THE LUNATIC ASYLUM.

Evening Star, Issue 4235, 22 September 1876, Page 3

THE LUNATIC ASYLUM.

The last of the Departmental reports issued is that on the Dunedin Lunatic Asylum. ,■ rln making his annual statement Mr Holme, Provincial Surgeon, states that the number of patients on March 31, 1875, was 203, of which 146 were males. There had been admitted during the year 45 males and - 35* females, and dis charged 31 males and 22 females. The deaths during the sam# period had been 12 males and 2 females. Since the formation of the Institution rtfiirtoen yeiursi ago, there had been admitted 652 males and 257 females. The cases relieved during the same period had been 20 males and 12 females; and the deaths 86 males and 12 females. The deaths exhibited a striking difference in the percentage between the two sexes; the deaths among the males for the thirteen years being 13.2 per cent., and among the females only 4.6. Fully 50 per cent, of the males died from paralysis and softening of A coroner’s inquest, as provided by law, was held upon every patient who died in the Asylum, during the year, and it is satisfactory to state that no sudden death-occurred in. that period. The longevity of the insane is readily observed on reference to ; Table IX., which shbws’ that those patients’ who, were admitted during the first three'years are still > alive. As f in all institutions of , a similar kind, a steady increase in the number of patients takes place yearly, and a percentage of each year’s admissions become either obronic or helpless cases. At the end of the present year there >is an ihcrease in the population of the Asylum of 13, as against 12 mitheprevionsiyearl It may be interesting to state the proportion of the insane to the population of the Province of Otago is 1 i ■ 417. It is gratifying to state that, as yet, very few bom in New Zealand are inmates of the • institution, while the majority are from the United Kingdom. The bakehouse mentioned in last year’s report has fulfilled expectations. Bread is now baked for the institution and Hosp : tal from the best flour procurable and at ( a less cost than by contract. The health Of the inmates during the year has been good, and no epidemic, as yet, has visited the institution. The Provincial Council, during their last session, resolved that a reserve of tine land at Brim’s Point, north of Port Chalmers, should be devoted to a permanent lunatic asylum, and other buildings. The time has now arrived for its occupation, as the present asylum and its limited grounds are beginning to be overcrowded, and the want of a large area will become highly detrimental to the enrative treatment and recovery of the patients, setting aside altogether the important fact that the produce of a large farm consumed in the asylum, and sold outside, would lessen very much the weekly cost of the inmates of the institution. The weekly amusements, &c., to the patients during the year have given them much pleasure, , and many have een‘ benefited by these reunions. As formerly, the new bnildings and general repairs have been done by the attendants and patients belonging to the different trades ; the other necessary works required about a large institution have been carried out with satisfaction, ’