TREATMENT OF LUNATICS.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume I, Issue 18, 30 August 1873, Page 11

TREATMENT OF LUNATICS.

THB Hon. Pr Grace, in the Legislative Council said :—": — " The present condition of our lunatic asylums in certain cases was enough to shock everyone possessed of human feelings. Year after year he was becoming more concerned. A large precentage of lunatics in the Colony, on their first admission into the asylums, were perfectly curable — he might say 25 per cent.— but unfortunately they were driven incurably mad by the irritating influences to which they were subjected. It -was somethiug frightful to contemplate, that where a man was merely functionally insane, where his nervous system was exhausted with exoeesive use of spir't-s and tobacco, we, by our economy, want of charity, and want of knowledge, should drive him iuto a state of incurable insanity. The result of the present system was, that many men became, not only incurable, but dangerous to themselves and others. He could not help thinking that our cruel neglect of the duties of civilization called to Heaven for vengeance. We were too anxious about money, and in the excitement about such matters neglected and forgot our responsibilities."