Bridlington and Quay Gazette. — 1877-01-06 (Bridlington, Humberside, England)

THE LUNATIC ASYLUM REPORT.  The Visiting Committee, in their sth annual report, stated that the number of patients in the asylum on the 3d January, 1876, was :—Males, 114; females, 104; total 218. The private patients numbered 3 males and 4 females, making a total of 225. There- were at present in the asylum 112 males, 119 females; private patients, males 5, females s—a total of 241. This number included 15 female patients belonging to Hull. On the 25th March last, the committee entered into an agreement with the Committee of Visitors of the Hull Asylum for the board and maintenance ol from 15 to 20 female patients, at the rate of 15s. each per week, and on the 12th April last 15 female patients were admitted under such agreement. There 15 patients, together with the private patients, being deducted from the gross number now in the asylum, left a decrease of two patients belonging to the riding chargeable to the different unions between the commencement and the end of the past yea.. The weekly charge of lls. ld. per head for patients belonging to the riding had been continued during the past year. After a reference to a case of suicide by one of the patients ((ieo. Kitchen, who hanged himself to a bedstead) the report stated that the committee had that day inspected the asylum, farm buildings, gas works, and other premises, all of which were in good repair and condition; the wards and corridors were clean, warm, and well ventilated. On the 11th March last, at a special meeting, the committee received a deputation from the Committee of Visitors of the Kingston-upon-Hull Borough Asylum, consisting of the Mayor of Hull (Dr. King), Sir Henry Cooper, and Aid. Bannister, together with their medscal superintendent, to consider an application from them to amalgamate the borough of Hull with the East Riding, which, if carried out, would necersitate a large extension of the asylum, and it was then arranged that a formal application, emboL.ying the general terms of amalgamation, should be made by the Hall Committee, and submitted to a general meeting of the committee for consideration. A second deputation was ac.,ordingly received on the 3d April last by a general meeting of the committee at the asylum. Several particulars were gone into, and the Mayor stated that the number of patients then in the Hull Asylum was 154, and that accommodation would be required for 200 patients. The deputation asked the emninittee to give them an estimated amount the Hull Committee would be expected to contribute in consideration of an amalgamation. After the deputation withdrew, the committee took into consideration the application, and resolved upon a basis of terms upon which an amalgamation could be entertained, and a proposal naming such basis was made to the Hull Committee on the same day for further negotiation; but since that time no further communication had been received from the Hull Committee, and therefore it was assumed that no further steps would hi taken in the matter. The general health of the patients during the year had been good, and the rate of mortality below that of previous years. The conduct of the officers and attendants in the asylum generally had been satisfactory, and the committee had much pleasure in recording their confidence in the kind, watchfu. and skilful treatment of the patients by Dr. Mercer, toe medical superintendent. The report concluded with a reference to the death that morning of D.. Mercer, and the committee expressed their great regret at the unfortunate and unexpected loss of so efficient an officer. TM Chairman remarked that the present system o 5 attending to the finances of the riding was very lax and inefficient, owing to the shortness of time, and he commended that, as the Asylum and Finance Committees consisted mainly of the same magistrates, the two should be amalgamated, and that they should commence their duties on the afternoon of the day previous to the sessions. The following were then appointed the joint committee :—The Hon. A. Duncombe, Mr. 14. Wylie, Mr. C. A. Darley, Mr. D. Burton, Col. Saltma.ahe, Colonel Prickett, Mr. T. H. Preston, Mr. G. H. Marshall, Mr. J. A. Hudson, Col. Grimston, Mr. W. F. Bethell, Col. Haworth-Booth, and Mr. David