THE WELLINGTON LUNATIC ASYLUM INQUIRY.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2518, 16 April 1881, Page 2

THE WELLINGTON LUNATIC ASYLUM INQUIRY.

The report of the Royal Commission appointed to inquire into the charges against the Superintendent of the Mount View Lunatic Asylum was sent in to IT's Excellency on Thursday. It was drawn up by Mr Shaw, R.M., and the evidence that accompanies it, taken down by Mr Mitchell of the “ Hansard” staff occupies 115 G pages of foolscap. The repoit comprises 37 clauses, and deals with the complaints seriatum. 70 witnesses were examined, 38 for the complainant, and thirty-two (of whom 12 were implicated in the charges made) on behalf of the superintendent. The commissioners state that they have only taken the evidence of former patients into account when corroborated by that of other witnesses. With reference to the specific charges against Mr White-

law, they find first that the charge, of violence towards patients has been established in the case of Mclntosh. “ The violence practised on this patient “ (Wm. Mclntosh) took his shape : Ho “ was by direction of the superin tendant “ and in his presence dragged from his “ bed at ten o’clock on a midwinter “ night, stripped, conducted across an “ exposed yard, placed in a confined “ shower-bath 20 inches by 18 inches, “ and kept under a continuous shower “ of cold water for 10 minutes or there-

“ abouts, without any possible escape “ the superintendant himself handling “ the tap which regulated the water, “ until, upon the door of the bath being " opened, to quote the description of an “ attendant present at the time, J. " Carroll, ‘he staggered out into my “ arms.’ The whole record of this “ patient’s treatment will be found de- “ tailed in his evidence (pages 19 to 56 “of 21st Eebruary). However, start- “ ling and improbable his statement “ appears, it is our duty to report that “we find it in all salient points “ confirmed and verified by other “ and independent witnesses.” The charge of tyrannical conduct they consider substantiated the evidence of independent witnesses showing that “ Mr Whitelaw. from his nonstitu-

“ tional infirmity of temper, is wholly “ unsuited to take charge of those bereft “ of reason, whose care demands such a “ constant tax on the patience and “ kindly forbearance of their keepers, “ and who are so helpless in his hands.” Bo the charge of cruelty against various attendants theComraissionersfind “ that, generally speaking, male attend- “ ants hare been in the habit of using “ unnecessary force in handling re- “ fractory patients, and that such rough“ness has not been sufficiently dis- “ countenaced.” An extract from

Inspector Skas’s book is quoted in illustration. In this the Inspector states that he ‘‘ reprimanded ” an attendant for smashing the features of a patient. The commissioners condemn the way in which the Inspector dealt with the offence. Respecting the alleged indecencies of the establishment the report says :—“ There is no question that the “ superintendent, sometimes with Dr “ France, and sometimes alone, visited “ the female wards unaccompanied by “ female attendant or matron. There is “ not the slightest suspicion that such “ vi‘j:' were made for any other cause ! “ than mistaken sense of duty. The if—practice is. wo tliink. unwisely Aa- I ■

“ ought, iu nur opinion, to be dis- “ continued. Tbe condition of naked- “ ness to which some female patients “ reduce themselves ought not to be “ witnessed by any male except, if “ ai>so!ntcly necessary, by the medical “ attendant,”

In Shaw’s case it was found that a man unacquainted with menial work was required to do a woman’s duties and act as scullion. Dealing with the general Charges against the management, the commissioners consider the inspector’s duties, powers, and responsibilities quite inadequate ; and refer to the unnecessary use of the straightjacket in the Asylum, a patient named Albert Hall having been kept in one day and night, from August, 3880 till March, 1881, The effect of the camisole” or straight-jacket is thus described :—“ This mechanical “ instrument of restraint, as shown to “ us, consists of a stout canvas jacket, “ reaching from the throat to the hips. ■‘lt is laced down the hack, and lias ,! sleeves about four or live feet long. “A constrained pntierit’s arms ami hands “ are folded across his breast, and thence “ led round towards the back, so as to “ effectually prevent any movement ot “ the arms. Occasionally, in addition, “ the elbow is pinioned b}'an iron clasp “to the jacket where it covers the ribs. “Seven months’ ligature by day and “ night culminating in the patient (Hall) “stumbling when at exercise in the “ brick-pave yard, falling without a hand “to save himself. His collar bone was “fractured, and necessarily the jacket “ was removed in order that he might receive surgical treatment, We have to “ report that from frequent personal inspection, confirmed by the report of his attendants from the date (last Feb.) “ until the present, this patient, instead “of exhibiting the most destructive “ and violent tendencies which had pre- “ viously been attributed to him, has “ occupied his time, seated on a chair “ by day in front of the Asylum, read“ing, examining illuslrated books, and “ conversing in a thoroughly quiet “ condition, and with a comparative “ degree of intelligence. Since the i( appointment of this Commission it is “ to be remarked that the use of the “ strait-jacket has diminished. At that “ time six patients were, more or less “ continually confined. At present “ there is not one, and the attendants “ report to us that they find the patients “ more tractable and easily managed “without mechanical restraint.” The ommis sioners find “ that Inspec- “ tor Skae clearly omitted to perform a “duty cast upon him by his appoint- “ ment, namely, to use his special •'* knowledge anp experience to discover “ faults in the condition and treatment “of lunatics at this and other asylnuis “ in the colony, and upon discovery to “ put in motion such machineiy as was “ available to have the matter rectified. “ One line from him to the Colonial “ Secretary in August last expressing “his disapproval of the superinten- “ dent’s inordinate use of mechanical “restraint in Hall’s case, might “ have saved that patient at all events “from seven months of what was in “our opinion totally unjustifiable “ torture.

“ With various modifications tlie “ same remarks apply to Inspector “ Skae’s neglect with regard to a num- “ her of other patients.” The mixing up of the sexes is also alluded to as irregular and indecent. Inspector Skae’s recommendation of Whitelaw to the post of superintendent although he was totally inexperienced in the management of lunatics is condemned, and the fact that no effort was made to obtain applications from persons possessing experience or other special qualifications is considered sus. picious.

The medical attendant, Dr Prance, is considered an amiable good for nothing. Miss Brigdon, late matron is described as having obtained her appointment by false pretences, but she is acquitted of wilful complicity in the frauds practised by Whitelaw or his mother. The medical journal is stated to have been tampered with by Whitelaw since the enquiry was commenced ; no “ patients’ book ” had been kept as required by the Act ; and Inspector Skae has not in any appreciable degree fulfilled the duties required of him in respect of the inspector’s book. The complainant Mr J. H. Shaw is in conclusion, highly commended for the careful and conscientious way in which he performed a very necessary and important task. Both the management of the asylum and the whole system of lunacy supervision are censured ; and amended legislation is strongly recommended.