ASYLUM INQUIRY.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1870, 2 October 1913, Page 8

ASYLUM INQUIRY.

DEFENCE CONTINUED. HEAD WARDER'S EVIDENCE CASES OF HOWIE & TRIBE.

THEIR AILMENTS & TREATMENT. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.l Christchurch, October 1. The Sunnyside Mental Hospital .Inquiry was continued to-day bei'oro Mr. V. 6. Day. Edward B. Harris, head attendant at- the Hospital, said that ho had been there for twenty-five and a half years. Prior to that ho had worked for five years in- mental liQspitals in the Old Country. Howie was admitted to the Hospital when witness was away on holiday. Upon his return he ,saw Howie on March 19, in D ward. Howio was very frail. On the morning of Starch 20 Attendant Condon reported that Howio went'to bed on the previous night free from bruises, and on the following morning there were bruises on his face. Condon could not account for this at all, and the matter was en-' tercd up in the hook. Witness asked Howie bow he camo by the bruises, and Howio replied that ho had bumped himself during tho night. Witness had also found, by the night report book, that the man had been extremely restless. Witness reported the occurrence to the doctor. His experience was that these men, when admitted, were generally very restless. It was witness's iiir structions that, when a patient received injuries, and his friends called for him (witness) to bo called before them, ho saw tho patient in order that he might explain the matter. This had happened on a recent occasion. Tho reason why Mr. Donaldson was kept waiting to see Howio was that Howio probably had to bo cleaned, and when there was only one attendant in the ward, it was not always possible for him to immediately leave it.' Witness did not purposely keep Mr. Donaldson waiting, and Mr. Donaldson mado no complaint to him about it. No complaint had ever been made to witness of Howie receiving thrashings. Howie was always kept in the infirmary ward. Private clothing frequently went astray, quite naturally, in the Hospital—it was almost an impossibility for tho attendants to keep trace of private clothing. Whilo he was in his room at night Howio would bo visited at frequent intervals. Mr. Tribe's Habits. Tj;ibe was also in a restless condition and his attitude towards the other patients was contemptuous. Witness saw Tribe frequently. Ho saw him in tho airing court sometimes with hW boots and slippers off, and 'sometimes with moro clothes off. He would occasionally run round the yard, and say that ho was trying to break records. If kept away from the water tap lie would go to tho gutter and smear himself with' inud. . Ho used to stuff his bosom with rubbish. Attendant Wickes, in charge of C ward, had complained that Tribo made a filthy mess of his _ bedroom, at times, there was no improvement in Tribe's condition from beginning to end. Witness had seen a lot- of such cases, and he hal also seen 1 some marvellous recoveries. Until the last day or two he had also seen some marvellous recovery. He was not a suitable person to shave, as ho would not keep still. In any qase, no request had been mado to shave! him.

The Patient's Clothing. He woro the ordinary institution clothes, and Jib had frequently changes of clothing. H,o was struck in, the eye one day by another patient who was under observation. Witness made inquiries about tlio matter. Some time later ho noticed another black eye. He made 110 report on that matter, as ho thought that it was merely caused through the first bruise spreading. The first that witness know of Tribe receiving a second black oye was aftor the inquiry had opened. Tribe had asked witness if he could wear his slippers, and witness agreed to this. He woro them until they were worn out. Witness did not. remember Mrs. Tribe coining in on tlio first occasion. It was part of his duty to watch the cricket and football at the institution as well as tlio wards. On Juno 12 ho was told about Tribe's foot, and he saw Mrs. Tribe and a gentieman visitor. The coat which Tribe had on on that "occasion was of a large size, and it was greasy at the collar, as if food liad been spilt on it. The trousers wero certainly ones that had frequently been washod. It was part of witness's instruction that, on visiting day, patients must be taken to the wards, and made presentable. Witness had made inquiries about Tribe's clothes, and the attendant in charge of the ward had said lio had given the patient a clean rig-out, but this attendant had to look after other patients as well, and it might have been possible that Tribe had cast off his own clothes, and put on the dirty ones. ■ Tlie Injured Foot. Witness examined Tribe's foot on June 12. He had been running about with no boots or stockings on, .and naturally tho skin would get hard and cracked. Tho crack under tho toe was practically healed, and there was no_ bfood He had no recollection of having had his attention called to any cut on Tribe's heel, and ho could not, for the moment, say whether" ho had had any intimation before June 12 that anything was wrong with Tribe's foot. Re was not, in fact, informed that anything was seriously wrong on 'June 12 when his attention was drawn to the foot. It had not been stated l to him that the nail went into Tribe's foot. If lie remembered rightly Tribe's stocking had a holo in the toe. The stocking was . a good thick one, made on the promises. It might, however, jiavo been too largo in size. Witness inspected Tribe's foot on tho date mentioned, and saw that there was nothing required. There was 'a slight crack in the skin of the heel as well as under tho ton. Ho told the doctor about it, and said that there ,was 110thrng requiring medical attention. At this timo Tribe was becoming emaciated; sometimes ho would take his food and sometimes uot. . ' The Patient's Diet and Ailments, For two months before his death ho had, in Addition to his ordinary meals, two eggs and milk every day. He also frequently had hot milk at- night. In P ward, whore Tribe dined, minced meal was served up besides ordinary meat. Witness hail no recollection of over seeing tbo mail limp. On Saturday, June 14, witness saw him in the drying-room aftor his bath. Witness examined him, andsaw nothing wrong with liim.' Both his feet were normal. Oil Thursday, June 19, Attendant TV'.ekes slated that Tribe had a bad throat, and witness instructed Wiekes to take him to the doctor. Later on witness saw .Mrs. Tribe, who complained regarding tho bad throat, and witness replied that he was waiting to tell the doctor about it. On the morning of June 23, when Tribe was .taken away from tho institution, witness was informed that ho had taken a turn for tho worse. Witness reported this to Dr. J?amsbottom. Witness also saw Tribe's leg, slid lie remembered the jjaudago wliich was rouud his iustcfl,.

Ho had, however, seen 110 sign of a bruise. On Other Patients. Continuing his evidence, witness slated that no had seen Gourlay daily, but he never made any complaints about dirty blankets. Gourlay was rather argumentative. Barrett, on admittance, was in fair physical condition, which improved. Ho remembered a certain accident to Barrett, and reported it to Drs. Gow and Bamsbottom, who both attended to Barrett. Shortly afterwards Dr. Gow expressed satisfaction that Barrett had been discovered in time, as lie had never had a patient under his care commit suicide. Herlihy was good-tempered and patient, and enjoyed a, bit of fun.

Evidence was also-giyen by other attendants, and the Commission adjourned till to-morrow.