m., 482; f., 328), all of whom were seen during the course of the visit, and given an opportunity to converse with me. No rational complaint was made. The number of patients confined to bed was eight only, and they were being appropriately treated. Their maladies were of an ordinary kind. No patient was suffering from any injury, and there have been no serious accidents since the last visit. The general health of the patients is excellent, They are well clothed and fed, and, considering the number under care, the amount of individual attention they receive is surprising and gratifying. The salient features of the case of each patient to whom I directed attention were readily supplied without reference to case-books, a fact which indicates both the personal and scientific basis upon which treatment is carried out, and doubtless has a large share in the contentment which was manifest. The single-room and associated dormitory accommodation being added to the male side of the main building at my last visit is now completed, and very largely augments the resources for treating disturbed cases. When dormitory space can be spared in the older building, to which the new is attached by a bridge passage, an alteration of windows, such as was carried out successfully in the corresponding women's division some years ago, will be necessary to provide adequate dayroom space. The building known as Simla is managed on the open-door system, all the patients therein being practically on parole. This is very excellent for classification, but has the serious drawback that at the present time there are nineteen vacant beds. I discussed the best way to fill these with Dr. King, and we decided that by collecting them in one pavilion and making that part more secure it would take an intermediate class. The most urgent need at Waitati is an addition of single rooms to the Epileptic Home.