1860-1.

VICTORIA.

PROGRESS REPORT

FROM THE

SELECT COMMIT'l'EE

1"HE LUNATIC ASYLUM;

TOGETHER WITH

THE MINUTES OF EVIDENCE AND APPENDICES.

Ordered by tke Legislative Assembly to be printed,:14th June, 1861.

.lJ \Ilut~llti't!!:

JOHN FERRES, GOVERNMENT PRINTER, MELBOURNE.

D.-No. 31.

EXTRACTED FROM THE VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS. . ,

FRIDAY, 19TH APRIL, 1860.

LUNATIC ASYL'mI."-Mr: J;-'S. ';Johnston"moved, 'pursuant 'to'amended notice, That a·,Select Committee be appointed to enquire' ifito the condition and 'inanagemeilt of the ;Yarra B:end nunatic Asylum, ahd of Criminal Lunatics, 'with power~:to send for persons, aud'papers' ;,~thtee'to form a quorum;' such Committee to consist of Mr. Heales; Dr. l\;facadam, Mr. Don, Mr.O'Shanassy, Mr. Mollison, Dr. Hedley, Mr. Michie, Mr. Hadley, Mr. Gil~spie, Mr. Greeves, and the Mover; and that the Evideuce taken before the Lanatie Asylum Committee last Session be referred to this Committee.

Question-put and resolved in the affirmative.

.,~-- ... ,---­. ,--.,- .. ---",.",""~ ... ~.

PROGRESS REPORT.

THE Select Committee appointed by Your Honorable House to enquire

into the condition and management of the Yarra Bend Lunatic Asylum

have the honor to bring up a Progress Report, with the Evidence taken

before this Committee and the Evidence referred to it, for the purpose

of enabling Dr. Bowie to bring forward such evidence as to the allegations

therein as he may think fit.

Committee-room, 14th June, 1861.

M I NU T E SOF ]J V IDE N C 1~. .

FRIDAY, 17TH MAY, 1861.

Members present: MR. J. S. JOHNSTON, in thl? Chair;

Mr. Mollisoll, Mr. Gillespie. Dr. Hedley,

William McCrea, Esq., M.D., examined. 1. By Mr. Mollison.- What is your position with reference to the Asylum now ?-I w. MeCrell,B6Q ..

have nothing to do with it; it was taken out of my, department altogether from the 1st of 17tb ~~~:'1861. January.

2. What was the nature of the control yon exercised over it previously ?-It was part of my department: all the requisitions and everything came through my department, and I had entire. control over Dr. Bowie's movements. I did not exercise that control more than I could possibly ,help. I did not interfere for instance, with the taking on of attendants, or anything of that kind, nor with the discharge of them until after a number of complaints had been made to me that they were discharged improperly; and then I desired that on all occasions when Dr. Bowie found it necessary to discharge an attendant he would suspend him, and inform me of the circumstances.

3. You considered it part of you duty t.o speak to Dr. Bowie with respect to the diet and treatment of particular patients ?-Not with reference to the treatment of particular patients, unless it was brought under my notice in any way. I 'was one of the Board of Visitors, and if I saw any necessity for taking action in any particular case I did so.

4. And you no longer give that particuhtr attention ?-No . . . 5. How was it intimated to you to discontinue this superintendence ?-1 got a simple

intimation from the Government that, after the lst of January 1 was to discontinue my duties in connection with the Lunatic Asylum. I asked why it was done, and why it was taken out. of my department; and the only answer I got was, that it was considered more conducive to the well conduct of the establishment that I should have nothing more to do with it.

6. Then the head of that establishment is in communication now directly with the Chief Secretary?-Exactly so. '.

7. Then as to the requisitions how are they managed ?-Shortly after this the Chief Secretary wrote to me to ask if I would undertake the financial part of the Lunatic Asylum, that is to say, check the requisitions and take all the superintendence of the financial part of it. It was quite necessary that'it should be done by somebody, and he asked me if 1 would do this, and I said I had no oqjection to do anything that would be of service to thc Government; but after It short time I found that the financial part of the thing imolved really the control of the whole establishment; and I intimated this to the Chief Secretary, and my opinion that it would be desirable that the financial part and everything should be under one head and that I might be. released from it, which was done, and I have bcen relieved of that.

8. By the Chairman.-Has Dr. Bowie entire and undivided control now, then P-Re­has, I believe. I have no doubt he has. I need scarcely say that I was a good deal surprised at the depal'tment being taken out of my hands; because I believe it is evidence before this Committee, 'of which Mr. Heales was a member, that the department had very much improved under my management; and the asylum is now in all infinitely improved state to what it was before 1 took it in my hands; and most of those improvements were suggested by me or by the Board of Visitors.

9. By .Mr. Mollison.-Did Mr. Heales give you any special reason for withdrawing it from your management ?-No ; I asked what the special reason was, and he said because it was deemed by the Government that it would conduce to the better regulation of the Asylum.

10. By Dr. Hedley.-Up to the time that you discontinued the superintendence of the Asylum, were you satisfied with the condition and management of it ?-Never.

II. In the time that intervened between your last examination Il.nd the period of the Asylum being removed from your department, were you satisfied with its management P-No ; it was one paIi of my department that 1 was always ·ashamed of. •

~2: Can ;:ou suggest to the Committee any mode by which the management might, in your opllllOn, be Improved; from your experience up to the end of last year ?-1 think the only possibility of improving the Asylum is by getting a superintendent out from England, who ~horoughly understands the modern conduct of asylums. I believe it to be impossible to improve It under the present management. During nearly the whole time I had it in my department almost every attempt at improvement I made in the Asylum was either resisted or thwarted b1' Dr. Bowie. When I took the Asylum in hand, when it came into my department, there wag. D.-No. 31, a.

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W.McCrea,Esq., not a knife or fork, or a table cloth, or a single bit of decency apparent at any of the meals. ~.?~. The lunatics were set down to their meals with the meat in a lump in a tin plate, with nothing

17th MaT. 1861. but a spoon. There was a very large amount of restraint at the Asylum, at that time, and no games of amusement of any description for the lunatics, and no library for them; all that has been altered since it has been under my management.

13. Has. it eve!' occurred to you that the superintendence of the Asylum might be advantageously divided into two branches, one to superintend the domestic arrangements' and the other the medical part ?-I think it might, but then the medical man should have the superintendence of it. In a large asylum that division is quite necessary.

14. By Mr. ltlollison.-Have you sent in. the usual annual report ?-1 have sent it in since-the department was taken out of my hands-it was delayed for some time. I was obliged to get some returns of the sickriess of ' the asylum for the year from Dr. Bo-\vie, which he said were delayed in consequence of the books being before this Committee. I did not get those till March. That has been the ,principal cause of the delay in sending in the report as to the asylum. .,. .

15. Then the Chief Secretary must now rely upon the report of Dr. Bowie as to the state of the asylum ?-And the Board of Visitors. .

16. They do not report directly to him, do they ?-Yes, a report of the :Board of Visitors always goes direct to him. I was chairman of the Board of Visitors, and I sent every month the report of the Board of Visitors to the asylum.

17. That is besides the remarks made in the book ?-Yes;' the remarks in the book are made only when somi3thing part'icular occurs, but the general report of the state of the asylum is contained in the monthly report to the Chief Secretary.

18. By Dr.' Hedle1J.-It appears from the evidence of Mr. Robert Coates, who was examined in February, l859, t,hat the attendance upon the lunatics was then very i1efective' ; that persons were allowed t.o die without any person being present at the time ; that they were found dead sometime afterwards when the bodies were cold; and, that the patients were allowed to lie in their filth for a 'time, and so on. Have you any reason to believe that in the latter part of your management of the asylum that was remc!1ied ?~I' do not believe it was. I have some evidence here which was not put before the Committee, it, is a report I made as chairman of the Visitors to the asylum on the 9th. of August. This is one of tl18 monthly reports, ~hich will answer the question as to whether the siek were properly attended to. I find on this occasion that they were not.-[ Tlte witness read tlle same 1cltielt is as follows] :-

YARRA BEND ASYLm-r.

EXTUACT FROM VIS1TORS' REPORT TO THE HONORAULE TilE 'CHIEF SECllETARY liOR TilE MO'N'rH OF JULY, 1860.

In F ward the Board observed a patient named Antonio Vicari sllllt in a dark wooden donnitory, ~ith both legs greatly swelled and covered with foul ulcers, uot clenn, and without dressing or poultice of any kind. Another lunatic, named John Monckton, was found in a similar cell sufft?ring from dysenetry ; he had paSSed bis stool in the corner of the cell, where it remained, smelling vcry badly, and he was found eating potatoes and mutton chop, though Dr. Bowie said he was dying. Another lunatic, named Germain, was found in a ·similar cell; this patient's head appeared to have been hlistered the previous day, but the blistering ointment was not cleaned off and his head was very di rty ; . there was no dressillg of any kina on it.

Another lunatic, named John Forf1, was found in a similar cell; he }lad a large abscess in one of his ears, full of matter, and req niring to he opened, and there was no poultice or covcring of any kind 011 it. On referring to the sick record, which merely contained the names anf1 the n;edicines prescribed, the Board.follnd no record of any of the aboye names, exccpt that of Germain The Board wcrc of opinion that these four lunatics had been greatly' neglected, and that the diet of :Moneltton was most unsuitable for a man suffering from dysentery, and in such a state that the "uperintendent said he could not live. It appears Dr. Bowie had been ill for some time, aud had only the day betcH'e ;'cturned to his f1uty, an excuse the Board were willing to admit as far as it went; but the want of discipline aml proper managemcllt was painfully cviuent, and the conduct of the attendants in palliating and excusing the neglect highly reprehensible.

, '19, Is there any daily report book, in wllich the daily state of every 'sick lunatic is entered ?-There was proposed. to be a record. The ouly record we could get was a list of the names and the medicines prescribed-there was no statemcn t of their symptoms. Dr. Bowie kept no rough copy then to make the siek book up with afterwards, and he stated 'that the sick book was before this Committee. Three or four of the men were not on t,}w sick list at all.

20. Do not you think it very desirable that such a book as I have alluded to should be kept, in which the state of every sick lunatic sllOuld be entered ?-I do, I Wl'ot~ to Dr. Bowie on one occasion, requesting him to' do so, and asking him why it was not the case. Having some idea that he did not keep a proper book, I required him to put t.he hook before the Board, but he evaded it repeatedly, and never such a book was laid before the Board ..

21. It appears from the evidence of the same person that vermin swarmed ill the different cells; do you know whether it still continues or did at the termim1tl0n of your superintendence? -':'It does to a certain extent; they are wooden buildings, and it is nearly impossible to eradicate the bugs. At the flame time I believe that Dr. Bowie bas made use of all means in his' power to eradicate those things; but t,hat from the nature of the buildillgr; it is impossihle. We have them in the different gaols and penal establishment", and find it impossihle to eradicate them ili~' . . .

22. B!Jltlr. Afollison.-Did you make any official remonstrance 011 the establishment being withdnnvn from your superintendence ?-No remonstrance; I asked wh)' it was done, I did not make any other remonstrance.

23. By the, Chairman.- What medic!)l men, fH'e on the ,Board of Visitors ?-Dr. Raaes and Mr. Barker.

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24. That is the only thing in the nature of medical supervision now existing?-Exactly so. ·w. ~eCrea.B.q .•. 25. By Dr. Hedley.-From the report you have now laid before the Committee, it "",,~!!;;a .

appears that Dr. Bowie's sickness is likely to interfel:e with the proper attendance upon the 17th May, UiGL

lunatics at auy timer-Such would appear to be the case. 26. Do not you think it desirable that there should be an assistant-superintendent who

should be It medical man also ?-There is an assistant-superintendent who· is a medical man. This was manifestly It result of the system. I have no doubt in my own mind if Dr. Bowie had been well it would have been the same thing.

27. Do you think that it being compulsory upon the superintendent and tlle assistant superintendent to make a daily entry in the report book of the sta,te of the sick would be a great check upou this kind of neglect?-I do; no doubt about it.

:!8. It would also enable the visitors to judge of the treatment and progres\,! of every ease?-Yes. .

29. By tlte Chairman.-IIave you been out to the asylum since the recent alterations?­Yes; there were some lunatics to discharge. Part of my duty before was to discharge lunatics; and before they had mltde any arrangements to g~t any other medical man to go out and discharge lunatics, there were some to discharge. I think in the month of January, and I was requested to go out and discharge them, which I did.

30. And you saw some of the more recent improvements or alterations in the building ?­Yes; the uew buildings were not inhabited at the time.

31. And the new yards r-Tsaw everything that was done, up to the first of January. 32. Do you approve of the alterations that have been lately made there ?-All those that

were made up to the 1st .January I approved of. There was one altemtion made in the treat­ment of the sick after the affair alluded to in the extract previously read; instead of having them shut up in close cells, Pl'. Bowie had several of the cells knocked into one, and made a hospi.tal, which was better. I suggested that they should be removed to the stone part of the building, on the male side, the same as on the female side where there is a very good hospital; but Dr. Bowie with his usual resistance to everything proposed by me, said he would get a hospital up in !Inother war and he got those cells, three or four of them. knocked into one, and made a great improvement; it was still a wooden building but very much better than it was before.. . .

33. By Dr. Hedle.y.-Are you aware of the present construction of the day yard adjoining the new building ?-There were no lunatics taken into it while I was there; it was not occupied at the time the Asylum was taken out of my department.

34. Are the duties of the assistant-superintendent defined in any way?-Yes, I sent instructions from my office when he was appointed.

35. Have you those instruetions with you ?-No; but I can furnish a copy of them to the Committee.

The witness witltdrew.

Samuel Parker, Esq., examined. 36. B.Y Dr. Hedley-What is your profession ?-A civil engineer. I have been for a s. P.r~.r, Esq .•

long time acquainted with Dr. Howie, I was living at the asylum with him for two years ;;ome 17th May,l$OI.

time ago, and I have been staying there for a few days recently and am stopping there with him still.

37. Have you been in the habit of going round the wards with him ?-I went round with him one day this week, about ten o'clock, to one part of the Asylum, and about half-past two o'clock, round the wards of the upper cottages, and then again in the evening, and saw every patient in the lower part of the Asylum, that was merely for lily own curiosity ill seeing the patients; that was one day and I suppose would serye fairly for the routine of the other days. 1 am aware that at that time Dr. Bowie took notice of the condition of the patients, and I recollect he was absent in the evening, I enqnired were he was and I was told, "Oh, he is entering up his patients' book." So that I suppose he takes his notes and enters them up afterwards.

38. Have you had an opportunity of ascertaining. whether that which you saw is the daily routine ?-I have only been round the Asylum once with Dr. Bowie during my present visit, but I have seen him going in the same directions, at the same times and I believe that it is his daily routine, every o.ne seemed to be prepared fo1,' his visit at the time at which he went.

39. Do you know the Assistant· Superintendent ?-Yes. 40. Does he accompany Dr. Bowie in his rounds ?-No ; I have seen Dr. Callan several

times. I generally go to bathe in the Yarra every morning and I have generally seen Dr. CaHall about half-past seven or eight down at the old part of the Asylum visiting the patients, I believe he resides in the new part, I know of an instance of two or three men having been very sick .during the last ten days and a report was always brought to Dr. Bowie by Dr. Callan between 10 and II in the evening as to t1W state of those patients, and also before breakfast in the morning. .

41. When you accompanied Dr. Bowie on his rounds, were the notes that you speak of made on a piece of paper, or in a book ?-A piece of paper; many that' were sick, he would take a note of; for instance, one man who had a very bad leg, he seemed to note the condition of that leg; another man, to whom he thought it necessary to apply !!omething to his chest, he took a note of that; but any person only not being very well, and lying in bed, he did not take a note of. There is one thing, perhaps, the Committee would allow me to say: I have had a great many years' experience in sanitary matters; I was concerned with the Commissioners of

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lih'!iarlter;F.iiq.; SeWel'saria Water' Supply in Londoll ; and I 'think it wbuld be 'absolutely' essential' to th'e 17t'ir~~t~1s61. healtkof that Asylum that some immediate steps should be taken '\\Tith regard to draiIiing the

"~v. ,.:,." site.of the new building, and that every day that is lost in it ·is It matter involving almost:th~,

F. F. Kaweral1, Esq.,

12th Jlllle 1861.

lives of those resident in it. The other day I saw eighteen inches of water perfectly stagnant; and green, lying immediately in front of the women's ward of the ·new building. I took the depth Of it myself, al1dalso saw it lying ill the hollows over the whole surface. :

42.'. By If'Ir. jJfollison.-What is the depth of those pools of' water?i-About eighteen' inches-this one in particular; but they are so widelY'spread, ·and the soil so ·ten!tciousJ that' anything like athot sun would engender malaria there. As a practical man,. 1. consider that it will cost £400 or £500 before it can by any means be thoroughly drained; it will requirMl. whole system of underground drainage.,.

43. By Dr. Hedley.-Do you think such a system of dralllage as is usually adopted for the drainage of tenacious soil in agricultural districts is such as is required ?-Yes, that is just: what I should adopt.

The witness withdrew. Adjourned to Thursday next, at eleven o'clock.

WEDNESDAY, 12TH JUNE, 186!.

Members present: MR, J. S. JOHNSTON, in the Chair;

Mr. Greaves, I 0 Ml;. Heales. -Mr. Don,

Frederick F. Kawerau, Esq., examined.

44. By Mr. Greeves.-You are employed in the Public Works Office ?-I am. 45. Are you acquainted with the grounds of the Yarra Bend Lunatic Asylum ?-Yes. 46. Have you seen there any accommodation for the keeping of pigs ?-Yes, there is

such accommodation. . 47. To what extent is tlie accommodation-what number .of' pigs do you suppose it

would accommodate ?-I am not exactly acquainted with, the amount of accommodation for a. number of pigs, but I should say a good number could be kept-perhaps twenty pigs.

48. You are satisfied of that?-I think so. . '; 49. How long is it since you saw the place ?-It is a good time since-:I think it may be

about nine months or so that I was through that I) art of it. I am generally out at the Asylum once ev~ry week, but do not always go over the whole of the grounds. I shall be out there to-morrow; but I think the pigsties are empty, there was no pig in it when I was there.

50. By .Mr. Don.-What space do you suppose would be required for the keeping of a pig-how many square feet ?-I should say a space of about six feet square might possibly accommodate two.

. 51. You give that as your opinion as a practical man-that six feet square, that is-three feet long and two feet broad, will accommodate two pigs ?-I beg your pardon, six feet by six feet.

. 52. That would be enough for two pigs; and you base your calculation, that this place would hold twenty pigs upon the fact that two pigs could be accommodated in six feet square? -I wish you distinctly to understand that I did not measure the place at all. It wa~ only a casual glance I had. I .

53. If' you give an opinion upon a casual glance, let us know that, but recollect that your opinions given here will go out as from a practical man-did you actnally measure the place and find that the twenty pigs, at the rate of two pigs to each six feet square could live there? -I believe I have stated that I have not gone there to measure the place-for the exact purpose of doing 80. I give this from a visit--an occasional visit-to the Asylum when I saw the place, and ;r think there may be about twenty pigs possibly accommodated in it. I have not measured it.

54. By Mr. Greeves.-What is your estimated measurement of the length and breadth of the place ?-I am not prepared to say at this moment, being a long time since I saw it. I did not know that I should be asked the question. .

55. Can you give us from recollection an estimated measurement ?-J think the sties'are perhaps some twenty feet or thirty feet long-I think 80, but I wish not to be too particular because I really have not measured it.

56. Do you think twenty pigs could live in that space comfortably ?-I think so. There is a fence round it-they could live·within the fence if it were desired to keep so maIiy~

57. By tlte Chairman.-Will you measure the exact dimensions of the shed and thee exact dimensions of the enclosure ?-I will.-( Vide Appendix B.)

The witness witltdrew.

Adjourned to Friday next, at eleven o'clock.

APPENDIX A.

To the Chief Architect. Rew, 9th April, 1859. Sm,

The conviction on my part that it was an error of Parliament to vote the sum of £20,OQO this year "towards a Lunatic Asylum," with the view of its b~ing expended in the enlargement of the Yarra Bend Asylum, induces me to submit to your consideration my views on the subject of Lunatic Asylums for the Colony ~f Victoria; and I beg you will not consider it presumptive on my pll.rt that I thus perhaps overstep the strict limits of my official position, but to believe me that I am influenced only by tho earnest desire to do my duty, and to assist in promoting, as far as in my power, the situation of those unfortunate beings whom the Almighty in his wisdom has suffered to be deprived of their reasou, and which have hitherto been not properly cared for in this colony.

It is now more than four years since first public attention was drawn to the improper state of the arrangements at the Yarra Bend Asylum, in consequence of which a Commission was appointed to inspect the same, and to report accordingly. This report was brought up in due time, and as the arrangements of the asylum, as well as the site of the same, were pronounced "1l1ifit," the then Legislative Council resol Yed to erect a new Lunatic Asylum near Melbourne, embodying the most receut improvements, as adopted ill such buildings in Great Britain and the Continent.

Ha ving had from the time of my earliest professional career a predilection for buildings of this and a similar nature, and consequently having directed my studies particularly toward5 this end, I was extremely gratifie(l that it fell to my lot to work out the pIau for a Lunatic Asylum then prujected by Government. That this plan was not without merit was admitted by several gentlemen whose experience qualified them to express au opinion on it. However, this plan fell to the ground, perhaps from the apparently great sum its cost was estimated; and auother parliamentary committee, and subsequently a Royal Cummission, was appointed on the subject of a new Lunatic Asylum.

All these committees and commissions werc unanimous in condemning the present establishment in its arrangements and site; and in conformity with the instructions from His Excellency the Governor, the noyal Commissiun, after duly considering the subject, caused a new plan to be drawn, which work again I had the honor to perform.

The defeat of this scheme in Parliament, at the commencement of this year, caused Government to adopt the course now being followed, namely, H to enlarge tlui present establishment" by a nnmber of cottages. placed in a separate group, and without connection with the present ltsylulD, or a group of similar. erections built last year as a temporary relief to the asylum.

The present main as.1!lu11l is a congregate of stone, brick, wood, iron, and canvas erections, put up at different times as the immediate wants were felt, but without a shadow of a systematic plan, and the greatest number of them are, as it stands, in the highest degree unfit for the pnrpose they are emcted.for.

The two original buililings (stone) have been built about twelve or fourteen years ago, when the now nJmost universally adopted "non-restraint system" in the treatment of the insane was less known, and the architect had not the advantage to form his plan upon the experience of later years, now at his service; and accordingly the arrangements are .... ery imperfect.

'When the gold discoveries drew thousands and thousands of new arrivals to ollr shores, it was but natural that the number of insane also rapidly increased, the more as disappointment in their expectations to a great many caused the loss of their reason, und the want of accommodation was soon felt. To supply as soon as it wus required this defect in a permanent manner was impossible in those times, and so the wretched wooden erections sprung up, and wore no doubt at the time a great boon to the colony.

In 1856 two new stone wings have been erected, but certainly not planned as could be desircd for an institution of this kind; but although I personally had nothing to do with their erection, I knmv that the same WE're designeil with the view of being converted into a female penitentiary as soon as the contempluted new LUnfttic Asylulll would be finished-a fact whIch certainly excuses thc architect, who otherwise would deserve censure for having paid so little regard to the requirements of the subjcct he had to deal with.

As to the unfitness of tIre arrangements of tIre main asylum I scarcely r.eed say anything more; a very cursory glance over it will make it patent to everyone.

In accordanee with the recommendation of the Chief Medical Officer there has been erected last year a group of wooden cottages, as a temporary measure, quite detached from the main asylum, and has been designated to the use .of the convalescents of' both sexes, for which purpose it seems to have answered very well.

This result has led to the erroneolls idea that such cottages in general are the most fit habitations for tbe insane (excluding nuturally violent patients) which is contrary to all experience gained in the old countries; and even in our own case here it has been frequently difficult to draft a sufficient number of patients from the main asylum to fill the cottage., although only 12Q patients can be accommoilated therein.

The erection of eight new cottages to accommodate 112 more convalescents will increase this difficnlty and therefore not give all the advantage expected therefrom.

The completely detached position from all other parts of the Asylum is in my opinion only excusable if it is the intention to make this group of cottages the nncleus for a more systematically arranged estab­lishment.

That the present site is condemnable is a f',tct which is not so universally admitted as the insufficiency of the arrangements, and I believe that this is attributable to the very natural and great dislike of the present superintendent to leave the Yarra Bend, and who. therefore, maintains the site to be fit in every respect for a Lunatic Asdnm. I differ from him in this respect, and consider the site not well snited for the purpose, and I 'am borne out in this opinion by many medical men of experience.

Dr. Bowie names in favor of the site its seelusion from all view, whilst all authorities demand a cheer­ful view from a Lunatic Asylnm as of the highest importance for the patients. It is further said, that its isolated situation, enclosed on almost all sides by the riYer, prevents deterioration of tIle value of adjoining property if sitnated elsewhere; but it is a fact, that in the old countries wherever an Asylum was erected, villages soon have sprung up around or near them, and the value of the land was tripled in a very short space of time. I may mention here that several of the inhabitants of Rew who signed the petition against the erection of the Asylum at Rew, are long ago very sorry for it, feeling they have acted then contrary to their interest.

Withont going into such points which more particnlarllshould be dccidc(l by medical men, I need only draw your attention to the surrounding hills which makc it possible to overlo;Jk different grounds of the patients, an1 even to converse with them. At:.ot1:er great fault in my opinion b, that the Asylum on three D -No. 31, b: 1

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sides is narrowly" enclosed by the ri vcr, and therefore those patients which try t{) escape, are Iilituraiiy induceil to swim the river, and, 'as in the case on the 27th March last, get drowned, an occurrence not single in the history of the Yarra Bend, Other patients, bent upon self-destruction, is afforded a great inducement hy the close proximity of the river. Thenew cottages will be erected on about the highest spot on the whole reserve, but the situation of same, although comparath-ely better, will by no means be such as is almost indispensable from a proper Asylum, in which the cure of tl,e curable, and the comfort of the incurable, is the main object. It has been said as argument in favor of the site, that the statistics of this Asylum bear favorable comparison w'ith those at home a"s to the number of patients cured in same, but there are other reasons for this fact than the influence of the site of the building.

A glance over the police reports will show that many discharged as "cured" figure, in a short space'of iime after such discharge, again as lunatics in the courts: but under existing circumstances the superintendent is forced to discharge, as many as possible to make room for more pressing cases, the accommodation in this ,Asylum, bad as it is, the only procurable for the insane of small or no means. Another reason for the comparative large of cm'cd may be found in the fact, that many cases of insanity here, are only over-excitement from intemperance or otherwise, a disorder which naturally soon gives way to temperance quiet, and strict order, the patient is subjected to, but neither site nor arrangement of the Asylum are of peculiar influence in such cases.

After, so for many years, from reasons which it is not necessary to go further into, it has been in contemplation to .provide a proper Lunatic Asylum, worthy of the colony, and in every respect calculated to assist the proper treatment of the insane, it certainly will be now time for Government to carry out these contemplations, and with the intention to prepare such steps as will for next ?lear be found necessary, I now beg to explain what I consider the most advantageous arrangements, both with regard to economy and efficiency of the new ·erections.

That nm': erections for one or more Lunatic Asylums are necessary, is I believe generally admitted, and it becomes now therefore the question-where? on which place? and at what cost? they should be built.. And, taking my views on the present establishment for granted-what slIall become of the buildings forming the present Asylum, on which thousands and thousands of the public funds arc expellded? ,

It is an admitted fact, that Asylums for the insane should never be erected for more than 400 patients if possible, that is, if monetary considerations do not compel the authorities to violate this rule; and the fact that lately so large additions have been made to the already too large Middlesex Asylums at Hanwell and Colny Hatch is only to be explained by admitting that no suitable site for a new erection was procurable or else that monetary considers.tions forced the commissioners to act contrary to their own conviction.

Into this mistake we should not allow oursel ves to be betrayed here. It would be too early for this colony to erect county or district asylums, in the manner in ~hich, in

England and Ireland, such institutions are provided; and I believe that at least the construction of the same should be borne by the revenue of the colony.

According to the returns, there were on the 19th of January, i. e. 485 lunatics in confinement, 36 of which were located in the diffcrent gaols of the colony. (In the above number are not included lunatics kept in the penal establishments.)

Although no later returns have come to hands, Iknow that the numbers have increased since, and that they may be taken as 500 lunatics in coufinement. It is certainly not a too high estimate, if the number of lunatics at present not in custody for want of' accommodation is computed at 100, so that thi~ moment accommodation for at least 600 patients should be provided; and that it is necessary to take the lunatics at large into proper cllst.ody, is only too glaringly proved by the horrible murder at Newstead.

The increase of lunacy in this colony is vel'y considerable, and although some time ago it was at the rate of about [20 per annum, it may now be considered at leMt at 60 per year;' so that, three years hence, we shall have, in all probability, about 800 lunatics to provide for.

According to the experience gained in the present asylum, about from one-fifth to one-fourth <:If the total number of lunatics may be considered qlliet idiot .. and imbeciles and a certain proportion are criminal and desperate lunatic .. , for ,,,hich suitable accommodation should be provided.

Although, as a general rule, it is not advisable to classify lunatics into" curahles" and" incurables," and to provide separate a'ccommodation for each class, as Dr. Conolly so ably has proved, I feel inclined to deviate from it, in our special caEC, for reasons hereafter to be explained.

There are a great number of quiet cases of idiocy and imbecility which fairly may be considered incurable, and need therefore only ordinary care and supervision. Such patients would require only a cheerful home, and could be 'placed in a separate establishment, to which from other asylums those' could be removed which have by careful observation proved to bclong to this class.

As it has proved always to be a great mistake to provide only the amount of accommodation for lunatics actually required, when plans are called for, I would propose to provide accommodation for 900 patients, in four distinct establishments, namcly ;-

Two proper asylums for 300 patients each, but planned with the view to extend , the ~ame ultimately to not exceeding 400 patients ... ... ...

One asylum for quiet idiots and imbeciles for One asylum for criminal lunatics, i)1cluding extra dangerous and desperate

,Patients

Patients.

600 230

70

900 patients.

I ce:riainly would wish to see also an establishment for patients. whose soci;:tl Ilositipn p.laces them above receiving their support from the public funds, but whose.means wl.II n~t a?mIt ot theIr bemg trea!ed as single patients, as recommended by the commissioners appomte~ to mqulre mto the state .of the IrIsh

s I m~ in their report of 1858' but I believe that for the It must be left to the supermtendents to \~c~'sl;;'h patients in the gener~l asylums as much as in such company as will ~ fOUIl~ necessary ~ot to interfere too much with their comfort and often !p7cat sens~bllity, and conseq.uently ';Ith th~Ir eventual cure. If means could be provided to build such e~tabhs~ments, It would be, af~er Its erectIOn, .a lIght burden to the colony, as the payments from patients, combmed WIth the produce of theJr own farm, daIry, &c., would almost pay for the current expenses. ~ ," d d l'

To provide for the establishment of quiet idiots and imbectles and cl'!mmal an esperate U1!a~1CS would be a very ea~y task inasmuch as I would propose to use the two groups of cottages already standmg and about to be built for the first-named class, to which a few buildings for general purpo~es should have to be added; and for the criminal and desperate lunatics, the stone erections of the present ma.tn asylum, altered to suit the purpose could be made available. ,

For the first:class above named-the quiet idiots and imbeciles, I recommend a scpamte establIshment only because the two abovc-named groups of' buUJings could be mad" use of, and therefore the money for thei; erection wonld not have been uselessly and .should ihe wooden .cottage" become useless, as the natnre of the material will make it inevitable after some tllle: and shou!d tillS pl~n ha.ve proved ~uccessful, they could be replaced in a better situation by permanent cl'eet;ons more m connectlOn WIth the new cottages. In this manner the expenditure for new asylums would be conSIderably lessened. .

, The objections raised by me against the pre~ent site of the t;Ia!n asylum as fit for a pr~per lunatIC asyluin, could be met in case the same would be given for the use of crlIInnals and dangerous lunatIcs, because

11

in such case it would not be objectionnble to enclose the yards with high walls, dnd the removai of all the horrible make-shifts would facilitate the re-arrangement of the yards. ·The stone bnildings would natnrally require considerable alterations, particularly as in the new wings (of 1856) all partitions are made of wood, because the funds then at the disposal of Government for these buildings would not admit of more costlier construction. These buildings would then easy accommodate seventy patients-a number which I by no means consider too large', supposing that aggravated and the most dangerous cases of lunacy would find lldmittance therein.

Both these establishments, for idiots and criminal lunatics, although perfectly distinct in their tenden­cies, could be placed under the supervision of one medical superintendent, with one assistant, from their close proximity to each other. In other matters of administration they naturally would be separate. . Before the buildings above ·named could be arranged and devoted for the purposes explained, it would be necessary to provide suitable accommodation for the lunatics in general elsewhere.

As above stated I propose to erect, in two consecutive years, two lunatic asylums in two different .parts of the country, viz.:- '

1. One near Melbourne and Geelong, perhaps on the Werribee, or the Little River on the foot of the Y owang, easy accessible by rail from both places, aud affording accommodation for the lunatics from th~ southern districts of the colony; and,

2. One asylum near Carisbrook, being situated nearly central to the great digging population of all the jprincipal districts,

fS'hould hereafter it be found necessary to increase the accommodation for lunatics an asylum near Warrnambool, or Belfast, for the "\Vestern district; and another near Benalla, for the Eastern parts of the <colony, could be added to the number of asylums: but I presume, if my propositions shomd be approved of, that, with extending the two proposed asylums to four hundred patients each, for several years to come the requirements of the colony in this respect would be provided for. .

In the arrangements for each of these asylums the following points should be observed:-For each asylum a sufficient area should he set apart to enable the establishments of a farm, dairy, and

gardens, in order to enable the superintendent. not only to find healthy work for a number of patients, so ·essential to their treatment, but also to diminish the expenses of maintenance by producing vegetables, milk, &c., for the use of the institution.

The selection of the site for the building itself shoulc1 be on an elevated ground, offering a cheerful prospect and affording perfect drainage, but so as to be protected as much as possible against the hot winds. 'The main aspect should be south-east or east. A sufficient water supply should be accessible.

Each IJIsylum should be arranged to admit 180 male and 120 female patients, both sexes properly separated-thirty to forty of each sex, the convalescents could be accommodated in cottages of a similar ,construction as at present projected for the Yarra Bend, which cottages could be planned on each side in front .of the main buildings, ano, surrounded with their little gardens, would afford a very pleasing impression, not 'only to the visitor, but also to the patient on its arri val at the asylum, a circumstance which has bEen found ·of beneficial influence to most of the patients. The rest of the patients should be placed ill two storied wings or buildings, properly classified as to the nature of their insanity. For the arrangement of these wings I would, in the mean, adopt the recommendations of the Royal Commission, with the following alterations: -To omit the separate dining rooms, to arrange a smaller proportion of separate, and, consequently, a larger proportion of associated dormitories, by which means the expenses wOllld be considerably lessened.

The associated dormitories should contain from three to six beds each, and one-half of the patients should be provided with single bedrooms; two attendants' rooms (one attendant for every fifteen patients) one lavatories, one linen closet, Gne bathroom, and two water-closets should be provided for each ward-not exceeding thirty patients. The size of single bedrooms shonld be 9 by 7, and galleries or day rooms not less than 14 feet wide, the height of story to be 14 fe<;t. p"rfect ventilation to be introduced. Galleries to have open fireplaces, with guards where required.

The wings for refractory, dirty, and noisy patients should if possible be only one story high, and be remov-ed from the quiet wards as much as possible, without interferiug with the facility for inspection.

Each side to have an infirmary, which needs not provide much space for idiotics and feeblcs, as the most of them would be removed to the Yarra Bend, but sbould have aJry hospital rooms for the sick-about 10 per cent. of the number of inmates.

All staircases should be of stone. , The buildir1gs should have projecting roofs and wide verandas on both sides, affording the patients

out-door exercise even in unfavorable weather. l'he' style of architecture should be chosen accordingly, and I consider the Italian the most suitable.

The buildings should be erected in b:dck, and have slate roofs, omitting all unnecessary and expensive ornaments, but avoiding all prison-like appearance. The walls inside shonld not be plastered, but painted to a height of 6 feet, and white or color-washed above; all skirting,: &c., executed in eement, and tioors to be made impregnable by moisture. .

It would lead too far here to go into all details of construction, bllt I believe to have stated sufficiently above to explain' the nature of the buildings. In every ward shonld be. one padded cell, and in those for refractories at least two

iul buildings occupied by patients must be connected so thact the superintendent and other officers of the asylum should have every facility in pal'sing from onc to the other, but without the necessity of passing through one ward to reach the other.

The general kitchen is to be placed central, with easy access to all parts of the asylum, as well.as ·conveniently situated with respect to the store-rooms. The wash-house, with laundry, drying closet, yards, &c., shOUld, perhaps, be placed at some distance from the kitchen and other offices, in order to avoid the unpleasant ooors necessarily arising from the same to be inhaled by others than those engaged in it.

Workshops for patients able and desirous to work should be provided conveniently to the male wards. A large -recreation room for all patients, billiard-room, reading-rooms, school-room, &c., for in-door

recreation and occnpation of the patients, are to be conveniently arrangelt; and although for the first the recreation room could be used for Divine Sm'vice, as soon as possible a sep<>rate chapel should be erected, and it would be, no doubt, best to place the same conveniently to, but perfectly isolated from, the other buildings.

Quarters for the superintendent surgeon, assistan"t, steward, and matron, should be suitably provid-ed, as well as rooms for cook, laundress, and other male and female servants respectively.

A boardroom, two offices, reception and yisitors' rooms, dispensary, and all required storerooms, with cellars, must be conveniently arranged for the several purposes. <

An el1t~ance lodge, with gardener's quart.ers and a dead-house, are to be provided, and the required farm buildings and stables mnst be erected outside the enclosure by sunk walls rQund the other buildings and airing grounrls, &c.

For all wards, except those for refractory patients, or slich of destructive habits, recreation grounds, to be laid out as ornamental gardens, with sunshcll, &c. 1'he refractory, destructive, and dirty patients to have secure exercising yards, well drainetl and gravelled, with the necessary sunshcds. Out-door classifica­tion is to be observed as much as in· doors, and the different airing-grounds and yards are therefore properly to be divided by iron fences or walls.

As before-mentioned, the arrangements of the different buildings should be made so that, without causing disturbance in the asylum when inhabited, additional parts could be added to it, accommodating fifty -of each sex more.

12

I believe it has' been suggested by Dr. Bowie, that for discharged puticuts from the Lunatic Asylum Eome arrangement should be mude to secure them shelter until such time as they. would find employment, a thing frequently by no means casy, for a recovered lunatic; and for thi:; p~rpose accommodatioll might be provided with the several Lunatic Asylums. But this subject is not so pressing us that to afiord room for lunatics under trea.tment, and needs not, therefore. to be considered with the ilrst erection, otherwise than to point out the possibility of such provision, withont interference with the management of the asylnm.

It will now be necessary to state the probable cost of the required erections. The expenses for any bnilding will in a grcn.t measure depend on the site and locality where the same

1S to be erected, so that any d:itas given here only can be considered subject to local alterations. From the information at our service we learn that, as an aycrage price for I,unatic Asylnms in England

and Ireland, the sum of £154. per patient may be considered sufficient for the erection of buildings, and to furnish the same fit fol' the reception of the inmates. Taking, therefore, in to consideration the great diff~renee in prices here and in England and Ireland, it will be admitted £3.50 pH' patient would not be a higb estimate for. a new asj,lum in Victoria, A gre"t number of the new asylums in Great Britain 'are perhaps built in a too expensive style of ~'rchiteeture, which here should be carefully avoided. ant'! therefore it may be expected that the sum of £300 per patient would be sufficient; but less shouJd notho calculated upon.

L The expense for each new asylum, as proposed above, would therefore ,be about £90,000, or for both

2. Buildings necessary to convert the 'Prescct.cottages into un asylum for id;'1ts. would be erected for, say,.. ,.. ... ... ...

3. WhiJ'st the alterations of the stone buildings, including high walls, &c., would not be carriedollt for less than

£ s. d.

180,000 0 0

5,000 0 0

15,000 0 0

£200,000 0 0

The,greatest difficulty, I apprehend, will be to provide the means for the proposed erections in so sbort a time as I amcon.viJ!ccd they are required, l:ame'y-for two consecutil'c years the sum of .£90,000 for each, and the rest or £20,000 for the third year, without absorbing too much for one purpose from the general revenue.

It is ont of my province to p illt out whence these sums should be taken, but, if only the fact is acknowledged, !.IS I hope it \I'm be, "That it is indispcnsable to have provisions m de immediately for this unfi'rtllnate class of our fellow-colonists;" I am sure it will 110t be impossib c for onr finanders to point out whence to take .the me"ns, and, I sllOuld S!ly that a sim lar , ourse could be followed as in the execution of the scheme 0 supplying :r.felbourne with water from t!:e Yan Yean, if the revenue for each year should· be unequal to bear so large" charge for olle purpose.

I beg .to sugg'cst that as SOOIl as possible competent persons should be deputed to select suitable sites for the proposed esLablishments, and it would, in my opinion, be best that the Chief Medical Officer together with be architect to whom the designing of the plails shoul<l be entl'llsted should be ('omll,iss oned for this purpose.

, There is only one point more which I consider very desirable to be brought under the notice of the ,Government. , The proper w{)rking of a lumctie asylum depends so very much on the arrangement of the details of the bnilding. Hnd thousands of pounds might be saved to the colony, if slIch details would, from the heginning be properlyarrHEged. AltholI!!h I believe that I am fully conver,-ant Wilh t.he construdJolI of lunatic asylums, :lnd I doubt that there is in this colony an architect so well acquainted with this subject, it would be of the highest importance to me to \'i5it a· number of. these recently erected asylums in England and on the Contincnt, and so to see practically executed ;lll.the latest improvements in the constrnction of such asylums, Arrangements sometimes >ere recommended, but prove in practice i'ailures, such might be avoided; whilst others perhaps, not made public, but ex:remely useful, would come under notice.

When all a former occasion I mentioned this subject, I was told that it was nseless, in as much as we couhllcarn here(tll and e\'erythin~ from books amI rrpcrts, and that tlten tbere was no time to spare. The HI'st point I dispnte, as there is nothing better than practical cxperience, and as to the second, tl1ere is ample time now during the rest of tile year.

This mode of obtaining t.he mogt nluable illfornmtion for spedal suhjects is inva"ia'oly followed on the Continent, and, I believe, frequently also in Eng'land, and always h,;s proved most successful.

. Although I feel a certain delicacy to offer myself for this commission, I believe nobody to r)e more (lUlllified for it th1m mysel l , becanse I am fully acquainted with the subject in general, and I have more facilities to inspect with advantage, besides the asylums in :England and Ireland, the lunatic asylums in Germany and Francc, as I speak and write both these languages,

The extra expenses of such journey would not exceed £'500, which sum, I think, would be well laid out. If this plan should be approved of, it would be necessary not to delay such journey beyond the .July

mail. In the foregoing, I h:\ve tried to explain my views on this import:mt subject, but do not pretend that

the scheme detailed is faultless, only I am convinced tll t the conrse pointed out would be in the main the best to be followed hy Government.

Shoulcl it be possible to devote the buildings proposed by me to be converted into an idiot and a criminal lunatic asylnm rcspecth'ely, to other p rposes, I should gladly give up this part of my proposition, h"ving made the same "nly (as pointed out above)'for reasous of economy,

. The arrangements at the g neral asylums then would have to be modified so as to provide for patients propose'l to be located there, and a, third asylnm at a similar cost (£90,000) would be necessary to be cstaulished as soon as the two first erections wonld he completed.

As possibly it will not be so very long before the Estimates for 1860 wiiI come under the cOllsideration of tbe Government, I should be glad if the above pages would assist to bring prominently mto notice the r('qniremcnts or the Colony under the bead of" Lunatic Asylums," and should it be found desirable to go l1lorc into details than I have done here, I should only be too happy to do all in Illy power to promote this llnportant object.

Awaiting your directions, I have the honor,

:Sir, '1'0 be your most obedient Servant,

F. KAWERAU.

, Public Works Office, 24th September, 1859. ~m,

The inefficiency ~f the accommodation for the insane, for this colony, provided by the Yarra Bend 'I>llnatic Asylum, is patent to almost everyone, and has been brought prominently under the notice of the GUH:rnment by the verdict of the jury on the late protracted InquIry into the management, &c.! oftbe Asylum.

It is, . therefore, almost certain, that during the next year means .will be provided towards the erection of a new asyl~m, as well as for the amelioration of the accommodation in the existing establishment.

]3

There Gnll be no doubt that it will be the intention of the Government to embrace in these new and necessarily erections, all the most recent improvements, which science and experience has brought into existence England and the continent, in establishments for the treatment of the insane, and it is a fact universally admitted t;hat the proper arrangements of the buildiugs, in all their details as well as in general, are of the highest importance for the cure of the insane, the end to which all treatment of these uufortunate fellow-creatures must aim.

In n former report, which I had the honor to submit to you, and which has received the approval of the Chief Meilical Officer, I pointed out the desirnbility, nay the necessity, of my visiting-for information nowhere else to be obtained-thc best and newest asylums erected in England, Scotland, Ireland, and on the Continent, before so all importnnt it work as the erection of a new lunatic asylum, or rather (as Dr. Wilson, Bishop of Hobarton, perhaps the best authority in Australia on this subject, wishes to call the same) a. Hospital.for the Insane. shoulll be taken in hands, showing that thonsands of pounds might be saved in the erection, by adopting at once such arrangements which have proved so successful elsewhere.

I have now the honor to bring this matter again under your notice, with the request that if you approve of my snggestion, to lay the same before the Inspector-General and the Honorable the Commissioner of Pu blie Works, for their earliest consideration.

It is conviction that I am the best qualified person for this mission, for the following reasons:-1. I that in this colony no architect is so well acquainted with the erection of lunatic asylums

in general, and so far as possible in detail, as myself; so that I would have greater facilities than any other in completing my knowledge by personal inspection. '

2. I, a German by birth, speak and write besides English, also the German and French languages, and would therefore derive mor\, information from inspection of establishments of the nature in question, in those two countries, than anyone not possessing this kuowledge.

3. My conduct in the public service (now about 3A years) will give sufficient guaranty that I shouId avail myself to the utmost, of such an opportunity to enlarge my knowledge and experience on this subject, in order to discharge my public duties to the best advantage for the colony, my adopted country.

If this proposition should be accepted, which I earnestly hope it will, I heg also to point out that no time should be lost, and that I certainly should proceed with the October mail (in about three weeks), inasmuch as the whole journey could not well be performed with any advantage in less than seven months, and therefore I could not be expected to commence the drawings for buildings to be erected in 1860, before May next, provided I left in October.

As to the expenses for the journey, I believe that £550 would be sufficient, which amount reasonably could be charged against this year's vote for a new lunatic asylum, the balance of which also wouId fully bea.r the charge, and I all). confident that this sum would be expended to the advantage of the colony, and wouId prove to be. a great economy,ln thll erection of a new lunatic asylum.

I have the honor to be, Sir,

The Chief Architect. Your obedient servant. ,F. KAWERAU.

Mr. Kawerau has handed me the enclosed Report, and is very anxious that it should be read by the Iuspector-General and the Honorable the Commissioner of Public Works, before any further step is taken iu the erection of new buildings for the pnrposes of a lunatic asylum. 20 I 5 r 59. W. W.

II I 7.

Perused and forwarded to the Chief Medical Officer for his perusal. To be returned.

C. PASLEY.

I agree with Mr. Kawerau with regard to the present site, as to the necessity of providing for 900 lunatics by the time the proposed Asylums are built, and generally with his ideas of the constrnction of asylums. The ratio of increase in lunatics is about 1 to every 1000 of the popuIation. I think the limit of asylums to accommodate 400 is too small, 500 may just as well be accommodated in each asylum. With regard to Mr. Kawerau's proposal to go home, I consider this is more a matter for the consideration of the Inspector-General than for me to decide.

W. McCREA, 14 I 7 r,59. Chief Medical Officer

APPENDIX B. SIR,

Public Works Office, 14th June, 1861.

By direction of the Legislative Committee on the Lunatic Asylum, I have measured the size of the pigsties at the I"unatic Asylum, and have the honor to report as follows :-

The ground occupied by the pigsties is 22 feet by 20 feet, and is divided into two compartments of nearly equal size; each compartment has a covered part 8 feet deep, the rest being left open.

I found ten pigs of different sizes in one stye, and four in the other. I have the honor to be, Sir,

The Chalrman of the Legislative Committee on the Lunatic Asylum, Parliament House.

D.-No. Sl,e

Your most obedient Servant, F. KAWERAU,

Clerk of Works.