PROVINCIAL HOSPITAL OF AUCKLAND

REPORT FOR THE YEAR 1861

to bed he died March 17th, 1861. A large quantity of blood was found extravasated beneath the dura mater. Of the 34 cases remaining, 3 have been in the house upwards of 9 years, 2 about 8 years, 2 seven years, 3 six years, 3 five years, 7 four years, 6 three years, and 8 one year and under.

The little prospect of this number being diminished and the house is at present crowded, increased accommodation is urgently required.

PRISONS

— There has been a considerable increase in the number of sick in the Mount Eden Gaol, but the cases do not call for any special remark. One death occurred at Mount Eden, in the person of Eugene Donovan, aged 56 years, on November 16th, from Aneurism of the Aorta and diseased heart.

T. M. PHILSON,
Provincial Surgeon.

ADMISSIONS

— There were admitted during 1861, 17 new cases, 13 males and 4 females, all of whom were Europeans. Of these, 5 have been discharged, viz.,

1st. W. B. male, aged 61 years, maniacal from drink, discharged after 3 months’ treatment.

2nd. A. B. male, aged 32 years, similar to the last in exciting cause. Admitted May 28th, and after some weeks confinement made his escape from his keeper while at work outside the building, contrived to get to Sydney, and again returned to Auckland and gave himself up to the Police, and was legally discharged October 26th.

3rd. G. D. male, aged 33 years, admitted June 17th, having been found incapable of managing his affairs: in about 2 months he was sufficiently restored to enable him to proceed to England.

4th. W. B. male, aged 42 years, of violent temper, and greatly depressed by blighted prospects, was admitted July 23rd, and after 3 months’ treatment, was sufficiently recovered to warrant his being discharged to proceed to Melbourne, where some of his friends reside.

5th. J. C., male, aged 44 years, a case in several points resembling the last, was admitted August 17th, and discharged recovered November 14th.

Of the new cases, 4 have died:

1st. G. L., male, aged 31 years, carried on business for some years in Auckland, but symptoms of derangement having manifested themselves, he was admitted into the Lunatic Asylum on January 9th. He soon became perfectly idiotic, and paralytic, and died June 20th. On examination, a large quantity of clear water was found effused into, and upon the surface of the brain, the substance of which was very soft.

2nd. J. M., female, aged 39 years; of very intemperate habits, and for a long time the subject of mental derangement, for which she had been treated at home, was brought to the Asylum June 11th, in an idiotic state, and died a fortnight thereafter. No examination was permitted.

3rd. J. E., male, aged 38 years, admitted from the coast on June 17th in a paralytic state, and quite idiotic, died August 17th, and on dissection, a sharp point of bone was discovered projecting from the inner surface of the skull, and irritating the dura mater.

4th. T. H. E., male, aged 47 years, admitted in an idiotic and paralytic state on October 7th, and died November 29th. On examination the vessels of the dura mater was found greatly engorged, the arachnoid membranes presented a milky appearance, the result of chronic inflammation. There were about 4 ozs. of serum in the ventricles. The liver also was greatly enlarged. Of the remaining, some are in a hopeful state, others cannot be expected to improve.

The total number remaining this year exceeds that of the last year by two.

TABULAR RETURN OF PATIENTS TREATED IN THE PROVINCIAL HOSPITAL OF AUCKLAND DURING THE YEAR 1861

• Of this number 11 were Maories.

T. M. PHILSON, M.D.,
Provincial Surgeon.