LUNATIC ASYLUM.

Evening Star, Volume VII, Issue 1923, 5 July 1869, Page 2

LUNATIC ASYLUM.

(Beport laid on the Table by the Provincial Secretary and Treasurer.) Dunedin Lunatic Asylum, April Ist, 1869. Sir, I have the honor to submit the annual Report accompanied by the tables which show the general results for the year. The number in the Asylum on the 31st March, 1868, was 96. The highest number at one time during the present year was 109. The number remaining on the 31st March, 1860, being 99. There were 76 admitted, 71 discharged, and 5 died during the twelve months. The per-esntage of deaths, 2'9, is small. Several cases have been allowed to go out on trial, under the G4th clause of the Lunacy Act, with a good result in each case —they were discharged at the end of the periods fixed. The average daily cost is 2s 3|d, against 2s 4|d of the preceding twelve months. The amount receiv d from paying pa'ients was L 527 Is lid, compared with L 328 9s lid for the last annual period. The absolute nett cost being thus reduced to 2s o|d a da

Under the present Act, the property of the insane is administered by the Registrar of the Supreme Court, who is empowered to realise properties and pay for their maintenance in Asylums. The effect will bo to diminish the cost of patients to Ckm rnment. This has’not yet been carried‘out; but it is expected that there will shortly be several sums paid in from the realisation of the properties if some old standing cases, which until the passing of the present Act could not be dealt w.th.

Two patients reside at Park House. This building, jwith its fine view, is well suited for the reception of private patients from other parts of the Colony, for whom no such accommodation exists elsewhere.

A small number have been employed in the grounds connected with the Asylum. Until these are made more secure, no considerable number can be occupied in them, although such employment is most desirable. Ample emp ! oyment exists for the female patients in household work and meudiug clothes.

The hall has been completed, and is useful for the amusements, and as a chapel. The weekly amusements are of service, and are a change to the monotony of asylum life.

lonian Catholic and Protestant services are held regularly, at the same hour, in the two halls, and tire well attended.

Several of the patients admitted during the year were new arrivals, who had been in asylums previously. The only conclusion that can be drawn is, that they were sent out to the Colony to get rid of the burden of supporting them at home Some efficient atop should be put to this practice, which is of frequent occurrence, and entails a permanent charge on the Government. The new Lunacy Act, which came into operation on the Ist December, 1868, although burdened with forms and requirements quite uusuited to this Col my (the greater u mher of which could be well dispensed with), is on the whole a benefit to the community. Any person keeping a lunatic. unless he reports to the Superintendent of the Province, is now liable to a penalty of L2OO or imprisonment. As there is good reason for believing that such eases now exist, and that those keeping them are not aware of the penalty they incur, and in the interest of the un ortunates thus secluded, it would be well that the clause 50th “Lunacy Act, 1863, ’ should be at once made public by advertisement. Increased facilities are given for admitting the insane to Asylums, while greater precautions are taken against their being impro erly placed there. Under the former Act it was necessary that the insane nersen should be inspected and sent in by a Magistrate in all cases. This is not uow requisite, tbe order can bo given by a relative or friend accompanied by two medical certificates, This mode of admission is much fnore in accordance' with the feelings of persons having an insane relative or friend. The permitting absence from the Asylum on trial is a useful clause, and works well; relieving the Institution, and in selected cases, being beneficial to the patient. The properties of the insane must now be appropriated to their use—the cost of their maintenance is thus lessened.

The power of transferring; lunatics from those places where the usual treatment cannot he adopted, is a useful measure, and one that is being taken advantage of.

A few of those sent in have been persons naturally of weak 1 intellect, or with some' marked peculiarity of disposition having been arrested and taken before a magistrate, An asylum is of no service to snob oases-?--

they are generally quite able to take care of themselves, and in a large place would escape notice. In a small community their peculiarities attract attention. They M ould not in the United Kingdom be considered as suitable inmates for an asylum. The extension of the grounds in the direction of the Old Cemetery is much required. All authorities, both European and American, concur in the necessity of having extensive grounds connected with asylums, for occupation and recreation ; one acre to four patients ie recomm uded by the British Commissioners in Lunacy. In conclusion, I desire to state that the conduct of the officers and servants lias been most satisfactory. E. W. Alexander, M.R.C S., Licentiate, Royal College Physicians, London.

Several tables arc appended to the report, form the first of which we learn that the number of patients in the Asylum on the Ist April, 1868, was 96 ; of whom 71 were men and 25 women. In the course of the year, 60 men and 16 women were admitted ; 53 men and 13 women were discharged cured ; 1 man and 1 woman were relieved ; and 5 men died. The number of patients iu the Asylum on 31st March, 1869, was 72 men and 27 women. Of those who died, three were 38 and not more than 44 years of age ; one was 68, and one 70. Of those admitted during the year, two of each sex were not above 20 years of age ; 4 men and 3 women were from 20 to 25 ; 14 men and 3 women 25 to 30 ; 12 men and 3 women 30 to 35 ; 15 men and two women 35 to 40; 4 men and 3 women 40 to 45 ; 3 men 45 to 50 ; 6 men 60 to 55. Miners supplied the greater number, 18 having been admitted during the year, hi ext to them are laborers, of whom there are 16 ; next stand shepherds and carpenters, 4 of each, The remainder were gathered from a variety of occupations. Tbeir social condition is stated to be, 47 men and 5 women unmarried ; 9 men and 10 women married ; 3 widowers ; 1 widow ; and 1 unknown. 18 men and 8 women were English ; 13 men and 4 women Iri-h ; 22 men and 4 women Scotch ; and the remainder of various countries.

The net daily average cost of each patient is 2s The net number of days’ residence of patients iu the Asylum is 37.261. Repayments were received from patients during the year, to the amount of L 527 Is lid. _____