Auckland Provincial Government Gazette.

207

THE EIGHTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE STATE OF THE AUCKLAND PROVINCIAL LUNATIC ASYLUM, 1874.

Provincial Lunatic Asylum,
January 30, 1875.

Sir,—I have the honor to lay before you the Eighth Annual Report of this Asylum, showing the numbers of admissions, discharges, and deaths which occurred during the last year, and also such information concerning its progress and general management during that period as is usually required in reports of this description.

There remained in the Asylum on the first of January, 1874, one hundred and thirty-eight inmates, divided into ninety males and forty-eight females, seven aboriginals were included in this number, three of whom were males and four females. The admissions during the year amounted to seventy, divided into forty-two males and twenty-eight females, one female aboriginal is included in this number. The total number treated during the year amounted to two hundred and eight, divided into one hundred and thirty-two males and seventy-six females, eight aboriginals were included in this number, three of whom were males and five female. The number discharged during the year amounted to fifty-one, divided into twenty-eight males and twenty-three females, including two aborigines, both of whom were females. The number of deaths amounted to eighteen—fifteen males and three females—one female aboriginal is included in this number. The number remaining in the Asylum on the 31st December, 1874, amounted to one hundred and thirty-nine, divided into eighty-nine males and fifty females—five aboriginals were included in that number, viz., three males and two females.

The daily average number treated was one hundred and forty-two and a fraction. The percentage of discharges on admission was seventy-two and a fraction. The percentage of deaths upon the total number treated was eight and a fraction. It may be proper to notice that although the percentage of deaths may seem large, it is not greater than in most Asylums where a large number of mixed cases are annually treated. It is found necessary to place in this Asylum patients far advanced in paralysis, or otherwise afflicted with incurable bodily disease, who could be much more effectually provided for in the wards of an hospital appropriated for that purpose. Patients of this class, although afflicted with mental aberration to a greater or lesser extent, are for the most part both harmless and helpless, and require to be treated pretty much as children who require the constant attention of a nurse. Under any amount of care and medical treatment such patients must necessarily succumb, and our efforts can only be directed to mitigate their sufferings and prolong life perhaps a little longer than could be expected in the ordinary course of maladies invariably fatal.

STATE OF THE HOUSE.

The building and its appurtenances have been kept in good repair throughout the year. The substantial slated roof has weathered some heavy gales during last winter. The quantity of glass broken, either intentionally by the patients or accidentally, has been remarkably small. The accommodation afforded for patients of both sexes is, I am sorry to observe, very limited. It was possible to treat one hundred patients without inflicting any serious inconvenience upon any, but during the last year the daily average number treated amounted to one hundred and forty-two, hence the day-rooms, corridors, and every available space were called into requisition for sleeping accommodation. The want of single wards for dangerous patients has also been much felt. It is really surprising that no serious accident occurred during the year under such circumstances. The cubic measurement of the dormitories is furnished in the appendix.

WATER.

During a considerable portion of the year the want of a sufficient water supply was experienced. It is unnecessary to dwell on the advantages of an ample water supply. I have to congratulate your Honor upon the success which has crowned your efforts to furnish the Asylum with an abundant and I trust unlimited supply of water. The well which has just been completed seems calculated to fulfill all the requirements of the institution in its water supply. From a depth of seventy-five feet through pure sandstone, clear sweet water is now obtainable apparently in unlimited quantity. This is the greatest boon which has been conferred upon this institution since its erection.

EXERCISING YARDS.

The exercising yards attached to the building measure somewhat over forty yards by twenty. That appropriated to males is covered with scoria ash, which is worn into fine dust and becomes very troublesome in hot dry weather, causing much annoyance to the eyes, and soiling the men’s clothing. The females’ exercising ground is covered with grass, which answers remarkably well in dry weather, but becomes a mere swamp during the rainy season. It would be most desirable to have both yards drained and coated with asphalt.

CLOSETS.

I am sorry to be obliged to state that the closets in both yards are in a very unsatisfactory condition; their original construction was bad; both empty into a common reservoir, from which there is no escape by ordinary sewerage, it being impossible to flush such a large cavity, which can only be cleansed by manual labour. The sewerage might be greatly improved without incurring great expense; a considerable portion of the work could be done by inmates.

GARDEN AND GROUNDS.

The cultivation of the garden, containing four acres, has been carefully attended to, and an abundant supply of vegetables has been obtained throughout the year. The gardener is generally able to employ as many inmates of the quiet and docile class as enable him to proceed with his work in an equable manner, and thus procure an almost unremitting supply of vegetables, &c., for the use of the patients. There is an excellent crop of potatoes now coming to perfection in a small paddock of about three and a-half acres, chiefly the result of lunatic labour. The remainder of the ground, about twelve acres, is under grass, of which much cannot be said, as it seems worn out, and yields a very indifferent pasture. It would be impossible to procure a sufficient supply of milk for the institution from this source, inasmuch as it would scarcely support two cows in its present state; by reploughing and fresh sowing it may possibly yield four times the amount of feed, and then the advisability of keeping cows might be entertained.