The sitting-rooms and dormitories were found in good order, clean, well heated and ventilated, while the clothing of the patients was comfortable and neat in appearance; that of the women patients was particularly varied and attractive.

The dietary of the patients is favourably commented on, but there is much need for extension of the bakehouse equipment. This extension would provide increased possibilities of varying the dietary and better arrangements for storing the flour for bread making are also recommended.

The management of the institution continues to be active and most conscientious. As pointed out in previous reports, the work is carried on under somewhat onerous and difficult circumstances, which it is hoped will be gradually remedied.

Glasgow District Asylum, Gartloch.

Inspected 18th and 19th January and 5th and 6th July, 1926.

(Average number of patients resident during year, 770-5.)

Reference is made to the structural alterations in the hospitals which have now been completed. On each side of the hospital the internal corridor has been added to the adjoining infirm wards and new connecting corridors have been constructed outside. In the admission wards the accommodation has been increased by the removal of two single rooms, and at the same time the lavatory entrances have been made direct from the wards instead of from the corridor as formerly. Apart from the addition, at a trifling cost each, of 30 beds to the accommodation of the hospitals, this piece of reconstruction has much improved the value and appearance of the wards.

In the Sanatorium attention was directed to the active treatment by means of ultra violet light obtained from four arc lamps. The medical staff speak with enthusiasm of the advantages from this variety of treatment, and have noted in the course of the one and a half years in which it has been in operation marked improvement in the health, both physical and mental, of the patients who have been subjected to the treatment.

The nursing, particularly in the hospitals, is conscientious and capable, and the medical care of the patients is characterised by an intimate knowledge of their several needs and requirements.

All parts of the institution were found in excellent order. The sitting-rooms were clean, well furnished, and attractive, while the surroundings in the dormitories were such as to conduce to health-giving sleep and rest.

At the first inspection an alarm of fire was given from the Sanatorium, which is about 400 yards away from the Fire Station. The alarm consists of an electric push which automatically works the syren at the Fire Station. Twenty-one members of the staff, composing the Fire Brigade, appeared at the Sanatorium within 2 minutes and water was playing on the building within 4 minutes. This is a commendable achievement considering the distance of the Sanatorium from the Fire Station and the fact that to obtain a sufficient pressure of water the pumps drawing the supply from the storage reservoir had to be started.

Sixteen new houses have been erected for occupation by the married staff. Fourteen of these have been given to attendants and two to tradesmen. These houses will maintain a large enough staff near the The excellent institution capable of being utilised in emergencies. housing conditions will also tend to check frequent changes among the staff and in this way have an important influence in increasing the confidence of the patients as to their care and protection.

The dietary of the patients is favourably commented on, and the food served was tasted and found to be of excellent quality, well cooked, and appetising, and each patient had a sufficient quantity.

The management is represented as being conscientious and skilled and the staff as able and efficient.

Glasgow District Asylum, Woodilee.

Inspected 24th February and 17th, 18th and 19th August, 1926.
(Average number of patients resident during year, 1,161-0.)

A start has been made with Occupational Therapy in this institution. This supplements the work of the Brabazon Society which has been in It was in this institution existence for now over a quarter of a century. that the Brabazon Society started and began its work as a voluntary agency-work which was taken cognizance of in the United States and has appeared from America into this country recently as Occupational Therapy. It is only fair to recognise the valuable work which has been done voluntarily by the Brabazon ladies for such a long period and the progress Occupational Therapy has made. It has spread and is acknowledged to be of such value that trained and paid instructors are now, as a rule, engaged to supply the requirements of the patients. The value of Occupational Therapy for certain cases of mental disorder is now beginning to be appreciated. It is particularly advantageous for all patients who are physically unfitted for strenuous work, either out-ofdoors or indoors, and whose mental condition must be stimulated and educated by a greater variety of light and interesting occupations.

A well-equipped clinical room has been added in each hospital. This enables the Medical Officers to make a more searching examination of the conditions of the patients and has added to the interest and value of the medical work.

The advantages of the establishment of a dental room and the services of a dentist visiting the institution regularly were seen in practice. A number of the patients have been supplied with dentures with obvious benefit to their physical and mental health, and the attention given by the dentist to the teeth of all patients was perceptible in the higher standard of health of the patients generally throughout the institution.

At the second visit 127 patients were being treated in bed for acute mental symptoms, 24 for bodily illness, and 101 on account of senility or infirmity. These figures show the extent of the demand for Hospital accommodation, a demand which cannot be adequately met by existing arrangements. Further encroachments have been made upon day-room space to provide hospital accommodation on the ground floor.

The medical work of the institution is fully maintained at that high standard which has been favourably commented upon in previous reports. At present a very complete test is being made of a recently introduced form of treatment for general paralysis. The work is being done in a very thorough manner reflecting much credit upon the medical staff concerned looking to the arduous routine duties that have to be fulfilled.

An installation for treatment by ultra-violet rays has just been added to the Hospital equipment.

The Asylum shop is almost completed. It is a commodious structure with tea-rooms and verandah, and will, doubtless, in an Asylum where the patients are afforded so much homely freedom, become an important feature in its social amenities.

The patients are well fed and comfortably clothed, and their material welfare in all respects is conscientiously and properly attended to.

Favourable mention is made of the large number of post-mortem examinations which it has been found possible to conduct.

The nursing throughout the institution attains a high standard.
The management is characterised as energetic, kindly, and successful.

Govan District Asylum.

Inspected 27th and 28th January and 7th and 8th July, 1926.

(Average number of patients resident during year, 842.5.)

It is gratifying to observe that there has been no new case of enteric fever for about twelve months. The arrangements for separating both those who have had the disease and the "carriers" from the rest of the patients are being adhered to with great care and vigilance. The schemes which have been recommended for placing the segregation on a fuller and safer basis are being given careful consideration by the District Board.

The attention given to the employment of the patients is very satisfactory. Excellent progress is being made in the development of the class for Occupational Therapy. The finished work is of an excellent. description. Several patients were working with great care and evident pride on a rug of huge dimensions with an elaborate heraldic design which has been ordered for the hall of the College of Physicians in Glasgow.

The advantages of open-air treatment are obvious, particularly in cases of tubercular infection, and it is proposed to supplement them as early as possible by the introduction of artificial sunlight, ultra-violet rays and other forms of light treatment and hydro-therapy which have been found so advantageous in the treatment of all nervous conditions.

The medical treatment and nursing care continue on the high plane which has frequently been commended. The appearance of the Hospital Wards was most pleasing in all respects and there is minute attention to classification.

The dietary of the patients is satisfactory and the meals seen served were excellent and above the average.

All parts of the institution were found in good order.

The sitting-rooms were well heated, suitably ventilated and bright with plants and flowers. The furnishings were of a most comfortable description, and there was an ample supply of reading material and games to interest and occupy the patients in their leisure hours.

The dormitories are fitted with beds of a modern description, and the bedding is well attended to and of a good quality and a comfortable nature.

There is much interesting research work being done by the medical staff and there is a well devised collaboration between the clinical and pathological facilities of the institution.

The District Board propose to erect a small operating theatre in connection with the hospitals. This is a most desirable addition to an Asylum which continues its policy of steady advance in everything which modern progress offers for the complete care of the inmates. It is hoped to equip a portion of the new building as a dental surgery.

The District Board have made a further advance in an endeavour to raise, at the farm, a herd of tubercle-free cows. The supply of this milk is not a curative but a preventive measure, and so, to effect the desired object, the whole of the milk supplied to the Asylum should be tuberclefree. It is learned, however, that, while as yet only part of the milk supply from the farm is tubercle-free, the District Board have recently decided to sell a portion of this. This is against the health interests of the inmates, and from the point of view of management there does not appear to be any justification for the expenditure of any part of the extra care and cost involved in producing tubercle-free milk on any outside object when there are ordinary commercial sources of the milk available.

The administration is represented as being earnest and efficient.

Inverness District Asylum.

Inspected 6th April and 14th and 15th September, 1926.

(Average number of patients resident during year, 717-0.)

It is noted with approbation that a beginning has been made with the erection of the new Recreation Hall which should prove a boon to the patients.

The anxieties regarding the supply of water still continue to be felt. The new reservoir is not yet completed, but it is hoped that when it is completed those anxieties will disappear. Meantime it would be advisable even with the extra supply of water to be obtained on the completion of the new reservoir to explore the possibility of obtaining water by means of an artesian well.

The day-rooms were found bright with plants and flowers and contained an ample supply of reading matter and games to occupy the leisure moments of the patients, while the condition of the dormitories as regards hygienic surroundings and the state of the beds and bedding was all that could be desired.

The general health of the patients is good, and they are being nursed by a competent, conscientious and trained nursing staff. The medical care is unremitting and actuated by the highest zeal and consideration for the welfare of the patients.

Satisfaction is expressed with the dietary. The patients were seen at their meals which were served in an orderly and expeditious manner. The result of both inspections revealed that the institution continues to be managed with a high degree of efficiency, skill and kindly consideration for the best interests of every patient.

Kirklands Asylum.

Inspected 24th March and 28th July, 1926.

(Average number of patients resident during year, 248-5.)

The many improvements which have been evolved by a thoughtful and discerning management and which have been detailed in recent reports have greatly improved the administrative facilities as well as the general appearance of this Asylum. To these there is now being added electric lighting, the work of installation being well advanced.

It is remarked that the patient who is a "carrier " or para-typhoid fever still requires, on account of certain habits, to be confined to bed so as to be isolated from the others. The hope is expressed that the contemplated special hospital for all carriers will soon be erected in connection with Govan District Asylum, as it is obviously trying for such patients to have their liberty so rigidly restricted.

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It is understood that a new lease of Longdales farm will be secured and that as soon as that has been effected operations will be undertaken to put the house in order.

The arrangements for the proper care and nursing of the patients are most commendable, and the care given to the out-of-door treatment and exercise and employment of the patients continues to be assiduous and devoted to producing as much variety as can possibly be given.

The dietary is satisfactory in all respects and the general health of the patients is reported as good.

All parts of the institution, both in the day-rooms and dormitories, were found clean, well ventilated, hygienic and comfortably furnished in every way.

There is a plentiful supply of literature, and the patients have numerous recreations for their leisure moments.

The supply of plants and flowers to the wards and the very attractive appearance of the Asylum grounds merit special attention.

The management is characterised by much enthusiasm and a keenly progressive outlook.

Lanark District Asylum.

Inspected 14th and 15th January and 22nd and 23rd September, 1926. (Average number of patients resident during year, 1,177-0.)

In this institution the conditions in which the hospitals in particular were found show that the medical administration is alive to the importance of doing all that possibly can be done for the patients, and with this in view it is proposed to consider in the near future the question of the erection, associated with the new hospital, of a pavilion or winter garden for the special treatment of mental cases by hydro-therapy, light, massage, Such an addition to the hospital facilities of the institution is

etc.