ASYLUM MANAGEMENT.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 30 October 1901, Page 4

ASYLUM MANAGEMENT.

A Snnnyside inmate petitions the

House.

In a petition presented to the House of Ecprcscntatives, Dr John David Frankish formerly of Christchurch ( makes some startling charges against the managenr ent of the Snnnyside Asylum, near Christchurch.

Many well-known Canterbury people have declared that Dr Frankish is quite sane, and the result of his petition will be looked forward to with interest.

The petition states that the petitioner was unjustly incarcerated in Sunnyside as being of unsound mind while in the constant discharge of his duties as a doctor, on January 9, 1894. He was detained there until March 1894, and transferred to SeacliJT, whence he was discharged as sane in May 1894, Dr Fooks declaring the ground upon which the petitioner had been committed as exceedingly frivolous. Again the petitioner was committed to Seacliff on December 21st, 1895. In 1890 he regained his liberty at the instance of Mr Carrados, J.P., an official visitor, that gentleman threatening proceedings if the patient were not discharged. When he was released on both occasions he received unconditional certificates to the effect that he was perfectly sane. Daring his incarceration he prescribed regularly for a large number of attendants, and had also prescribed for Dr Truby King (Seacliff).' The petition states that tbe petitioner possesses certificates from physicians of high standing; that just previous to incarceration be was of perfectly sound mind. Upon his last removal, he was at his consulting room in Catbedral Square, and was committed, after being interviewed for a few minutes by Mr E. Beetham, S.M,, and two medical men. He was not examined by the doctois, upon whose certificates he was committed, and he considers it unjast that power of commi;ting a doctor should be entrusted to two fellow doctors in competition with him. The petition goes on to say that the petitioner was unhumanly treated at Su my side by the medical staff; exposed while ill to every vicissitude of climate in the exercise yard, without being supplied with proper warm clothing ; denied admission to the infirmary, though suffering from chest and heart trouble ; ind that, after apprising the local papers of the danger of fire at Sunnyside, he was striped of warm clothing which he had been in the habit of wearing at night. His blankets were reduced by one half. He was denied interviews with intimate friends, and for twelve months had been denied writ‘ing materials, and thus prevented from writing even to his own family. In spite of the provisions of the Lunacy Act, ho was denied the privilege of writing to his Excellency the Governor, and Minister of the Crown or Judge of the Supreme Court under seal. Be was not allowed any letters, newspapers or medical periodicals. He had been debarred from attending any entertainments at the institution. Books and other reading material were withheld by the medical superintendent, and attendants were forbidden on pain of dismissal to lend the petitioner any book. The petition states further that the drainage of the asylum is very bad, and that erysipelas and enteric fever have occurred which were not imporied from outside, and the broken water closets and urinals and broken window panes all contribute to make Sunnyside a dangerous and undesirable residence.

The asylum, states the petitioner, is shamefully overcrowded, and in consequence of the mixing of the sick and convalescent, the violent and inoffensive patients, the rest and quiet essential for those physically or mentally sick is unobtainable and dangerous criminal lunatics are mixed with children paralytics. No attempt at classification is made, the sick ward containing rowdy inmates, and the sick. The petition alleges that the medical superintendent is generally absent and leaves his duties to thoasststants. The superintendent’s visits occur bi-weekly and last for ten miuuies only, and patients desiring the Superintendent's advice cannot obtain a hearing. A period of as long as three months has elapsed without the medical superintendent even speaking to a patient constantly taking medicine.

Some months ago the petitioner was asked to examine an attendant injured by a criminal lunatic, and found a fractured and dislocated rib, and though the diagnosis was confirmed by two independent med eal practitioners, both the medical officers of the institution declared no such injury existed, and kept the attendant at work, in spite of his injury. The petitioner also alleges that paralytic patients, in the depths cf winte", are made to stand naked upon the concrete floor of the lavatory, while they were washed down with cold water with a carriage mop. Patients professedly sane are permitted to keep pocket knives in their possession. The petition ends up with a plea that the petitioner should be al'owed to appear at the Bar of the House without counsel, with a view of establishing his sanity and leaving the colony without delay.