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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5484, 24 October 1878, Page 2

On looking over tho annual report on the Tiiinatic Asylums of New Zealand,.we find that the patients under treatment in our asylums on December 31, 1877, numbered altogether 872 persons,'of whom 681 were males and 291 were females, showing a total increase of 81 over the numbers of the previous year. New Zealand compares unfavorably as to the n"raher of lunatics within her boundaries with other countries, as the total number of patients received into asylums during the year, inclusive of 15 re-admissions, was 362, and of these 250 were males and 112 were females. This is a much larger proportion to the average number resident than that which usually exists in other countries. The ratio which the number of admisdons bears to the population is generally regarded as a more reliable measure of the prevalence of insanity in a country than that of the number of lunatics in asylums at any given time to the population. The admissions into asylums in this colony last year were in the proportion of 1 to 1141 of the general population, as estimated by the Registrar-General in March. This is a considerably larger proportion than that which obtained in 1878 In Victoria and New South Wales, which is stated in the reports of the Inspecters of Asylums in those colonies to have been respectively lin 1431 and Hn1749; and it is also larger than that which is found at Home, The great evil complained of in the report is the overcrowding of the inmates. A table has been prepared, which shews the urgent necessity for some steps to ho taken without delay, as the amount of satisfactory accommodation now existing is as follows: — Maks. Females, Total, At Christchurch .. •• Hokitika .. 31 « *0 Nelson 30 30 00 Wellington .. .. 29 20 10 Auckland .. • • 50 Total ... ..lit 139 270 And as the present number ■ ■ of patients is .. .. 59° 303 803 There is a deficiency of aecpnimodation for .. 101 10* o s2 Every year there is a great increase in the number of patients. The increase last year was 81, and the average increase for the last five years is 66. Taking the lowest of these figures as. representing the probable annual increase for the next two years, there will be, two years hence, 1030 patients. Speaking of tho Napier Asylum, the report says it is not, properly speaking, an asylum at all. It is merely a small building only fit for temporary occupation by persons committed on remand for medical examination. Dr. Sitae, the Inspector of Asylums, gives the following as an approximate estimate of the cost of the buildings which he recommends: — New wing, Christchurch Asylum, for 159 patients, at £2OO per patient .. .. £30,000 Now wing, Auckland Asylum, for 107 patients, at £2OO per patient 22,400 Asylum at BlucsKin Reserve for 300 patlents, at £2OO per patient 00,000 Now Asvlum near Wellington, for 300 patients! at £2OO per patient .. .. .. 60,000 Additions to Hokitika Asylum (built chiefly by the patients, of timber grown and pro- ■ pared on the Asylum Reserve), for 30 patients, at £4O per patient .. .. 1.200 Temporary wooden buildings at Blueskin Reserve for 30 patients, at £IOO per patient .. .... .. •• •• 3,000 Additions in brick to present Wellington Asylum, for 100 patients, at £IOO per patient ••

Total £186,000 “The estimates,” the Inspector says, “given above for the Christchurch and Auckland .Asylums are much higher than those made by the architects, which were respectively about £24,000 and £15,000 ; but I fear that these which I have made, after discussing the matter with the Acting Colonial Architect, are more likely to be correct.” It is somewhat, remarkable that the table showing the condition as to marriage of the patients discloses the tact that _ there are about three unmarried male persons insane for each married patient. Among the females this proportion does not apply, as there are more married women insane than there are single. The exact figures are below. The chances either for or against recovery appear to be exactly even, as out of 213 single persons 107 recovered ; of 131 married 66 recovered; and of 14 widowed 7 recovered. The total number of admissions were : —Single, 173 mates, 40 females, total 213 ; married, 63 males, 63 females, total 131 ; widowed, 10 males, 4 females, total 14; unknown, 4 males. Total, 250 males, 112 females. Ont of this number ISO recovered, 38 were discharged uncured, and 63 died. Out of 362 patients who were admitted 130 were entered as being between the ages of 30 and 40, showing the prime of life to be the most dangerous time.