CONTROL OF MENTAL PATIENTS

Hokitika Guardian, 24 July 1926, Page 3

CONTROL OF MENTAL PATIENTS

The following is the letter from the Medical Superintendent of the Mental Hospital, Hokitika, read at last night’s meeting of the Borough Council:—

Dear Sir,— i am in receipt of your letter of the 21st ultimo., and apologise that I have been so long in acknowledging same.

To my mind it is a pity that the only time that the Council takes notice of the Mental Hospital is when some occurrence, seemingly detrimental to the Institution, arises.

Such being the case it is only to ho expected that criticism at these times and from such a source must help to spread alarm in the minds of the town and country people. I am sure that a more intimate knowledge of the Institution, and an understanding of what we arc striving after would place the Council in a position to allay alarm, and to still the wild rumours that -,are. in ignorance. always associated with the escape of nil insane person.

As -far. ns my memory serves, there is only one of your number who has interested himself in our endeavours to radically change the care and treatment of the patients from what it was a few years ago.

He will he able to assure you that the popular conception of lunacy does not hold;—we are a long way past the days of Charles Reado. The more open treatment undoubtedly produces quieter and safer patients. I can assure you that I deplore escapes as much as you do, but not for the same reason, and it is my constant endeavour to arrange matters so as to minimise such occurrences. Yours faithfully, H. M. BUCTJANAN, Medical Superintendent.