H.—7

4

ENTRIES OF VISITS TO THE DIFFERENT ASYLUMS. Auckland Asylum. 2nd September, 1900.—1 have found this Asylum exceedingly well managed under the most trying test of two very wet days. The attendants are working well together, and appear to be contented. Every endeavour is made to treat them well, for it is well known that if they are discontented the whole institution suffers, and the patients most. The food is abundant, and of the best quality. I examined all the recent convalescent patients, and discussed their cases with Dr. Beattie. A very few were confined to bed with slight ailments. The Matron and head attendant are experienced, capable, and trustworthy. The Official Visitors and the Deputy Inspector are a valuable link between the patients, attendants, and the public, and the steadily increasing confidence in the Asylum is largely due to their independence and accessibility to all. lam satisfied the institution is well managed in every department. The foundations of the new wing have been begun. The ventilation has been delayed, owing to the difficulty of getting workmen. 19th February, 1901.—The Asylum, as a whole, is working well. Dr. Beattie and his staff are deserving of great credit for doing the best with the resources at their command. The patients' general health is good. I found no one in bed on the male side, and only three on the female side, and all were receiving careful treatment. As usual, the food, clothing, &c, were suitable and ample. I am greatly disappointed to find that the new wing, which was meant to have ample light, has the windows too high from the ground, especially in the day-room ; and that all the windows are, even the largest, only 18 in. wide, whereas in the older parts there are 21 in. of daylight. The farm is in good order, and Mr. Muir deserves great credit for his work. A great deal requires to be done in properly laying off the new airing-court and the new drying-yard. The time has come for converting the old laundry into dormitories and for the erection of a new laundry. The ventilation improvements are hindered for lack of tradesmen available. Mr. Cooper's promotion to the Supreme Court Bench is a great loss to this Asylum, to which he has done most invaluable service in his honorary office as Deputy Inspector. Cheistchuech Asylum. 12th October, 1900.—1 have found this Asylum in its usual satisfactory condition. The administration is able and vigorous. The patients are well cared for in every respect. The staff is efficient, and I heard not a single complaint. A new day-room has been provided and furnished for the use of the female attendants, where they can sit without being in constant proximity to the patients. Although complaints were made of the want of such a room, now that they have it it is very little used. The farm is a pattern of skilful and profitable management. All the books are in good order. A very great difficulty has been experienced in finding suitable artisan attendants, owing to the prevailing high rate of wages. While this is a matter of great satisfaction from a general point of view, it is very trying to our department, our funds being so strictly limited. 12th May, 1901. —Saw all the patients. The general health is good. All the patients are suitably clad for the cold weather. Everything is in good order. Seacliff Asylum. 9th October, 1900. —I have examined the whole of this Asylum, its adjuncts and surroundings. Everything is going on smoothly. The discipline is good, and there is universal content, except at one point, which I must take time to consider more fully. The general health of the patients is good. There are very few cases of sickness, all of whom I have seen, and lam satisfied they are receiving careful and skilful attention. The food is good and abundant, and the clothing and bedding suitable and good. Two patients whose cases are peculiarly difficult have been discussed fully by Dr. King and myself, and we have agreed as to their nature and treatment. Eapid progress is being made with the single rooms, so much needed on the female side. Seacliff is becoming every year more beautiful and more efficient as a place for treating mental disease. Ist May, 1901.—1 have seen all the patients under medical treatment, and found them all being properly cared for. One case (J. P.) I found declaring that the puckering of the ears following frequent and prolonged haematoma otis, caused by cerebral congestion, was caused by a slap from an attendant, a thing which is clearly impossible. He has other delusions which clearly indicate deep-seated mental perversion. His friends imagine that this is a terrible place, where nameless cruelties are perpetrated, all on the basis of similar delusions. As a matter of fact, this man has been treated with such consideration, and so much freedom of action has been granted to him, that no patient in any asylum could be more sympathetically and skilfully treated. His tastes have been carefully studied, and work has been given to suit them. The new block of single rooms, containing a beautiful day-room, has been built so as to relieve the overcrowded female refractory ward, while at the same time it provides an admirable means of reaching the laundry under cover. The Nurses' Home is rapidly approaching completion. Certain additions have been made to the laundry, which greatly facilitate the working of that department. The designs of all the additions have been made by Dr. King, and have been carried out by him in the most creditable fashion. The A, s yl um as a whole is working most satisfactorily, and it has now been brought into such a condition that Otago may well be proud of it.