LUNATIC ASYLUMS AND REFUGES. DR. MacGREGOR'S REPLY TO THE CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 283, 21 July 1888, Page 4

LUNATIC ASYLUMS AND REFUGES. DR. MacGREGOR'S REPLY TO THE CHARITABLE AID BOARD.

Auckland, July 17. I At the ordinary meeting of the Charitable Aid Boaid, fche following letter from Dr. MacClregor, Inspector of Lunatic Asylums, ■was read :—: — I regret very much that any statements of mine shcmld have given offence to any members of your Board, and I hasten to assure them that in making the statements complained of, T -was not specially thinking of the Auckland Charitable Aid Board. I was pointing out a general tendency lo send helpless and friendless old people, whose faculties had failed simply from old age, to our Lunatic Asylums. The only reason why I mentioned Auckland at all in this connection, was because both the Deputy-In-spector, the ofiicial visitors, and the Resident Magistrate had already called attention to this evil in Auckland. I must plead that the allegations made by thcseresponsiblepersons.actingin their official capacities, weie sufficient warrant for what I said ; but I waive that, for! acknowledge the right of the Board to demand an explicit statement of the faots on which I based the opinions expressed in my report. In the first place, then, I beg to point out that I was endeavouring to counteract a very great evil which has grown up, especially in recent years —a tondency to make use of our Lunatic Asylums to harbour persons who are incapable oc being benefited there, and who, though their minds are affected, arc not dangereous either to themi selves or others. lam ot opinion that owing to the non-existence ot suitable refuges in Auckland and elsewhere, persons are sent to the Asylum, and the officers arc obliged to admit tlicm, who, if suitable places were provided, I should at once recommend for discharge or even refuse to admit at all. What I lreant to say in my report—and 1 am sorry thai my words seem not to have been sufficiently explicit — was that in 1 these circumstances the Resident Magistrates, the Asylum authorities, the certifjmg doctors, and the local bodies themselves were practically forced to do what in other circumstances they would not think of doing, namely, to send old people whose faculties are simply failing from senile decay to a lunatic asylum. Fro«i a list lying before me I give, at your request, the folloAving cases as being of this description :— (1) Henry Cummins, certified February 19lh by Drs. Bond and Girdler, and referred to by Mr Smith in the letter I published— age, 60 ; (2' Andrew Bonav, committed by the R.M., certified December 29th, by Drs. Uaincs and Girdler, died February 2nd— age, 78 ; (3) Win. Curtis, committed by the R.M., certified by Dis. Haines and Macmullen, February 10th, died June 4th— -age, 60. These arc three out of sixteen cases which Dr. Creraonini says might have been cared for in a refuge, and who could not benefit by being sent to an asylum. I will «ow give the names of persons actually sent from the Auckland Ho&pital and Refuges who were suffering from mere senile decay : —(1) Rebecca, Spiers, 85, Refuge, committed by R.M., certified by Drs. Girdler and Macmullen, the latter of whonitadded the following note to the certificate:—'Her weak intellect is the result of old age, and it would bo much better that she should be kept at the Refuge if possible, but Mrs Brophy assures me that there is no suitable accomodation or attendants for such a case. Incurable.' (2) David Horton April 30th, R.M., Refuge, certified by Drs Haines and Girdler, incurable, aged 83; (3 May 27th, P. Pearce, aged 65, Refuge, R.M., Drs. Macmullen and Scott, inexorable. I trust the Board will exonerate me from any desire to attach blame to anyone unjustly, and accept my assurance that it was the system, and not either individual. Board, or persons that I was animadverting on.— l have, etc— (Signed) D. MacGregor."

" How much will these trousers be when done ?" said a customer to his tailor, "Thirty shillings," said Snips. "How many pockets will you require?" "None ; I shan't need any pockets after I've paid for the trousers." (Overheard in Waikato train.)— Mayor of H. to a Taupoite: " How do, Major ? 1 hear Tongariro is showing signs of increased activity?" Taupoite: " Oh, indeed! Some fellow crawling up the side probably."