H.—'7.

The Dunedin Clinic dealt with 158 new cases during the year, in the earlier part of which I was appointed to the honorary staff of the Dunedin Hospital. The details concerning these cases are as follows: — Diagnosis. Senile dementia.. .. .. 23 Childish psychiatry .. .. 6 Congenital mental defect.. .. 17 War neuroses .. .. .. 5 Anxiety states .. .. 16 Epilepsy .. .. 4 Hysteria .. .. 16 Reactive depression . . .. 3 Alcoholism .. .. ..11 Post-traumatic states .. .. 2 Schizophrenia .. .. ..11 Obsessional states .. .. 2 Involutional melancholia. . .. 9 Neurasthenia .. .. .. 1 Paranoid states . . .. 9 Secondary dementia .. . . ] Manic-depre,ssive insanity . . 7 General paralysis of the insane .. I Toxic-exhaustive states .. .. 6 Constitutional emotional instability 1 Organic dementia and cerebral arterio- Normal .. .. .. 1 sclerosis .. .. .. 6 Total .. ..158 Source. Disposal. Hospital wards .. 69 Discharged recovered .. .. 8 Practitioners .. .. .. 61 Discharged relieved .. .. 28 Child Welfare Department .. 10 Discharged unrecovered .. 10 Spontaneous . . .. 10 Left against advice .. .. 3 Pensions Department .. .. 6 Voluntary boarders .. .. 11 Magistrates' Court . . .. 1 Committed .. .. 34 School Medical Officer .. .. 1 Advice or report supplied .. 47 Referred to other hospitals or institutions .. . . 8 Died .. .. .. 3 Under treatment at end of year .. 6 158 158 The clinic at Invercargill has been conducted by Dr. Brown, who reports 28 new cases, of whom 15 were at the Southland Hospital and 6 referred Joy practitioners, 2 each by the Pensions Department, Child Welfare Department, and parents ; one spontaneous case. With regard, to disposal, 5 were committed and 2 voluntary boarders. We have been particularly fortunate this year in the interest taken in the patients by various Dunedin organizations. The Patients and Prisoners Aid Society has maintained its constant activities in promoting the patients' recreation and conducting religious services. The services of the society's agent and chaplain, Mr. A. Stevens, have been much appreciated, and towards the end of the year he conducted an appeal for the installation of radios in the seven remaining wards which were not so equipped. His appeal was immediately successful, and our thanks are due both to the society and the subscribers. The Dunedin Branch of the Women's National Council now visit the hospital and take an active part in the recreation and occupation of the female patients. They have been teaching handicrafts, &c., and also bring many useful gifts, as well as taking a personal interest in many cases. Miss Miller, the vocational instructress to the Red Cross Society, commenced teaching handicrafts to several of the returned soldiers, and has extended her work to other cases interested in her activities and likely to benefit by them. We are indebted to her and to the Rev. Brian King for initiating this work. Several concert parties have come out and entertained the patients, and I extend my thanks to them. The Royal Male Choir and Justices of the Peace Association have been chiefly responsible for these parties. We have also to thank the Returned Soldiers' Association for their continued interests in returned-soldier patients, and their numerous gifts to them, particularly at Christmas-time. In March Mr. F. G. Cummings retired from the position of Patients' Friend after over thirty years association with the hospital in his capacity as agent and chaplain to the Patients and Prisoners Aid Society. At a suitable meeting a presentation was made to him expressing our deep regret at his retirement and appreciating the valuable years of assistance he rendered both patients and hospital. I have to thank the visiting clergy for conducting services, and Mr. J. Louclen, Official Visitor, for his services. At the beginning of the year Dr. McLachlan commenced duties, as also did Mr. Thomas in place of Mr. Riordan, who was transferred to Poriraa. During the year Dr. Bowell was transferred to Porirua Mental Hospital, Dr. Marshall coming to Waitati. To my colleagues and to the staff generally I wish to tender my thanks for loyal support and work done throughout the year.

STATISTICAL. The patients on the register at the end of the year numbered 7,860 (m. 4,357, f. 3,503), or 173 (m. 75, f. 98) more than at the beginning ; and the daily average under treatment during the year was 7,288 (m. 4,093, f. 3,195), or 174 (m. 90, f. 84) more than in the previous year ; while the total under care was 8,796. Patients belonging to the Native race numbered 141 (m. 82, f. 59) at the end of. the year.

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