1173
1896.
VICTORIA.
HOSPITALS FOR THE INSANE.
REPORT
011' THlll
INSPECTOR OF LUNATIC ASYLUMS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31sT DECEMBER,
18 9 5.
PRESBNTED TO BOTH HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT PURSUANT TO ACT 54 VICT. No. lllS, SECTION 79.
ti!} autbotitu: ROBT, S, BRAIN, GOVERNMENT PRINTER, HELBOUBNB, No. 15.-[ls.]_.ll86, APPROXIMATE COST OF REPORT. £ •. d. Preparation-Not giTen. Prilltlng (840 copie•) 12 0 0 1175
REPORT.
HosPITALS FOR THE INSANR, Inspector's Office, Melbourne, tst June, 1896. Sm, I do myself the honour to furnish for your information, in complia.nce with the provisions of the Lunacy Act, a Report on the Lunatic Asylunis of Victoria for the year 1895· The numbers and distribution of the insane on 3ISt December, 1895, are shown in the subjoined tabular statement. It will be observed that there were 4,I 51 registered insane persons under official observation on that date, an increase of 35 over the number on 31st December, 1 894· The increase varies annually, and this is the lowest shown in any year since I 88 5, when the number recorded was only 2. The daily average number of patients resident was 3,919, i1S compared with 3, 9 I 2 for the preceding year, being an increase of 1 7.
TABLE I.-Showing the Distribution of the Insane on the 31st December, 1895 • - . .. --- MRies. Females. Totai. _...... In the Public Lunatic Asylums at- Yarra Bend ...... 434 367 Sol Kew ...... 522 421 943 Kew Idiot Asylum ...... 103 68 171 Ararat ...... 380 275 655 Beechworth ...... 373 254 627 Sunbury ...... 227 322 549 Ballarat ...... 114 98 2IZ Out on probation from- Yarra Bend ...... 14 :Z3 37 Kew ...... 36 59 9~ Kew Idiot Asylum ...... 4 :z Ararat ...... 3 3 Beechworth ...... 3 IO I3 Sunbury ...... Ballarat ...... 5 5 Boarded out from- Yarra Bend ...... 3 3 Kew ...... 3 9 12 Kew Idiot Asylum ...... 2 I 3 Ararat ...... 4 4 Beechworth ...... 4 2 6 Sunbury ...... 2 I 3 Ballarat ...... Total number of registered lunatics on the books of the Public Asylums ...... 2,221 1,927 4,148 In the lunacy ward at- Castlemaine ...... Bendigo ...... z I 3 Geelong ...... In licensed house ...... Total number of registered lunatics in the colony ...... 2.,zz3 t,9z8 4.151 i 4
TABLE H.-Showing the .Admissions, Re-admissions, Discharges, and Deaths in .Asylums during the Year ending 31st December, 1895.
-- :Males. Females. Total. Males. Females. Total.
In the .Asylums, ISt January, I895 ...... z,zos I ,9I I 4,II6
Cases admitted :- First admissions ...... 387 29% 679 Not first admissions ...... 53 53 106
Total cases admitted during the year ...... 440 345 785
Total cases under care during the year ...... z,645 z,zs6 4·901
Cases discharged :- Recovered ...... 115 106 ZZI Relieved ...... 25 41 66 Not improved ...... 73 68 141 Died ...... 2II I14 325
Total cases discharged and died during the year ...... 424 329 753
Remaining in the .Asylums, 31st December, 1895 (including those absent on trial and boarded out) ...... z,z2 I I,927 4·148
Average number resident during the year ...... z,us 1,804 3·929 Persons under care during the year ...... 2,579 2,187 4·766 Persons admitted ...... 374 276 6so Persons recovered ...... I I4 I05 219 Transferred from one .Asylum to another ...... 52 67 119 Escaped ...... z; I 24 Retaken ...... 11 I I2 -
TABLE III.-Showing the Previous .Attacks among Persons .Admitted during theY ear I895·
Persons. Number of Previous Attacks. Males. Females. Total.
Have bad one attack ...... 48 so 98
HaTe had two attacks ...... 7 9 I6 Have had three attacks ...... z 3 5
Have had four attacks ...... J I 2 Have had five attacks ...... I I Have had nine attacks ...... I .. . I 'faBLE IV.-Showing the Admissions, Discharges, and Deaths, with the Mean Annual Mortality and Proportion of Recoveries per Cent. of the Admissions, for each Year sinee the Ist January, I88z.
Discharged, Percentage of Recoveries Percentage of Admitted. Died. Remaining list December I Average Number Deaths on the A:verage in each Y car. ltesldeut. on Admissions. Not Number Resident. Recovered. Relieved. Year. Improved. --~-----;--- -- ~--~ ~ ~- 1-~ ~-~
:!l ~~~,; ~~~ i ~ ..:,;~~,; ~..: :l ~..: .. ~,; ~..:,; ~- o; ~ :s .; ~ ~ ~ -a ~ ~ -a ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ iii ~ ~ .; ~ ~ ~ JJ ~ ~ ~ ~ I _"-__r;;__ _:__r><_i __r;; __ :
I882 2f6 ZI91 465 Il7 I351 Z5Z I3 8 2I '" ••• ••• I38 60 I98 I,73Z l,fi5 3,If7 1,636 , 1,z63 z,899 47'56 6I'6f 54'19 8•43 4'75 6·82
1883 28z 198 480 107 117 \ 224 I I 3 If ...... IfO 49 I89 I,750 I,f43 3,I93 r,64o I,z96 2,936 37'94 59·o9 46·66 8·53 37816·43 r884 298 249 1 547 1 I45 1 145 ! z9o 8 4 12 ...... 142 67 209 I,7+9 1,479 3,228 1,66o 1,338 2,998 48·65 58·23 53'oi 8·55 s·oo 6·97
1885 2 519 14I 131 Z72 93 1 226 I I 7 5 1 12 , .•. , ... , ... 1 x47 1 76 1 223 1 1, 743 1 1,487 13,230 I x,~ 5 sl x,37o 13,030 148·u157'961sz·4o 18·8615'54\7'36
~ 1886 333 I 262 5951118 1151' 2f3 7 3 1 xo 1· .. 1· .. 1· .. 1 125 1 7f 1 199 I,8x8 1,56o 3,378 1,b94 1,421 3,II5 38·43 43·89 40'84 7'37 P7!6·38
I887 372 I 29o 66z I38 I37 275 6 2 8 1... 1... 1 ... I I 58 I So I 238 I 1,884 I 1,632 I 3.516 I 1,767 I 1,494 l3,z61 137'09147'241 41'541 8'9415'40 l7'3o
1888 267 4 I 8 .... , ... , ... 381 648 171 I36 307 4 127 90 2171 1,9661 I,66613,632 I 1,811 I,5I313'3Zfl44'88150'93147'371 7'01 15'9416'71 1889 401 26f 665 169 126 2 95 56 71 II27 ...... 153 84 237 I,980 1,647 3,627 I 1,882 1,543 3,425 4Z'I4 4-Tn 44•36 8·13 5'44 6·92
I890 438,3II 7+9 I I68 I 126 I 294 j 17 I 2414I 1'"1'''1"'1 16I ,. 103126412,o661 1,70313,7691 1,9541 1,58813,54:t 138'35140'51 139'Z5I8'2416·481 7'45
I891 f27 3 I 8 745 1 I7o 1 137 1 307 1 25 1 16 41 ...... 201 92 293 z,o9o 1,778 3,868 1,993 r,63o 3,623 39·81 43·o8 41·21 Io·o8 5·64 8·o9
1 1892 3991307! 706 IfZ 144 286 20 !22 42 ...... • 181 I102 283 2,136 t,8t8 3,954 z,o45 1,681 !3,726 35'59 46·9o f0'5I 8·85l6·o71 7'59 1893 384 296 68o I53 I02 255 25 fO 65 ••• ••• ... 177194 271 2,I6I 1,877 4,038 2,112 1,748 3,860 39'84 34·46 37'50 8•38 5'3717'02
IS9f 402 I 293 I 695 124 97 2U 21 43 64 ...... 207 'II8 325 2,205 I,911 f,116 2,119 1,793 3,912 30'84 33'1I 3I'80 9'77 6·58 8'31
1895 377 J 2771 654 liS I06 22I 25 41 66 ...... zii 1114 325 2,z21 I I,927 4,14.8 2,125 1,804 3,9z9 30·5o 38•z6 33'79 9'93 16·3zl8·z7 Total ••• 5,033 ,3,777 8,81o 1,988 1,754l3•74z 245 z86 531 ...... 2,26S)t,2o3 ;,471 - ••-. ••-. --- ..-.- z6,o96!21,482 47,580 'I 1 -~- m;-1~;~"8-6;~~~~ ~...,_ ~ -.....:] 6
TABLE V.-History of Annual Admissions since the of the first Asylum in I S48.
1 A.dmiseious. Numbers;: _I Number per 100 of Admissions. 1
• I Mules. : E'cmales. : Total. Males. Females. Total. Mnles. i Females. I Total. Dischargcd:- I Recovered .•• . .. 4·27S 3,595 J,S73 29'24 34'54 3 1'44 :Relieved...... 563 632 I, I 95 rs 5 6'07 4'77 Not improved ... . •. 3,0.p 2,1 SI 5,223 20'79 20'95 2o·S6 Died ...... 4,527 2,075 6,602 3°'94 19'93 26·36 Out on trial and boarded out on 3 Ist December, I S95 ... · ·· 6S 122 190 '46 I '17 '76 1,sos 1 2 1 -s 1 Remaining ...... ~ __._ ..__ .~ ___·_··--1----I·---.----I·---;--- 2,I 53 3·95S 4'7 17'34 5 1 1 i -'· Total ... • .• ti4,63I 10,410 I 25,041 14,631 10,410 25,o.p 100'00 '00 lloo·oo
TABLE VI.-Showing the Length of l{esidence iu those Discharged Recovered, and in those who havo Died, during the Year IS95·
Recovered, Died. Length of Uesidence.
Males~ Females. Total. Males. Females. Totnl.
Under I month ...... 3 ... 3 20 4 24 I mont.h and under 3 months ...... 22 I I 33 IS 10 2S 3 months 6 " , ...... 25 26 51 15 5 20 6 9 , ...... 14 16 30 22 4 26 " " 12 ...... t8 10 8 IS 9 " " I 5 33 I year and under 2 years" ...... IS 17 35 27 15 42 2 years 3 , ...... s 9 17 19 12 31 ,, " ...... 12 21 IS 3 " 5 " 7 5 I 39 5 , 7 ...... I 2 3 II 5 16 7 " to " ...... I6 6 2l!. 10 " " I2 " ...... I I 6 2 I 8 I2 " " IS ," ...... I I 2 " " 5 4 9 I 5 jj 20 H ... .., ...... 9 9 IS 20 ,, " 25 ll ...... 4 4 s 25 ," jo ...... s " " ...... 5 13 30 " " 35 ...... I ... I 2 ... z 3S 40 " ...... I .. . I 40 ..." " ...... " ...... ! ... ' ...... i Total ...... 106 221 2Il I If .. II5 I 32 5 TABLE VII.-Showing in Quinquennial Periods the Ages of those Admitted, Recovered, and Died during the Year 1S95, and of those Remainihg on 31st December, IS9S·
The A Total f4° 345 12,22 I I,927 ·P4S 1179 7 TABLE VIII.-Return of Patients on Probation under Section 87. -- Males. Fmtales. Total. Out on probation on Ist January, I895 .. " ...... 68 I06 I7f Allowed out during the year ...... I 56 I85 341 Total ...... 224 291 515 Recovered :- Of those allowed out during previous years ...... 29 28 57 Of those allowed out during the present year ...... 34 45 79 Total ...... 63 73 136 Died:- Of those allowed out during previous years ...... 3 3 Of those allowed out during the present year ...... 6 2 8 Total ...... 6 5 I I Written off the books under section 89 of Act I I I 3 :- Of those allowed out during previous years ...... 15 32 47 Of those allowed out during the present year ...... 8 9 I7 Total ...... 23 4I 64 Returned to Asylum at expiration of probation:- Of those allowed out during previous years ...... 13 r6 29 Of those allowed out during the present year ...... 62 54 n6 ~ Total ...... 75 70 145 Remaining under care out of the Asylums on 31st December, 1895 ... 57 102 159 TABLE IX.-Return of Patients Boarded out during 1895. lfales. I l''emales. Total. Boarded out on Ist January, 1895 ...... 13 I6 29 Allowed out during the year ...... II 3 I If Total ...... 16 I Z7 43 Returned to the Asylum by their guardians- Of those allowed out during previous years ...... 3 6 9 Of those allowed out during the present year ...... z I ---- 3 Total ••• ...... 5 7 I2 ---- Boarded out from the Asyi on 3 I st December, I 89 5 ...... II 20 31 TABLE X.-Showing the Manner in which Patients were Admitted during the Year 1895. ~ ,;j <11 £. :.:; l"l ~ ~g ~ il-' t- - f! I l! -- li .,::;.jlo- I! I ~ " "' :s .. "" 0 ~ ~" ~ Total ...... I~ z65 --;-;-r-;---;-1~1---;-1 773 Escaped patients retaken ... 4 I I ! 3 • 2 .... · I • I2 Total admissions ... 274 266 --;g~--;-~-;--~~--;-~785 TABLE XI.-Showing the Nationalities and Religious Persuasions of those admitted for the :first time during the Year 1895. Rellg101ls Persuasions. . Protestant.· Jlirthplac&s. Other Roman Pagan, Hebrew. llfa.home- Unase-er~ Total. Church Presby- Protestant Catholic. tau. ta!ned. of terian. jwesleyan. Lut11eran. Denomt- England. nations. :------:---I ------V ictoria ...... 95 38 23 I 15 86 ... I ... 8 267 Other Colonies and ·- British Possessions 9 I I ... 3 13 ... I I ... 29 E ngland ...... 95 5 I3 ... I6 I I .. . 2 ... I 143 Scotland ...... 2 34 2 ... 2 I ...... 41 I reland ...... 13 5 I ... 2 54 ...... 75 F ranee ...... Germany ...... 6 ... I ...... 7 China ...... 8 ...... 8 Other Countries ... I I I I 2 2 8 ...... I 16 Not known ... 22 5 I 2 6 18 ...... I4 68 ------Total ... --;;-Is;- 42 11 46 ~~-8 -4~-I 24 6S+ TABLE XII.-Showing the Average Number of Patients employed attending Amusements and Divine Service. Particulars. :Males. Females. ·: Total. In the Workshops (Male) Blacksmiths 10 Carpenters .•• 18 Mattress-makers I 35 Shoemakers 26 Tailors 25 3 Painters I2 Basket-makers · 4 Mat-makers 13 Engineers ••• 2 Frenchpolisher l In the Workshops (Female)- Sewing (making-up and repairing clothing) 281 281 Fancy work 39 39 Miscellaneous occupations- Working on the farm 175 , in the garden 1o6 , in the kitchen 42 , in the store 8 , in the laundry , in the W:l.I'ds and airing courts 49° , as servants at private quarters 24 , on roads and ornamental grounds 66 , in mess-rooms 9 4 Other work about the establishment 108 I7 • Amusements- Balls and concerts 561 495 1,os6 Billiards and reading room 390 6; 455 Cards, chess, dominoes, &c. 240 117 357 Bowls, cricket, croquet, football, and tennis J8I ISO 531 Walking and driving 439 325 764 School 8o 59 139 Attending divine service •.• 619 1,249 1181 9 TABLE XIII.-Showing the Total Receipts and Expenditure of the Department of Hospitals for Insane during the Year I895· Receipts. Amount. Collections by the Master-in-Lunacy for maintenance of patients at £ s. d. Yarra Bend Asylum z,I28 17 z Kew Asylum 5·439 6 8 Ararat Asylum I,I83 3 I I Beechworth Asylum 776 I9 7 Sunbury Asylum /26 z 5 Ballarat Asylum 30I 0 li Lunacy Wards 6 9 I Amount of fines Z7 I7 6 , sales 779 I8 0 Miscellaneous collections 9Z 9 8 Total r ,,46z 4 11 Expenditure. Amount. £ s. d. General expenses I,944 I7 7 Maintenance at- Yarra Bend Asylum I 9,z 5 I IS 5 Kew Asylum 24·5°9 13 7 Ararat Asylum I6,7+3 7 7 Beeehworth Asylum I 5,633 II 8 Sunbury Asylum I I,837 IZ 9 Ballarat Asylum 5.337 I5 Lunacy Ward, Bendigo 14I I 5 0 , , Castlemaine 9 3 0 , , Geelong 38 5 0 Expenses in connexion with committal and transport of lunatics I,343 I3 0 , , boarded-out patients 542 16 5 Total 97,334 6 TABL:f!: XlV.-Showing the Total Cost of 1\laintenance against each Asylum, the Sums expended against each Vote, and the Amount of the General Expenses for the Year I 89 5· Dally Clothing, Bedding, Lunatic Asylums. Average Total Cost of Salaries. Fees to Allowance to Number and .!\:Iateriul Chaplains. 1\'Iaintenancc. Omclal Yloltors. for 3lannfac:turc. Resident. i £ 8. d. £ s. d. £ 8. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. Yarra Bend ... 778 I 9,2 5 I I • 5 I0,9I9 0 4 . .. I,ZZ3 3 9 70 0 0 Kew ... 1, IOI 24.5°9 IJ' 7 12,768 3 0 ... 2,I 39 7 70 0 0 Ararat ... 6;8 I6,743 7 7 8,579 z 9 ... I ,514 14 ~ 1~I IO 0 Beech worth ... 633 15,633 I I 8 S,I 56 I6 3 ... I,IOO I I I 6o 10 0 Sunbury ... 55° I I,837 IZ 9 6,294 I3 z ... 975 I I I 72 0 0 Ballarat ... 209 5·3 37 IS I 2,66z 13 ... 460 I5 8 6o 0 0 General expenses ... I,944 I7 7 I,590 10 il I I I 5 0 ...... Total ... 3,929 9 >58 I3 8 5°.970 12 3 I I I I 5 0 7,4I 3 I4 71 464 0 0 ' Sto1'C8, Purcluum ] Medicines a1Hl ~timulan"s 1 · 1f L ' • i : Lunatic Asylq.ms. F J r i I1 t 1 :i\1 r nl Co t 31 of Htock, Books, -ue' : g 'Uill i .i tl J~ r/ n or 'Wine, Spirits, I For:t~c. i Incidentals~ 1 Amusements, &e. \Vater. I Instruments,".ur"' cal &c. Beer' &:c • I ------i----··------.-----;------1 £ s. d. £ s. d.; £ s. d. £ 8. ! £ s. d.i £ s, d. Yarra Bend 5 497 IO 8 I,oo8 8 11 I94 19 II 16I I 5 01 279 IO 7 Kew 9 875 5 11 I,so6 6 II z6o I6 0 258 I5 IO! 335 7 IO Aramt I4 462 13 1 1,235 3 IO 6 7 33 9 2i 168 0 5 Beech worth I4 330 12 8 I, 2 I 2 I 6 206 7 2 I 6 5 9 9 Sun bury IS 394 IO 626 3 I8 4 144 IOII Ballarat 0 4i I)6 18 4 I3) 3 2 31 Z IO 0 I Total No. 15. B 10 TABLE XV.-Showing the Average Weekly Cost of Maintenance of Patients for the Year I89S· Dally Collections Allowance to Lunatic Asylums. Average Total Cost of for Maintenance, Salaries. :- Clothing, Stores, ].Iedioines l)rovisions and Bedding, aud Purcbase of Fuel, Light, and Stimulants. Luuatic Asylums. Extra Articles. Material for Stock, Books, Water. and }ledlco.J Wines, Spirits, l\fanufacture, Amusements, &c. Comforts. Beer, &e. ------£ s. d. £ s. d. £ 8, d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. YarraBend ... 0 2 !; 0 0 7i 0 0 3 0 0 6 0 0 I 0 0 I 2 6.1. Kew ...... 0 0 0 9 0 0 3! 0 0 4 0 0 I 0 0 I Ararat ... 0 2 0 0 1oi 0 0 3! 0 0 8! 0 0 of 0 0 o;f Beechworth ... 0 2 ~; 0 0 8 0 0 2;! 0 0 8! 0 0 o! 0 0 It 0 2j 0 8l 0 0 0 o.l!. Sunbury ... 2 0 4 0 0 3! 0 si 4 0 0 o! Ballarat ... 0 2 S; 0 0 I o-f - 0 0 3~ 0 0 9 0 0 of 0 0 I Total ...... i ...... General expenses ...... Total Average Collections ' Weekly Cost per Patimt, Lunatic Asylums. Forage. Incidentals. Weekly Cost per Week Deducting Collections of Maintenance for Maintenance for .Maintenance, per Patient. Sales, Fees, Fines, &e. Sales:, ·Fees, Fines; &e. £ 8. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. Yarra Bend 0 0 I I.l ... 0 0 o! 0 0 I~ 9 6 4 0 8 d 6!. 6!. Kew ... 0 0 ot 0 0 It 0 8 2 0 2 0 0 6 2 0 0 0 0 0 Ararat ... 0 0 ol 0 0 11.4 9 9! 91. 9 0 61 Beechworth ... 0 0 o:f 0 0 J.l.4 0 9 5~ 0 2 0 8 ut Sunbury ... 0 0 .-.1v;r 0 0 It 0 8 3t 0 0 0 7 8! Ballarat ... 0 0 I 0 0 3 0 9 9f 0 0 0 9 z;f o.l. Total ...... 0 9 I~ 0 1 Ii 0 8 4 General expenses ...... 0 0 zi ----- ············-- TABLE XVI.-Showing the Admissions, Re-admissions, Discharges, and Deaths during the Year ended 31st December, I89s, in the Lunacy Wards at Bendigo, Caatlemaine, and Geelong. ---- ' ~~ 1_::::1:~[_:::_.::_ Total. In the wards Ist January, 1895 ...... Cases admitted:-- First admissions ...... s6 26 j 82 1-· Total cases admitted during the year ...... s6 z6 82 -----,--- Total cases under care during the year ...... s6 ! 26 82 Cases discharged :- Recovered ...... 20 5 2S Relieved ...... I I Not improved ...... 34 17 51 Died ...... 2 2 ------Total cases discharged and died during the year ...... 54 25 79 Remaining in the wards 3 ut December, 1895 ...... ,-2-1 I 3 11 TABLE XVII.-Showing the Number of Patients Visited and the Number of Miles Travelled by the lnl'lpector of Lunatic Asylums during the Year 1895· I : Number of Pa.tients Number of Miles Number of Patients Number of Miles on Day of Visit. Tmrelled. on Day of Visit. Travelled, Pl&ce and Dat~ of Vil!it. ... ~ Place and Date of Visit. Number. Total. :Number. Tota.l. Number. Tota.l. :Number. Total. I --- i :---- Yarra Bend- Beech worth- 23rd March ... 762 ... 2 21st February 640 ... 345 3oth March ... 765 ... 2 23rd Mtty ... 641 .. . 345 24th ,June ... 758 ... 2 I 5th August •.. 633 ... 345 z6th June ... 762 ... 2 zoth November 63I ... 345 24th September t,J80 78I ... 2 Sun bury- -- z,)f5 ---· 28th September 2 785 ... z8th February 2 ... 3oth September 788 ... 2 55 f9~ 17th December 2 9th May ... 5)1 ... f9i 8os ... sth June ...... 21st December 809 ... 2 556 f9t z6th August ... 556 ... f92. 28th December 8oz ... 2 18th September ... 7,817 20 549 f9i -- -- 18th November 553 ... 49i 28th November 550 ... f9i . Kew"' 19th December 550 ... 49i I Ballarat- -- f,4I7 396 7th March ... 20) ... zo6 I Ararat- 19th June ... 212 ... 206 Ifth March ... 670 ... 320 7th October ... 2I3 ... zo6 zoth June ... 667 ... I If 1oth December 213 ... zo6 I Ith September 654 ... 320 -- 8f3 -- 8Zf 1 I th December 653 ... I If -- z,644 -- 868 Total ...... t8,z66 ... 3,f88 • Inspected by Board of Official Visitors. Changes in the Distribution qf the Insane- In Yarra Bend, an increase of IO Kew, an increase of 8 Cottages for Idiots, an increase of 2 I Ararat, a decrease of I 3 Beechworth, an increase of 3 Sun bury, an increase of 9 Ballarat, an increase of 7 No new buildings were provided at any of the asylums during the year, and pressure on the dormitory accommodation at the metropolitan asylums, due to new admissions, was relieved by periodically transferring patients to vacancies in the country institutions. The cottages for idiots, however, are now somewhat overcrowded, and additional sleeping room is much required. Admissions.-There were 6 50 persons admitted during the year, or 42 fewer than during the previous twelve months. The new cases, i.e., those who had not been at any prior time under treatment in an asylum, numbered 5'27· The remainder, I23, had previously suffered from attacks of insanity, 9 8 once, I 6 twice, 5 thrice, 2 four times, I five times, and I nine times. The estimated population of Victoria on 3 I st December, I 8 9 5, being I, I 8 I, 769, the number of persons entering the asylums, 65o, was equal to I to every I,8I8 of the general population. A corresponding comparison for last year gives I patient to I,704 of the population. The proportion in New South \'Vales was I in I,774· At the end of the year there was I registered insane person in Victoria to every 28 5 of the estimated population, as compared with I to every 286 of the previous year. In New South \'Vales the proportion was I in 343· Since the asylums were first established, in I 848, 2 5,04I patients have been admitted. Of these, 7,873, or 31'44 per cent., have been discharged as recovered, I,I95, or 4'77 per cent., as relieved, and 5,223, or 2o·86 per cent., without any apparent 12 improvement, this latter number, however, includes transfers from one asylum to another. The number of deaths, 6,6o2, was equal to 26·.36 per cent. On 3ISt Decemher, I895, I9o patients were tmder enre amongst fl'iends, or hoarded out, and 3,958 remained in the asylums, equnl to I5'8r per cent. of all the admissions. . Disclta1'.[!:es.-The discharges during the year num he red 7 53, these figures in cludmg 22I who had recovered, 66 relieved, 141 who were returned as not improved -I I9 of whom were transferred from one asylum to another-and 32 5 deaths. Recoveries.-The recoveries, 22I, were equal to 33'79 per cent. on the admis sions. This is an improved ratio on that of last year, but not as high as the average for the previous I 3 years, which was 43 ·I 7 per eent. It must be remembered, however, that, during the past few years, the number of" relieved" cases has sensibly increased, due to the operation of the probationary system. During I 89 5, 66 patients were so diselmrgetl, equ:d to I0'09 per cent. on the admissions. In the majority of the cases admitted during the year the forms of insanity were very unfavorable to reeovery. In Kew Asylum, for instance, half the number of males reeei,·ed were suffering from general paralysis, and a large proportion of the remainder were afflicted with senile dementia, epilepsy, and idiocy. JJ!Ioriality.-The deaths numbered 325, or 8·27 per cent., on the daily average numbers resident. This is about the same rate as last year's, hut higher than the previous I 3 year's average, 7 '2 I. The inereased death rate was due to the unfavor able nature of the admissions, and not to the outbreak of contagious or preventable diseases. '· Casualties.-The casualties were not numerous or serious, and do not call for special remark. Probation.-The system of allowing harmless patients to leave the asylums, under the care of their friends, continues to work satis£'lctorily. During the year, 5 I 5 patients were at different periods on probation. Of this number, I 36 were discharged as reeovered, 64 as relieved, I I died, and I45 returned to the asylums, leaving I 59 on trial with friends at the end of the year. Boarding Out.-At the beginning of the year 29 patients were under the care of paid guardians, and 14 more were allowed out during the year. Twelve patients were returned to the asylums, and 3 I remained out on 3 Ist December. Fire Extinction.-A wooden cottage having been burned down at the Idiot Asylum, the inadequate water supply to many of the buildings \vas again brought under notice, and an increased supply obtained for the Idiot Asylum and the Kew farm buildings, and new mains are being laid down at Yarra Bend Asylum. The in1prove ments urgently necessary at the other institutions are under consideration, but the expense involved in carrying out the recommendations has, so far, prevented final action. Works and Buildings.-The Yarra Bend and Sunbury Asylums are in urgent need of new laundries, the present ones being not only unsuitable for the work but a source of danger to the persons employed in them. A special approval was obtained for carrying out some improvements iu the drainage of the Beechworth Asylum, but many other important works have to stand over until a larger Public Works vote is made available. '-· Sta:ff.-Lectures on nursing were given in all the asylums, and arrangements are now being made which it is hoped will in a few years provide the Department with a staff of well-trained attendants and nurses. Cost of Maintenance.-The total expenditure of the Department during the year was £97,334 6s. Id. Deducting from this amount the cost of maintaining lunacy wards, £I 89 3s.; of committal of lunatics by magistrates, £ I,343 I 3s.; expenses of boarding OUt patients, £542 I 6s. 5d.; and of general expenses and official visitation, £1,944 qs. 7d., there remains £93,3 I 3 I 6s. I d. as the actual cost of main tenance. For an average daily number of 3:929 patients this gives a weekly rate of 9s. I ~d. per patient, as compared with 9s. 6~d. for the preceding year. The Master in-Lunacy made eollections to the amount of £10,561 19s. 9d., and £9oo ss. 2d. from 13 sales and fines was paid into the general revenue. If these collections are deducted from the Asylum expenditure the "Weekly maintenance rate 'vould be reduced to 8s. o:ld. This is an exceptionally low rate, and is chiefly due to the great reduction in contract rates for supplies for the year. Next year, however, a considerable increase in the expenditure must be anticipated, as the contracts already let are at enhanced rates. CLASSIFICATION OF pATIENTS. About nine years ago the idiot children in the different asylums were removed from contact with the adult patients, and placed in an institution by themselves, thus enabling a special system of training to be carried out, and which has resulted in considerable improvement to many of the children. The separation of the adult patients in sueh a manner as to allow of special treatment being adopted for diff(•rent classes, as is now done in most other countries, would, no donht, he found valuable in carrying on the work of the Department. The removal of the epileptics from the general wards of the asylums would have a beneficial effect on the other patients ; and, in my opinion, it would he very advisable to place them in an institution hy themselves, where it would be possible for them to receive more special care and attention than can be given under present conditions. One of the :Melbourne asylums might he better equipped for the medical treatment of acute cases, and as Kew could he best adapted for this work, it is suggested that all new cases he received at that institution, where the patients could have the benefit of the most modern medical treatment. Authority would be required for the speedy transfer of suitable cases to Yarra Bend, as the cottages there could he made available for quiet patients. The removal of the epileptics from both asylums would have to precede these reforms. No asylum has yet been erected for paying patients, hut special efforts have been made at Kew to meet the requirements of this class, and the fact that the pay ments at this one asylum came to £5,439 6s. 8d. would seem to indicate that the friends of patients are willing to pay for special attention. The Master-in-Lunacy received, altogether, the sum of £ IO, 56 I I 9s. 9d., as payment for maintenance of patients in the asylums during the year, and it is possible that this amount could be much increased if better accounnodatioH were available. The removal of the epileptics, as already recommended, would enable fmther improvements being made at Kew for private patients, and in the Yana Bend cottages those who were quiet and harmless could be comfortably accommodated. I have the honour to be, Sir, Your most obedient servant, J. V. McCREERY, Inspector of Lunatic Asylums. The Honorable the Chief Secretary. By Authority: RoDT. S. DRAIN, Government Printer, Melbourne.