H.-3

2

Admissions. On the Ist January, 1882, there were on the register 1,175 patients : 212 males and 119 females were admitted for the first time during the year, and 55 males and 33 females were readmitted. The assigned causes of the insanity in these cases call for no special remark. Intemperance is stated to account for 80 of the admissions; and was, no doubt, also a factor in some of the 122 in which no cause is assigned. Of the abovenamed 80 admissions, 67 were of the male sex. It is probable that indulgence in drink was only the exciting cause in many cases, where hereditary or other predisposition to insanity already existed; and I am firmly convinced that intemperance is frequently to be regarded rather as a result than a cause of insanity. Of its bad effects where actual insanity, or a predisposition to it, already exists, no doubt can be entertained. Eour cases are attributed to solitude, Ito nostalgia, 4to religious excitement, and Ito spiritism. Hereditary predisposition existed in numerous instances. The proportion of the number of admissions to the general population is of considerable importance, as throwing some light upon the prevalence of lunacy in the community. In this respect New Zealand compared unfavourably last year with some other countries, as shown in the following table :— Proportion of Number of Admissions to Population. New Zealand ... ... ... ... ... ... 1 to 1,235 New South Wales ... ... ... ... ... 1 to 1,581 Victoria ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 1 to 1,621 England and Wales ... ... ... ... ... 1 to 1,929 Discharges. During the year 1882, 247 patients received their discharge. Of these, 154 were registered as "recovered," 81 as "relieved," and 12 as "not improved." The percentage of recoveries on the number of admissions was not so large as usual, amounting to 36-75. In England it is stated to be 39-72, in New South Wales 42-91, and in Victoria 37-68. Deaths. The number of deaths was 79. All were from ordinary causes; none resulting from suicide, accident, violence, injuries, or from any form of infectious disease. The death-rate must be regarded as a very low one. Calculated upon the total number treated, it amounted to 4-95 per cent., as against 7"61 in England and Wales. The following table gives the percentage, calculated upon the average number resident:— England and Wales ... ... ... ... ... ... 992 Victoria ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 7'90 New South Wales ... ... ... ... ... ... 546 New Zealand ... ... ... •..,- ... ... ... 6'49 The proportion of deaths to admissions was 18"85 to 100. Accommodation. The existing accommodation for patients is very inadequate. The overcrowding at Auckland is very serious; and at Christchurch the old buildings occupied by male patients are quite unfit for their present use. The following table shows the number of beds for which there is proper room at the various public asylums, and also the number of patients on the Ist January, 1883:— Accommodation for Number of Patients. Auckland ... ... ... ... ... 157 ... 274 Hokitika ... ... ... ... ... 76 ... 87 Nelson... ... ... ... ... ... 86 ... 85 Napier... ... ... ... ... ... 23 ... 19 Dunedin ... ... ... ... ... 191 ... 195 Seaclifl; N ... ... ... ... ... 146 ... 140 Wellington ... ... ~. ... ... 144 ... 152 Christchurch ... ... ... ... ... 327 ... 307 1,150 1,259