107

reside in the hospital. There have been
several improvements carried into effect since
last report. A new dead house has been
built, the kitchen has been enlarged and
an additional ward for male patients has been
completed since the beginning of the present
year. A second ward for females has subse-
quently been opened.

The Library has got into a very tattered
condition, and a fresh stock of good books is
much wanted.

The following visits have been paid at the
hospital during the year, viz:—

His Excellency the Governor .......... 1
His Honor the Superintendent ...... 157
Clergy of Church of England ........ 17
" " Scotland ............... 17
" " Rome ................... 9
Primitive Methodist ................ 19
Wesleyan do ......................... 15
Baptist do ........................... 6
Independent do ....................... 3
Members of Provincial Council and
General Assembly ............... 17
Medical Men ......................... 73
General Public ..................... 52
Ladies ............................... 99
Commissioner of Waste Lands, &c ... 4

Total .......... 558

LUNATIC ASYLUM.

At the end of 1863, there remained
in the Asylum 49 patients, consisting of
33 males, (29 whites and 4 Maories),
and 16 females, (consisting of 15 whites
and 1 Maori). Of these 6 have been
discharged, (4 males and 2 females, four
have died, (2 whites, a man and woman, and
2 Maories, a man and woman). During the
year 1864, there have been admitted 25
patients; 20 males, (18 white and 2 Maories),
and 5 females, whites; of these 8 have been
discharged, 5 males and 3 females, all whites,
2 men have died, whites; and 15 remain, con-
sisting of 14 females, (12 whites and 2
Maories) and 1 female white. Of the new
cases, two were cases of attempted suicide, both
are doing well. The prominent points in the
6 fatal cases are noted in the accompanying
tabular return. The native man had been in
the house since October 1859. He was very
quiet and tractable, and worked very assidu-
ously in the garden. A few days before his
death, he was suddenly seized with paralysis
and died comatose in 24 hours. This native
used to say, that all the land about the
Grafton road belonged to him. Before his
admission he had threatened violence to the
Rev. Mr. Hobbs, but he was remarkably
quiet in the asylum. The death of the native
woman was also rather sudden. One Euro-
pean woman also died; who for many years
had been addicted to drinking, and before her
admission on August 6th 1861, usually resided
in the city gaol. Three European men died in
the Asylum, during the year 1st; P. P., aged

22 years, sent down from the front by the
Militia authorities, in a state of maniacal
excitement, on March 30th. His wrists and
ankles were much hurt by the cords with
which he was brought bound hand and foot
to the Asylum. His symptoms ran a course
similar to Typhus fever, and he died 26
days after admission. His brain was found
to weigh 3½ lbs. He had had an attack of
Mania in England—and J. D., aged 85 years,
also a Militiaman, sent to the asylum from
the Militia Hospital on June 8th. He had
been addicted to excessive drinking. He
had a misshapen head; the skull being in
places of enormous thickness. Copious
serous effusion was found in and upon the
brain. The last case was that T. J., aged
42 years. He had been nearly 4 years in the
Asylum. He was quite idiotic, could not be
compelled to keep his clothes on, and was
disgustingly filthy. His brain was found in
a disorganized state. Drink was the cause.
Of the patients who were discharged two
have been re-admitted, some of our recoveries
however have been very satisfactory, in par-
ticular that of W. L. C., a clerk, aged 23
years; admitted in a melancholic state on
June 15th, 1863. For about 14 months he
never uttered a syllable but lay on his bed,
in a state of utter apathy. He would not
partake of any food while any person was
present, and gradually became emaciated to
an extreme degree. His knees from having
been for a long time drawn up close to his
chin, became so rigid as to prevent his lower
limbs being extended. Various measures
were employed for his relief, but nothing
seemed to produce any improvement in his
symptoms. At length when we all thought
that no hope remained, in August, 1864 he
began to manifest signs of sensibility, shed
ding tears and answering questions quite
rationally. Much difficulty was experienced
in overcoming the rigidity of his legs, but he
was soon able to walk pretty well. By
nourishment and strengthening medicine, his
health was re-established, and he was dis-
charged well in mind and body, on October
24th, to proceed to England. The general
health of the lunatics has been very good,
and nothing seems to be needed but a system
of physical and intellectual discipline, to pro-
mote their recovery, as far as human efforts
can avail. This desideratum will doubtless
be supplied in the new Asylum which is in
an advanced state of progress.

The cases of the 54 remaining may be
arranged as below:

Mania ...................................... 5
Melancholia .......................... 10
Epilepsy ................................ 1
Dementia ............................... 38

Total ................................ 54

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

April, 1865.