MENTAL CASES.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 August 1923, Page 3

MENTAL CASES.

ANCIENT AND MODERN TREATMENT. WELLINGTON. August 22. Before the Red Cross Society here last evening. Dr. Then (Gay, Superintendent of tl'.c Nelson Menial Hospital, gave an address on “.Mental lln-pit'D. Ancient and Modern." He slated that while they were making adenines by dint of luird work and In the face of grave difficulties, it was the tevcr.-e of encouraging to feel that their elforts went unrecognised, except by those people in more intimate touch wiln the Depa.itment. One great .stumbling block had been in the past the lack of harmony between the ideals of such o! the public its had shown any interest in the matter, and the expert knowledge of those who had made the cure of ’the insane, tlaolr profession. He felt strongly that the lirst step necessary was the harmonising of these two factions. The second nece.ssitv '•vr.s the Dissolution of the cloud of suspicion which must he ascribed to the fact well known to all. that the history of Hie treatment of tho insane hail been for the most p'rr and until quite tccontly it story of superstition, ignorance and brutality. Dr. Gray proceeded to give an interesting outline ol" the past history ol insanity. He followed this with an tiecount. of modern treatment, and the reforms that hail followed the work ol Take, with the apparently miraculous change produced in the patients by kind tess. "One might.” said Hr. draw “have expected to find a wave of enthusiasm®: Ding to sweep away all abuses, hut this was not so. Human nature then was as it is now. Alt elforts at reform were met by jealousy, obstruction and hitter opposition. A .utter controversy arose until in LSI! a select committee took evidence of so sterling a natute that nothing could stand against ictonu.'

Speaking of tit- pietctit conditiocs. he said that there were in the asylums a largo number of 'ingle rooms, and these were given to the best patients.

who I'ppreciaf-ed the privacy. I hey were, in effect, private bedrooms. The old “airing courts'' had gone, and instead, there were beautiful parks and there wns a. perleet freedom ol t iow which (-radii -a ted the leeling ol I eiug enclosed. With ili- abolition of cells and mcelmiiicai restraint, it bat! neon found that a large mind er ol t o inmates had' reacted to the change and could go out to wolk. I-arms had been added and had become an important part of the administration scheme. Past year tl*e Menial Mosj iial harms mid shown a credit balance -I CBODO Not only had the better patients responded to this treatment, but many ol the less promising had,shown great improvement. Instead of tramping round 1 Pc, airing courts getting in each other’s way and assaulting each other, they got rid of their surplus energy in wheeling harrows and digging the .-oil. They slept better, and ate better, and were better. II they created a- hell and put walls round it. would it he any evidence of insanity il an inmate attempted to escape? It would not. In ine old days the patients had the idea of escape prominently helnrc them. To-day they did not have it. Dr Gray then dealt with the history of treatment in New Zealand, referring especially to the late Dr .Uaegregor, wlio. in LBB7. remarked on tin- number i.t aged people in the institutions who could have keen looked alter in their homes or in Old Peopic.s’ Homes, hut were not since the (loveniiuent maintain the asylums. Dr Macgregor maintained his position for 21 years, and did a great work. In Or Prank Hay took charge when there were six State institutions upon which nearly hail a million hail been spent. I hey had been built at a time when they were slowly emerging from the prisons system, and a verv comprehensive policy had to be adopted. In the 37 years _prior to ]«>l-t the expenditure was £0783)2."). but » i-twfcn tlmt tini«.* and .March this year il was nearly a million. Dr Gray outlined the many improvements that had been effected to make the institutions in keeping with modern methods ol treating tne patients. The additions and alterations made did not by any means constitute the whole of the work, and the villa system had been introduced and was now being built up. At Hokitika they were well on the way lo having a really model village mental hospital for the treatment of cases os, the border. I'mler this system they would have the means of doing everything possible for the patients. In the way of administration, toe speaker referred at some length to the system and buildings that were being erected. He explained that class,hratum and treatment were made easier anil In I,iron and adults w ere provided tor separately, while each dillercnt class could lie ] rovided lor. He said m this connexion that it was a popular misconception that there was a large proportion of the (lass that was utterly demented and could do nothing he public still believed that the hospitalwere full of raving maniacs, but he had onlv to point out that <-» ol >* ’ patients nt Stoke were on full paiole.