THE LUNATIC ASYLUM.

Evening Star, Issue 2895, 30 May 1872, Page 2

THE LUNATIC ASYLUM.

The annual report of the condition of this establishment has been printed and circalated. It hears the signature of Dr. Hulme, as visiting medical officer of the Institution ; but it can be easily said that the matter is supplied by the worthy Superintendent of the Asylum (Mr Hume), to whom is due the credit of bringing the Institution to its present satisfactory state, and designing and carrying out the many improvements which have been effected during the year. The following is the substance of the report : On the 3lst March, 18/1, there remained 127 patients, of whom 83 were males and 44 females; and during the year ending 3lst March, 1872 54 males and 17 females were admitted, making the total under treatment during the latter period 188, and the daily average 143. There were discharged within the year, 35 ; relieved, 2; and died, 8 ; or a total of 153 patients under care, showing an increase of 20 from the corresponding date of last year. It may he stated that although Dunedin and suburbs supply to the Asylurti I the largest number of. patients, yet Oamaru I

an( i more patients this year year. The Invercargill _ district is increasing, seven patients having'heen admitted from there daring the year. Table ,1 shows the number of discharged recovered patients to be equal to a percentage of 50 on the admissions, and 18 per cent, on the total number under treatment ; while table 9 showed that of the 589 patients admitted since the opening of the Asylum, 369 were discharged recovered, giving a percentage of upwards of 62.6, which is c nsidered satisfactory. The annual mortality is 4 per cent, on the total number treated. Under the provisions of clause 64 of the Lunatics Act, 1868,' twelve patients were allowed out on trial for certa'n periods, and at the expiration of the term were discharged; while many of the inmates have from time to time been allowed to go home and visit thoir friends, and, we have the satisfaction of learning,, with good results. The superintendent has good cause to refer to the change in-the social condition of some of the patients. Not an inconsiderable number were brought iniiai' the' Asylum “clothed in filthy rags, and without any moans, when recovered, to go eot into the world again.” Truly such were unfortunate objects. And what was the change worked in their condition; in some cases in a very short space of tithe ? “'Such as recover are decently clad, and have money given to them to assist them to find employment. The Asylum authorities endeavor be obtain situations for other?,,aap without exception all have given satisfaction to their employers,” At the present , time therp,are. three of the Asylum staff who wqre formerly patients; and we have the assuranse that “more painstaking servants could pot be found ; they take a great interest in the establishment, and they appear to have a more than usual warmth to the helpless inmates they now serve.” The increasing number of patients forces attention to the necessity that exists for increased accommodation; and it only requires a visit Asylum to convince one of that fact. An additional ward js recommended, and the Government, we arc glad to see, have made provision for the purpose upon the Estimates. A separate ward is asked for Chinese patients, of whom there are seven ; and we hardly require to be told that “ their habits are very disagreeable to the Europeans.” Even in a Lunatic Asylum the antipathy exhibited by the genus miner towards Celestials shows itself, for we read that “the miner especially very strongly shows his aversion to the Chinese.” After referring to the many improvements effected in the establishment —and we can commend visitors to the institution to ip '-pec t them, as showing excellence of work—-the superintendent introduces a very important subject for consideration. “ I may point out,” he says, “ that the limited extent of the,grounds is becoming insufficient to give work for the increasing number of patients, and would suggest that a farm, say of 100 acres, within three miles of Dunedin be provided in connection with the Asylum, which would give employer ent to the chronic or incurable male patients. Such an undet taking would assist to make the institution more self-supporting, and give a wider circle to its inmates ”; while" it is tritely remarked that even a holiday from time to time to the Asylum farm would have beneficial effects on the convalescent patients, and, we might be permitted to add, on the officials if. it could bo arranged that they should visit it in turns. At the present time there are thirty men—incurable patients in good health, and who from appearance may live for yeais—who might bis drafted ou te the farm to work it under experienced male attendants ns dto agriculture. Sufficiently good reasons for adopting this course are, we venture to think, given in the foregoing extracts ; and if a further one is needed it is supp'ied by the fact that by relieving the institution of these incurables room is made for the admission of fresh cases, withogf necessitating the yearly expenditure for additions to the present buildings; while the saving under this head would go to lay the foundation of a permanent establishment at the farm.

The year’s expenditure wss L 8953 j and the repayments L 919, the net cost per head being Ss. .