THE LUNATIC ASYLUM AT KARORI.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 43, 18 November 1871, Page 6

THE LUNATIC ASYLUM AT KARORI.

Dr Buchanan, as Chairman of the Joint Committee of the Assembly upon Lunatic Asylums, made a personal inspection of the Earori Asylum during the session. Tbo following notes of this inspection are contained in the appendix to the committee’s report There are at present twenty-three inmates, twelve men and eleven women. All the females married but one. The keeper said there is in the buildings accommodation for eighteen only, having regard to any degree of safety, as he added. The medical officer says there is room only for twelve. Two male attendants and a cook, besides the keeper; but no female attendant except the matron, although there are eleven female patients. Thirteen bedrooms, two Bitting-rooms (exclusive of the private rooms of the keeper and matron), and four cells for those who are violent or of unclean habits. No bath-room, or any other appliance for the cleansing of the skin, which is so essential to health, especially in persons who are laboring under disease of any kind. There is a large open cess-pool close to the paling of the exercising yards, into which all the filth of the Asylum is discharged. There is a good kitchen and wash-house. The premises are apparently kept very clean, and, as far as I could observe, I believe the patients are kindly treated ; I saw, however, a man walking about in the yard without shoes or stockings, and his feet looked very blue, as if covered with chilblains I inquired of the keeper why this was so, and he answered that the man sometimes kicks violently. Three women, who were locked up in refractory cells, were also barefooted, and on the bare boards, without fire, which on the cold day when I paid my visit was painful to see. The keeper said the reason for this was that they would tear up and destroy any covering put upon their feet. On a formal visit I saw a female patient quite naked in a cell. They were well fed ; the following, as reported to me, being the daily ration of each —12oz of meat without bone, bread and potatoes lib of each, 6oz rice, |oz tea, lfoz sugar, 1 gill of milk ; they get besides soup five times a week, made out of the meat, and Mbs of butter per week for the whole establishment.

The keeper and matron appear to be kind and gentle in manner, and evinced the utmost readiness to show every part of the premises. Every locked door was immediately opened at nay request. They have been at the Asylum thirteen years, at a yearly salary of £l5O, without rations. The assistant keeper has been there three years, the other since Ist of June last. Wages 5s a day each, with rations. As far a 9 I could learn there is no attempt at curative treatment, neither keeper or matron having any special knowledge of the subject. I was told that such of the men as were sufficiently well are employed in the garden on fine days; but the females never go outside the house. When I was there the men were sitting idly in their rooms, where there was a small bagatelle table, and a few old copies of the “ Illustrated News.” I cannot help thinking it would have been much better if they had been at work out of doors, employed, or in some way, so as to prevent them brooding over their own sad thoughts. Until within the last week, no justice or official, except the medical officer, had visited the institution since the middle of July. Indeed there are very few names inscribed in the visiting book. In my opinion it would tend greatly to the advantage of the Asylum, if the site of it were much nearer the town. In which case it would be much more readily inspected. The general public, especially ladies, would take more interest in it, and by contribution of books, and encouraging cheerful amusements, they would greatly assist Dame Nature,. who in this case appears to be the only physician as regards the vis medicatrix In fact, as far as my information goes at present, they are kept only like so many animals might be kept, in order to prevent them from injuring the rest of the community. It will of course be inferred, that besides removing the asylum to another site, the buildings ought to*much enlarged ; the number of attendants increased; means adopted to warm the refractory cells; to give the female patients exercise; and also to have baths for the purpose of cleanliness. In short, while I would cast no slur on the provincial authorities, nor on those who have the immediate management, it would be a blot on humanity if the Colonial Government should fail to step in and remedy such a state of things as I have described.