LUNATIC ASYLUM DISCLOSURES.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2581, 15 July 1882, Page 3

LUNATIC ASYLUM DISCLOSURES.

[PBESS ASSOCIATION TELEGBAM. I DUSEDIN, July 14,

Some interest has been created by the publication of a report by Mr Bradshaw, Deputy Inspector of Lunatio Asylums here, conoorning inmates of the Asylum whom he alleged to be sane. In one case, that of B. W., he alleges the man was committed without a warrant, was twice discharged on the first examination as sane, but the third time was detained, being decidedly insane. It s understood that Mr Bradshaw refers to this case to chow that suoh persons on being sent to the asylum merely for examination should be kept separate from lunatics, in whoso oompany at present they havo to Bleep, &c. Another case is that of A. T. A., who, when Mr Bradshaw saw him, web, he alleges, equo, and had complained to him that he had been kept there tsn years, " long enough to make him mad. Mr Bradahaw says—" After consulting Dr. Neill, I have co-no to tho conclusion from what he saya and from observation that this pstiontia not insane, and ought to be discharged. He ia a strong healthy looking person, and ought to bo able from his appoaranoo to earn his living outside of the asylum. lam of opinion that he is not mad, and I feel that it is my duty to soy so." In reforoncs to this oase, Dr. Maogregor,

Professor of the Otago University and Medical Inspector of the asylum, bos written to the papers stating there can be no doubt of the man's insanity, and says " About soven years ago the Hon. Capt. Fraser, as inspeotor, misled just aa Mr Bradshaw has been, by tho man's plausibility, thought it his duty to bring this man's case before tho Supreme Court, with the result that his insanity was proved to the satisfaction of 6very intelligent porson, and the Judge sent him hsok to the asylum," A reports* of the "Star" to-day interviewed Mr Hume, the former Superintendent of the Asylum, about the case, and publishes the following :—"Mr Hume statos that this man, who at one time hold a good position, bus a or&za about electricity, and until this subjeofc is touohad on he appeiis quite sane. He imagines that everything is olothed or obarged with electricity; that trees are covered with clectvioity as with snow, that his body U enveloped with electric rings, and veisols are propelled by eleoiricity, and that there

are persons who dieharge eleotricity into hie body. Under the latter delusioD, he on ono ocoa»ioa attaoked a man who was on ths some steamer with, him when coming from Sydney. This is the only instance of violenoe on record. He was considered quite harmless. During the visits of the Marquis of Normanby and Sir Jamss Fergusson to the asylum he assorted that " clouds of eleotvioiiy " had passed from their stomachs into his. He thought ho received telegrams through the air, end ho asserted that he had visited places at certain times where ho had nob bor'D, bjing under the eyes of his friends

at the ticig. Hs also frequently assorted he could heir people specking to him from Port Ohalmera end luverftsrgill. A. T. A.'b insanity was brought abaut by drink. He consumed a bottlo of pale brandy every day for some ticco prior to his admittance into the Asylum. Ho had free intercourse with the public. The authorities hftd frequently offered to hand him over to the care c<f any of his friends, as ho was quite harmless, but none of them would acospfc the charge. In the opinion of Mr Hume and the medical superintendent the man is undoubtedly insane, and they believe that, on his arrival in England, if not ta*e;-. ohargo of by his brother, to whom he has gone, he will be looked up in some lnnatio asylum there. Mr Bradsbaw now further asserts that Dr. Neill, tho proont medical superintendent, discharged the man aa cured on the 27th May last. So the matter stands at present,