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Chwiliwch 15 miliwn o erthyglau papurau newydd Cymru

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) Joint Counties' Asyjatr…

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Joint Counties' Asyjatr Carmarthen The quarterly meeting of the Committee of Visitors of the" Joint Counties Asylum, was held at that institution oil Thursday, the 26th ult. Professor D. E. Jones presided. There were ah) present Dr G. Griffith Milford Mr John Lewis, Meiros HaH4 Mr J. Lloyd, Penybank; Mr J. W. G\Aynne-Hughes, Tregeyb; Mr Yv\ Jones, Llandilo; Mr H. J. Davits, Glynelddan; Mr Robinson, Boncath j Mr Joseph Willi: a ins, Lin nelly; Mr Howard Griffiths, St. Davids; I)r Griffith, Milford Haveu Mr Llewelyn, Fletiiington; Rev J. Will Lain- Cardigan together with the Clerk to the Visitors (Mr W. Morgan Griffiths); the Medical Supt. (Dr E. Goodall); and the Chaplain (Rev Jonathan Marsden). STRON L.G L' .\GE BY THE LUNACY COMMISSlONi-KS. The folloiviiig is the report of the Lunacy Commissioners on their recent visit to the Asylum Joint Counties Asvluin, Carmarthen, July 20th, 1906. We much regret to find at our visit to-day to this Asylum that none of the important maitters mentioned at previous visits, as re- quiring attention, have been dealt with, owing to the continuance of the dispute be- tween the several Local Authorities in Union. This dispute has been going on for years, and from what wo can gather, there does not seem to be an early prospect of a settlement. In the meantime the interest of the Asylum and of the patient*, suffers to a considerable extent. We may point as instances of this, the absence of any proper system of the dis- posal of the sewage the non-provision of al- ternative exits in many parts, notably at Job's Well and Wards 7 on both sides and the Female Hospital, and the inadequacy of laundry accommodation necessitating the washing and drying of cltlies in Wards. This condition of things is not creditable to the authorities to whom is entrusted the duty of providing for the care and welfare of the insane of the Counties in Union. Since our colleagues' visit in April, 1905, new fire hydrants have been fixed in connec- tion with the water main at M. 7 Ward a centrall fire station has been erected for the storing of the fire appliances some improve- ments effected in two 01 the sanitary spurs, and shower and spray baths in the Male bath- room. The ventilation of single rooms has been much improved by the introduction of galvanised iron mesh work in the shutters. The new Infectious Hospital is approaching completion, and is expected to be occupied by the close of the year. We hope that when this building, which has been erected en- tirely by Asylum labour, is furnished, the much needed re-decoration of Wards and Corridors, many of which are very shabby, will be taken in hand. There are to-day on the books. the names of 0015 patients. 363 males, and 323 females; of these i-J are private cases, and 36 are out- countv. of whom 35, all males, are chargeable to Cardiff. Seven patients are awav on trial. According to the estimated accommodation the Asylum is over-full by 46 on the male side and by 6 on the female side with the result that .some beds have 'to be made up on the floors. The weekly maintenance charges are 8s 9d for uhe home patients, 14-3. for the out-county patients, and from 10s to 32s for the private cases. The changes since our colleagues' visit com- prise 137 admissions; 63 discharges, including 44 recoveries, and 59 deaths. Three of the deaths were from general paralysis, being at the rate of 5.1 per cent. cf the total deaths, and 5 or 9.2 per cent. from senilo decay, whilst 16 or 27 per cent. were due to phthisis. In 81.3 per cent. per CClnrt the cause of death was verified by post mortem examination. The proportion of oases with bedsores at death was 6.7 per cent. Two inquests have been hold the death in each case being from "natural causes." Apart from 2 cases of erysipelas (one of which proved fatal) and one of varicella, the Asylum has been free from zymotic disease. Two instances of non-fatal casualties involv- ing fractures of bones, namely, of the obcran- ium and of the radius respectively, are re- ported to be due to accidental falls. There has been no other serious ccident. According to records, 5 patients have been mechanically restrained by jacket or wet pack, and for medical reasons on 20 occasions for 212t 4 hours in all, and one patient has been once secluded for 9 hours. Me gave all the resident patients oppor- tunity of speech wivh us. One patient, wlmse name is given in the patient's book, and who is the only woman received here as an out- county case under contract, appealed to be sent back to her County Asylum at Denbigh. There were some complaints at non-visita- tion by members of the Committee. It does not appear from the entries of visits in this book that 2 or more members of the committee have visited the Institution on any one occa- sion this year. We trust the Committee will see their way to complying with the statutory requirements of the Lunacy Acts in this matter. We attach great importance in the interest df the patients to frequent and regu- lar visitation. We had no other complaints calling for mention, .and can report favourably of the condition of the inmates in the matter of dress and personal neatness. The dinner to- day was pea-soup with bread and cheese. This dinner, which is not unpopular, is given twice a week. 0 The general health in both divisions is good. We found only 11 patients confined to bed. There are 17 a toman Catholics and 370 Non- conformists among the patients. The former are attended occasionally by a priest, and the latter have the regular services of a minister of their faith. The Church of England services are atten- ded by 48 per cent.. and the associated enter- tainments by 38 per cent, of the patients; 25 per cent. go out for extended walks, and only 3 per cent, are altogether confined for exer- cise to thea,iring courts; 58 per cent. of each sex are usefully employed. The staff of attendants for day dutv gives 1 to every 11.1 male, and 1 to every 10.2 female patients. The duration cf service is good, as many as 4b per cent, cf the men, and 30 per cent. of the nurses having been over 5 years in the Asylum service. Two nurses have been dismissed since our colleagues' visit, but in each case for offences not affecting patients. The case books and other medical records are properly kept. G. HAROLD URMSOX, SIDNEY COUPLAXD, Commissioners in Lunacy. The Chairman said that the report reflected on Pembrokeshire and Cardiganshire. Dr Griffith said that ho rose to object to that remark. The chairman might call him to order; but he could protest against the remark made by the chairman. Cardigan- shire and Pembrokeshire were not sipecified in the report. The amirttemy'l'llend0' the com™iTte„gSroe,Vh<!U 1 ™ aWe V't jjlu 14 k"°.t expressly stated; «ey Jothn Williams: I do not think so it is implied. x\lr Joseph Williams read the first para- graph m the report, which he said was a v^ serious reflection on the Committee Mr John Lewis *aid that he did not thinfe they were responsible for the delay i,n T>ro vidling far the sewerage. They had ent^ed ¡Il an agreement with the Town Council, ,I,lld Al-ei-e ia-iiiiiig to pay £ 1,000. |[1C ^k: That is at an end now. lhe Chairman Pembrokeshire objected to pay thehr quota. • Jf^ph Williams said that it was a very t rge a-aimt th? committee; and if Avere uot tlieir they t'ie blame f111OTV'? to t*10 Commissioners that rt lvith « did n tackle the i.iestion in a business-like manner As a .nembcr of the Committee, he <ncS "g to rectify «■«* The Chairman said that it resterl "'the three County Councils who would not mon<,y- They had 110 power as a m to car17 out cf tllese improve The Clerk aid that it was open to them to ;V *7*" the thr.e County ColIneils; 1. t tile enforcement of the order irould i. ,th unfatakingPro0eedi"g that !t Was not a djouwion on the old dfapato tI ™ counties as to their quotas. lhe Chairman explained that the agree- ment formerly come to was useless, because it had not been signed by a majority of the members from each county. Mr John Lloyd said that all the Pembroke- shire and Carmarthenshire members 6igll"J. Mr Joseph Williams said that the blame ought to be put at the door of the Cardigan- shire members. Rev John Williams rose to a point of order. Had they a right to discuss this question, which was not on the agenda. The Chairmn said that it arose out of the report which they had before them. ltev J. Williams said that Cardiganshire had applied to the Local Government Board to appoint an arbitrator. The Chairman: What was the answer. Rev J. Williams said that it had not come. The Chairman said that it had come, and was to the effect that they must first send notice to the Haverfordwest, Carmarthen, and Kidwelly authorities. Mr Joseph Williams said that it was too bad that the patients should suffer because of the stupidity of the authodties. He would move that they take steps immediately to get these works carried out. Mr John Lewis moved that they appoint a committee to report to them as to the best, way to deal with the s eoommendations. The following committee was appointed to deal with the mutters referred to: Professor Jones, Mr Joseph Williams, Mr H. J. Davies, Dr Griffith, Dr Lloyd, Mr C. M. Williams. ASYLUM LABOUR. Profes.sor Jones drew attention to the re- mark that the hospital had been erected entirely by "asylum labour." Was that true? It was very i.mportant that it should be cor- rect as it might be referred to hereiafterwards Dr Goodall said that such buildings were generally built by contract, and the isylum staff had nothing whatever to do with them. In this case, the asylum staff had designed the building, quarried the stone, hauled it here, and only a couple of masons had been employed from outside. Under the circum- stances. he thought the expression was cor- rect. The- ma.sons had no responsibility beyond the actual work they did. Mr Joseph Williams said that they em- ployed two masons here daily, and asylum labour did not mean the labour of patients only. The Chairman said that three extra masons had been employed for this work. Mr Llewelyn said that the word "entirely" was misleading. THE ACCEPTANCE OF TENDERS. Mr Robinson brought forward a motion to amend the present system ct dealing with tenders. He suggested that they should be opened a fortnight previously by the General Purposes Committee, signed, and then tabu- lated ready for the full meeting of the Com- mittee. He thought the present method by which they dealt with 150 tenders at the i cloie of a meeting unsatisfactory. Mr W. Jones seconded the proposal. Mr John Lewis proposed that they set aside a. special day for tenders and begin early. He did not think it advisable to call two meetings, one to open tenders and ano- ther to let the contracts. Mr H. J. Davies thought it would be more interesting for the committee to deal with the tenders at first hand. Air Robinson's motion received five votes, and the amendment six. The tenders will be considered at a special meeting beginning at 12.15 p.m. GAS WORKS. Dr Goodall brought up a special report of the need of repairs to the gas-holder, of new meters, and new Cornish boilers. r J. AVilliams said that it might be possible to buy as "second hand" boilers which were nearly new. He had had some experience in buying boilers. The matter was adjourned for Mr Williams to make enquiries. DOES FARMING PAY? Mr Robinson drew attention to the Farm and Garden Account. The stock was valued at £62;3. Hay was valued at f:4 a ton and potatoes at t-5 a ton, which ,he thought, was exaggerated. The fact that anybody could make a profit of tl96 a year out of 38 acres of land was enough to make anybody's mouth water in these depressed times. He thought they ought to have some independent valua- tion. Mr John Lewis: There is no labour and no rent to pay. RESIGNATION OF DR GOODALL. Dr Edwin Goodaill, the medical superinten- dent, tendered his resignation after over 11 yearns.' service, having received a more im- portant appointment at Cardiff. In doing so, Dr Goodall said it was with regret that lie severed his connection with the institution, the employees, and the Committee of Visi- tors. The courteous consideration, and in- deed kindness, with which he had at all times been received by the committee, and the uni- form support he had received from all connec- ted with the asylum has rendered his work very pleasant during all the years lie had spent in their service. He would like to be relieved on the 25th September, and he wished the institution a full measure of success in the future (hear, hear). The Chairman (Professor Jones) said that although they could not help congratulating Dr Goodall upon his promotion, yet they all felt sorry to lose such a capable officer. He had no doubt the committee woukl be unani- mous in trying to meet the doctor's wishes as far as possible. Dr Griffith said mey all deeply regretted that Dr Goodall was leaving them. It was rather a compLiment to them as a committee that he had been chosen out of so many eminent men. He hoped Dr Goodall would be long spared to make himself as useful in Cardiff as he had done at Carmarthen. Upon the motion of the Rev J. Williams, Dr Goodall's resignation was accepted with regret. The committee afterwards met in private to discuss what steps should be taken to appoint a successor. It was decided to advertise.

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