The Globe. MONDAY, MAY 31, 1875.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 301, 31 May 1875, Page 2

The Globe. MONDAY, MAY 31, 1875.

Amongst the public institutions of this province, few are more important than the Lunatic Asylum. The rapidly increasing population of New Zealand furnishes year by year a certain percentage of inmates to the different asylums of the colony, and as the number of residents in Canterbury has increased so largely in the last few years, we must be prepared to find that the number of patients at Suunyside has

been augmented in a like proportion. That such has been the case we are all aware of. The asylum has gradually been added to, and different buildings constructed, until it is now one of the largest and most important asylums in the whole colony. This being the case, surely it is high time that a resident Medical Officer should be appointed who shall have the full charge of the inmates. It will be recollected that when Mr Paley made his report upon the different Lunatic Asylums, one of his recommendations was, that when the number of inmates of any Asylum was more than 100 it was absolutely necessary that a medical man should be resident at that Asylum. In this recommendation we most cordially agree. The Government stated in the early part of the session that they had had the urgent necessity for a resident medical officer at Sunnyside under their consideration, but up to the present time they have made no progress towards appointing any gentleman to the much needed post. It must not be supposed that in wishing for the appointment of a qualified medical man to the charge of the Asylum, we wish in any way to ignore, or discredit, the very able manner in which Mr Seager has for so many years managed the important institution which has been under his charge. But we think that even Mr Seager himself must feel that the time has come when the services of a qualified practitioner who has made diseases of the brain his peculiar study, are absolutely required. The visiting physicians and surgeons are, no doubt, capable and trustworthy men, but they cannot be always on the spot when required, and the Superintendent of the Asylum, though very likely, through long experience, able to judge as to”the best course to pursue in sudden and difficult cases, cannot command that confidence of the relations or friends of any patient, that a medical man would from his qualifications be entitled to. There would be enough for Mr Seager to do, even if the appointment we have urged should be made. The number of patients in the asylum is not likely to grow less, and the chances are that in a few years time it will be much larger than it is at present. This being so, and the appointment of a resident medical attendant being a mere question of time, for of course such an event must take place, sooner or later, we can see that any injustice or slight would be done to Mr Seager in the case. He would still virtually, have the general management of the department with which he has been connected so long, and it would be merely in affecting the medical treatment of the different inmates that the resident physician would exercise supreme authority. As Mr Seager is not a medical man, he could not reasonably object to this, and in fact we do not think he would do so. In any case, however, the appointment is much needed; the Government have promised to do something in the matter, but as yet they make no sign ; it remains for some of the members of the Council to urge in the house that this most important question be settled, and that speedily.