H.—7.

latter are already too crowded, and if a home were built rooms would be available for such patients as would benefit by segregation. As to a separate building for recent and curable cases, there is no question it is desirable to separate such cases from the chronically insane. At present this is impracticable at this Asylum, and thus many on admission are placed under conditions and in surroundings which are not conducive to recovery. Throughout the year the general health of the patients has been good, and, considering the number of inmates, there has been very little sickness in the wards. The patients have been encouraged in every way to occupy themselves usefully, and much has been done by them in all departments inside the asylum and outside on the estate. Their amusements and recreations have been duly attended to. Greater variety to their evening entertainments has been effected by the formation'of a dramatic company, consisting of members of the staff, under the management of Dr. Barraclough, who has devoted much time to the matter and succeeded in bringing out a series of very creditable performances, which the patients have greatly enjoyed. I have to acknowledge the able assistance rendered by my colleague Dr. Barraclough, and the efficient manner in which the senior officers and others on the staff have carried out the duties entrusted to them. I have, &c, Gray Hassell, M.D., The Inspector-General of Asylums, Wellington. Medical Superintendent.

WELLINGTON ASYLUM. Sir — I have the honour to present to you the annual report of this Asylum for the year ending the 31st December, 1901. On the Ist January there were 278 patients resident: 188 males, and ninety females. As there is accommodation for only 141 males there was a great deal of overcrowding, but this was gradually diminished by sending batches to Porirua, and by the 15th March relief had been got in this way to the number of fifty-two. At the end of March, owing to a small admission rate and several discharges, the numbers on the male side had been reduced to 133. At the same time there were only eighty-one females, so that the congestion had been completely overcome. There has been a marked diminution in the number of admissions of male patients during the year, there being only sixty-nine, as compared with 102 in the previous year. On the other hand, the female rate has slightly increased—namely, thirty-eight, as compared with thirty-one. These figures do not furnish any indication of the incidence of insanity in the district, because the new wards at Porirua were finished, and patients were being admitted there as well as here. To get at the true history of the insanity of the year it would be necessary, therefore, to combine the statistics of the two asylums. The recovery-rate shows a very satisfactory condition of affairs. Of the males, 57-9 were discharged recovered, and 578 females. Comparing the recovery-rate with that of last year, it is impossible not to be struck with the marked improvement on the male side, and one is bound to give the credit of part at least of this improvement to the relief of congestion by the transfer of so many patients to Porirua ; and it is a strong argument in favour of the immediate building of another asylum, as the relief given was only temporary, and at the end of the year, owing to the natural increase of admissions over discharges, our numbers were again rising, and on the male side we were eleven and on the female side ten over our statutory number, making a total of 252 patients on the 31st December. There have been fewer readmissions during the year, nine males and seven females. The physical condition of the patients on admission has been similar to that of former years, and it is reflected on the death-rate. Of thirteen deaths on the male side, ten were of patients who had been in less than a year. Two of these were ever seventy years of age when admitted, and there were five general paralytics, who died within seven months of admission : one died of exhaustion from drink and dysentery, one of tuberculosis, and one from heart-failure. Of the other three cases one died of melancholia and exhaustion, another of general paralysis, after eighteen months, and the other of senile decay after a residence of fifteen months. These figures show a wonderful condition of the health of the patients who have lived some time in the asylum. Of the four deaths on the female side two died of heart disease, one from shock after operation for hernia, and the other of senile decay. None of these were recent cases. The percentage of deaths to admissions was 18-8 for males and 105 for females, or an average of about 15 over all. Calculated on the average number resident, the death-rate is 7-1 for the year. We have been very free from accidents during the year, there being only two cases of broken bones. One of these was in a patient who was persistently trying to get out through the door, and an attendant had a struggle with him, which resulted in the fracture of a rib and rupture of the urethra. The patient made an uninterrupted recovery; but an inquiry was held, and as there was at least the suspicion of rough usage the attendant was dismissed. In the other case, fracture of ribs was found at the autopsy, but no blame was attached to any one by the Coroner's jury, as the patient, who suffered from general paralysis, had been very restless and tumbled about a good deal, and his condition was of a nature that such an untoward event might have been expected. At one time there was a large amount of sickness owing to an epidemic of influenza, and immediately following this an epidemic of measles; but both were kept well under control, and no deaths resulted. The alterations in connection with the female refractory day-room have now been finished, and they conduce to the safety and comfort of the patients. A small dormitory added to this ward

2— H. 7 T

9