THE LUNATIC ASYLUM.

Evening Star, Issue 3833, 7 June 1875, Page 2

THE LUNATIC ASYLUM.

The twelfth report of Mr Hume on his management of this institution is not only interesting but contains a good deal of matter that will give rise to much thought. Commencing with the dry figures, we observe that the admissions during the year ended March 31 last were 89—58 men and 31 women; the discharges (as cured or relieved), 55—being 31 of men and 24 of women; and the deaths 9 —B of men and lof woman; while in the institution at the end of March there wore 203 people, or an increase over the number confined there at the same time last year of 19 men and 9 women. The usefulness of the institution is shown by the tables, which summarise the results of its operations during the twelve years it ha>S' been established. The total admissions during that period were 829 —607 of the number being men and 222 women. Of these 61.9 per cent, were discharged as recovered, 3.5 per cent, were relieved, 10.1 died, and 24.5 remain in the Asylum. The deaths exhibit a striking difference between the sexes, these of the males being 12.9 per cent, and of females only 4.5 per cent. The chief cause of this difference, Mr Hume tells us, was general paralysis—one of the most fatal forms of insanity—which is more common in men than in women ; and, so far as the experience of the last twelve years enables him to judge, is more common in this Colony than in Great Britain. The report goes on to say:

As anticipated in last year’s report, an increase of patients has taken place from immigration and from other causes. Eighty-nine were admitted during'the twelve months embraced in thi < report, as against seventy-seven the previous year, or an increase of 15,6 percent.; the increased percentage last year was only 3,9. It may here be stated that of the increased number of admissions for the year (twelve) four females or 33.4 per cent, were assisted immigrants, and soon after their arrival were brought from the ship or Immigration Barracks to the Asylum. Of these one was suffering from sente mania, one from delusions on high-class education, two were melancholic, one of whom had been twice in the Colney Hatch Lunatic Asylum, London. Of the four patients two were shipped Home again under the authority of the General Government. One recovered and obtained a situation, and one still remains in the Asylum, where she is slowly improving. The frequent appearance of new arrivals in the Police Court shows that a number of undesirable persons have been introduced into the Province, many of whom percolating through the population for a time will most assuredly gravitate to the Asylum, where they will become a permanent charge on the Province or Colony. The habitual drunkard becomes imbecile and ultimately insane; +Vo 4 Buffering from On recovery they penitence for their misconduct, and are, of course extremely anxious to have their liberty again. Prol mises are made that they will never touch drink again; and entreaty made “to give them another chance. No sooner, however, are they discharged than they gradually resume their old habit, and are by-and-bye brought back to the Asylum. Some cases, indeed, have been admitted and discharged again and again. With such there is only one course open to pursue. The habitual drunkard male or female, should be committed by the Resident Magistrate for a period of from one to five years to an inebriate asylum specially established for tnem. This establishment could be under the same management, and adjoining the Lunatic Asylum. In return for being provided with a comfortable home dating the period of their committal, they would be made to work, so that their cost to the State would tfhaSS 11 ! 8 ’ T ®P®™ons of education and position the wholesome dread of being dealt with by such a •aw would undoubtedly act as a strong deterrent to the excessive use of alcoholic liquonaf A large portion of the report brings under notice some of the advantages which will flow rrom the establishment of the Asylum on a farm site of commanding situation and suitable extent; but as the Government and Provincial Council have taken the necessary action for at curing these desiderata, it is necessary to follow Mr Hume into these subjects. It is very satisfactory to know that the general health of the inmates has been good: that, al though a large proportion of them are engaged at different occupations in the Asylum and in the grounds, and require to be entrusted with tools and implements, they work in perfect harmony, and no tool has ever been used as a weapon of violence, while escapes are of rare occurrence. The entire establishment is managed at a daily cost of fourteen-pence per patient: and there is little doubt that, as Mr Hume asserts, it can be made nearly self-supporting when a large attached to it. Turning again to the tables we find that the admissions during the year were contributed as follows DuneChalmers, 39; Invercargill, 7; GohffieldS districts, 13; agricultural districts, » “ e Dunedin hospital, 4; and the Dunedin immigration barracks, 4; all women in the Their ages ranged from between on th “ case ) to between 75 and 90. The oldest inmate is a woman, between the last-mentioned ages; while there are five ?' e “ ove L ßlxt ?’, A The btUk of thepatienta are between 30 and 40 years of age. The table of occupations ” shows that of the 89 admissions were laborers ; 12 gold-miners ; 11 farmers and farmers wives, the proportions being nearly equal; and 6 of domestic servants. Fully half of the inmates have been admitted during the last our years, but nearly thirty have been confined there over ten years; and the admission ot men ami six women dates from the establishment of the institution, twelve years