Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1854-04-12
GBe 9aiIg SPY.
s,n,e Lunnlic HospIlaI az worees'eF.

Statc Luuntic Hospital at "O'ees'oh'
4v,ror.,, the politeness of DR.. Geo. Chand-
l.r tha S,periutendcnt of this excellent IN
stitution, we have received the zis' annual
report of tho Trustees, from which we ga'nef
the interesting statements and facts wnich we
copy below:
Thu onerations of the Hospital have been
,,,orc avfcnsiye during the past, than IN any
-,rscod;,,y wear. The number of patients
within is walls, Dec list, 1862, was 532, and \
there were received, 2SS, making $40, who
were the recipients of its care and treatment
within the year, to Dec. 1858, and 4,4oS since
its first foundation.
Tho number of admissions have been 81
less than in the preceding year, while the
whole number has been As, and the average
90 more.
sources commitments by the Courts, and
commitments by Overseers of the Poor. Its
doors have been closed to private applications,
and many who have sought an entrance here,
have been turned over to neighboring institu-
tons.
This course was dictated by the crowded
condition of the Hospital, there having been
in it an average of l47 more than it was de-
signed to accommodate
There were discharged during the year, 800;
Of whom, 145 are reported recovered, 36 inn
proved, Al incurable and harmless, 81 incura-
Bile and dangerous, and Al to have died.
In the middle of summer, the unprecedent-
ed number of 567 patients had become resi-
dents within its walls. Indications Of diseas-
es incident to the season began to show them
selves, and created just apprehension, that a
fatal epidemic was impending over this crowd
ed, but ill-ventilated establishment.
In fhis annoroencv the <Tru sfens in fhe
early part of August, decided upon relieving
its crowded condition, by sending off one
hundred of its inmates, and an order was
passed for the purpose. But so soon as it be-
gan to be executed, remonstrances and en-
treaties came back so earnest from the officers
of the establishments to which they were sent,
that the order was only partially carried into
effect.
A very large and still increasing proportion
of the admissions is of foreigners. Unless
something is done to avert it, the benefits of
this institution will soon be denied to our ma
tive population, except to such as may be pau
pers or criminals. 1t is fast filing up with a
class of incurable foreign paupers, which cir
cumstance is already seriously impairing its
usefulness as a curative institution.
1t is suggested in the Superintendent Re-
port, that some Of the incurable and harmless
State paupers may be sent to the State Aims
houses.
The Trustees point out the defective con-
struction of some of the cells intended for the
furiously insane, and suggest the improve
ments which ought to be made, to render the
Hospital worthy of the high reputation which
it formerly possessed They say:
The question has been raised and consider
ED, whether it would be better to endeavor to
get along for a few years, without attempting
any considerable Improvements, and then
build in another location, and sell out the
present one; or to effect the necessary i'm
proyements in the present institution, to bring
it up to the requirements of the age, and the
present state Of science as applicable to such
hospitals.
The location is such as no one would select |
for such an object at the present time. The
land connected with it, is altogether too limit
ed, and is badly situated not permitting to
the patients that freedom aud exercise in the
open air, which is desirable in such an insti-
tuition. The hospital buildings are almost sur
rounded by city residences, and are not suita-
BILE for the uses to which they are put They
are low studded, the stories being only eight
and half, and nine feet high in the clear
They are warmed by furnaces in their base
ments, which are very dangerous, and now
nearly worn out
Their ventilation is so imperfect as not to
deserve the name The ventducts are each
but four inches square, opening into attics
fron which the foul air has means of es-
cape. It often ascends through one ventiduct,
but to II turn through another. But for the
natural ventilation through windows and
doors, the contaminated air would often be in
tolerable Its evil effects are plainly visible
in the appearance of the patients. The fire.
quent occurrence of erysipelas in the Hospi-
tall is but one Of its induces. The tables Of
mortality show that erysipelas stands at the
head of acute diseases in fatality here while
wear before last, nineteen cases arc reported to
have occurred from December to June, with
out fatality, which may give some idea Of the
frequency of the disease.
There is an entire want of suitable yards
connected with the buildings.
There are five separate kitchens, with all
the utensils to render them seyerany COM
plete.
The land is of great value, being estimated
by competent Judges to be worth rising two
hundred thousand dollars, Independent of the
buildings, which would purchase land and put
up another establishment in another place
These are the considerations that favor the
first alternative Of the proposition.
On the other hand, the improvements re-
ouired are a thorough change in the mode Of
nected with which, would be the reduction of
the Ave kitchens into one, the removal of the
piggeries, barn, and other nulsances from the
hospital lot, and the construction of yards.
properly inclosed, for the unrestricted exercise
of the patients; and the construction of sew
ers for carrying off the wash and waste water
of the establishment. Other improvements
must be made, if the present Hospital is to be
occupied only for few years, or till another
can be built.
The present time is favorable to this course
of action.
The receipts during the year, including
balance on hand at its commencement. of
S22, $50, Is, have amounted to $76, 76S, 81 and
the expenditures to $53, 636, Sc, leaving a bal
ance in the treasury, at the close of the year,
of $25, ,S5.
From UrAH.-An editorial in the Utah Nescs
thus speaks of the manner in which SANDER
ers Of the fair sex are treated in Utah:
sit is too well known to need repeating,
that if a son of Belial shall defame one of our