The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-02-16

.
Total number cared for at Wards Island. 1872
Sent to New Y ork City Hospital and ST.
Vincent's Hospital. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 2i6
Lunatics cared for Observation-Disclosures, 355
Number supplied with board and lodging 2O339
Buried in the city ..................... 763
office. DECENTRALIZATION. 1920
Sent back TO Europe .....,.... 433
Forwarded inland observation-disclosures. 4,163
Provided with employment ......,...... 1877
Relieved in the several counties of the State lS,432
Grand total relieved, forwarded, and pro-
vided with employment in the city and
State ....................... 1871, 005
Number Of days spent in the Marine Hos
pital ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 200O29
In Hospital and Refuge on Wards Island. 766O22
Total days in both institutions ....... 975,05l
The past years returns exhibit the largest emgra-
ton that has ever yet occurred and 1t exceeds that
of 1851 by IL ,3l9.
The German emigration has more than doubled
the average OF preceding years, and embraces
AZ 72S more than in 1851, while the Irish emigration
has fallen off Al, ll9, and is nearly one quarter less
than in 1851.
The emigration from England appears to be gra-
dually the increase and forms about tenth Of
the whole
The whole number of emgrants who have paid
Communication in the port of New York, since the
organization of the commission, in lS47 is SAB ,222
INTELLIGENCE OFFICE, ETC.
lue luIeulYeuCc OHCe III Sduul SlTttb d large
church on Duane street, and a spacious brick
building on Third avenue, were all used as tenn
porary boarding. houses at some time during the
year. Physicians were appointed to attend the
inmates requiring their services. Every exertion
was made to preserve cleanliness and to prevent
annoyances yet this could only be partially effected.
AS many as III 500 received temporary relief of
food and shelter, other aid in the city and nearly
all in the earlier months of the year.
The Commissioners are fully sensible of the evils
likely to result from any extensive indiscriminate
assistance afforded in this manner, or in similar
ways, if habitually provided. 1t was resorted to
only from unavoidable necessity, and the several
buildings used for the purpose were closed as
as practicable.
The system Of the intelligence Office has been con-
tnCed with many beneficial results Through its
means 1871 persons have been provided with
places or employment.
The property purchased at various times on
Wards Island, and held by the Commissioners in
trust is stated to be over ninetyve acres, the cost
of which was s63,S1s So. This land, independently
Of the improvements, is said to be now worth
800 600, and might even be estimated at $50, O00
Eleven acres, in addition, also held on lease, and
some Of tho most Important buildings have been
erected upon the leased property. Seeing the i'm
porance of procuring the fee of this leased land the
Commissioners have treated with Mr.. R. B. Minturn
the owner, and agreed to give him s4 0OO bat owing
to the present pecuniary embarrassment of the fund
the payment has not been made, and the title conse
quently has not been perfected.
An account of the buildings on Wards Island hav-
ing been given in the last annual report they not
now described. A long wooden edfice was destroyed
by fire in August last, together with its furniture
The sum of $4,750 90 recovered from insurance;
and although this was less than the original cost
the Commissioners have erected with it more COM
modious building in another location The add.
tional wooden hospitals mentioned in the last report
as under contract, have been completed, after
an unexpected delay, and are found to be
highly serviceable. Experience having convinc.
ed the Commissioners OF the necessity for some
hospitals of superior class, premium was offered
for plan for single large hospital. Various plans
were submitted, of great merit, but the deficiency Of
their means with other considerations of expedency
induced the Commissioners to lay them aside, and
to substitute several separate brick hospitals, para
lei TO each other, each being $50 feet long by % in
width, Of one lofty story above high basement
-Four OF these have been contracted for at an expense
OF 81 22l each and they are now in process Of cree
ton.
The supply Of Croton water, by means Of pipe
passing under the bed of the river has continued to
be ample and regular; but apprehendng that serious
inconvenience would result from any accidental in
terruption OF the supply from this source it de-
termined to construct reservoir the island to be
kept constantly filed. This work has been accom-
pished by Mr.. B. NJ. Clark. The estimated cost was
about 81 5Oc, and it is computed to hold l,099,5s3
gallons OF water.
The same plan of instruction for the children on
the island has been continued, and with excellent
effect as to their order, discipline, and morals.
MEDICAL AND SURGICAL DEPARTMENT on WARDS
ISLAND.
The medical and surgical service on Wards Island
continues the at the date of the last re port
Il is conducted by the medical board Of eight visit
ing physicians and surgeons, and the assistant resi-
dent medical staff. The admissions into both these
departments during the last year exceeded those Of
1851 by 2l2. 1896 were received and cared for in
the hospital, and 1921 were treated in the refuge
department.
Circumstances compelled the reception of many
ft. fFrn
Island and l.20s cases Of typhus fever came under
the hospital treatment. Asiatic cholera also made
its appearance on the island during the summer; bat
the disease disappeared after few weeks, unac-
countably as IL had appeared but not until it had
attacked 1872 patients, OF whom seventy-one died
The statistics Of the hospital department proper for
1862 are as follows -
Whole number cared for in the hospital du.
ring the year ...................... 10 9G6
OF whom Tia ere died ..................1,2 Ol
Discharged cured or relieved ........s ,942
Remaining at end of year .......,.... 1923 10 1866
The mortality was about 10 $40 per cent, or half
per cent less than during the preceding year, and
the deaths include those from cholera typhus fever
and III from consumption. Many capital and diff
cult operations were performed with gratifying sue
cess. The average time spent in the hospital by pa
aents who died was 80 As days. The Commits
oners think that many advantages would arise from
having separate hospital OF their own for insane
emgrants, who now number 1853, and the expenses
u whose and treatment has TO be paid other
iUhttulIUnS luclr medlis, however 40 not AT pre-
sent justify their mourning the additional expense
which would be necessary for that purpose.
The total number Of persons cared FOR in both de-
partInents on Wards Island during the year. nclud
ing those remaining on the first Of January, 1852,
was 1872.
The disbursements on account Of The re.
fuge and hospital, as classified were. 1896 ,S45 20
Cnclassifed expenditures, on account OF
The same, Stated in another part Of
th' report, 10 he for /" contingencies on
account Of Communication fund. - 49,. 6i,373 10
Total ....................... 1901 ,2l8 80