Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-02-14

INSANITY IN MASSACHUSETTS, annual
reports of the trustees and superintendent OF
the State Lunatic Hospital at Worcester, for
the year ending Oct. /, 1862, have been pub
ished. From these reports we learn that the
total number of patients admitted during the
year was 22l-l0S Of whom were males and
lib females. The whole number under treat
ment during the year was G00-202 males and
3OS females; l24 were discharged recoyered
80 improved, ! not improved, while 81 have
died. Those reported recovered were re-
turned tC their homes restored to good de-
gree Of mental and physical health. Of those
discharged improved, several are regarded by
their friends as having recovered their full
measure OF mental health. Of those admit
tee during the year covered by the report,
eighty-one were discharged as recovered be-
fore the close of the year. OF the three hun
dred and ninety-siX patients remaining in the
hospital at the close of the year, one hundred
and titty-seven are supposed to have no set
In regard to the causes of insanity, the
most prominent is i'll health From this cause
% males and 81 females were admitted dur
ing the year, and since the hospital was estab-
llshed COB females and PIG males; Of palsy, 7
males and two females; excessive labor, + I;
domestic troubles Gone of each sex) dis
appointed love and disappointment in ambi-
ton, each, all females seduction >; Dscu-
mary trouble /; intemperance, 10 males and
only females; use OF opium, 3. The ex-
element in regard to splutualsm appears to
be SubSiding, AZ not one was sent there dur
ing the year 1862 from this cause; but preyi-
ously p were committed. Domestic trouble
heretofore has brought Az patients to the in
stltutiOn, Us males and 3I9 females; last
wear, however, there were only two, one of
each sex. Excessive labor caused the insan-
ity OF 4 persons; previously Of 81. Religious
excitement females previously of 1856
males and l12 females. Jealousy produced
insanity in only one case, that of a female;
previously % males and u females. Intern.
perance has sent to this asylum 1856 males
and So females, and the use of tobacco male
and females.
One of the persons who died during the
year, OF old age, has been an inmate OF the
institution for nearly thirty years. Only one
other person has been in the Institution for a
longer period. Only one patient committed
suicide during the year; previously 10 males
and females. There has been, during the
thirty years OF the existence of the asylum a
majority OF unmarried patients admitted viz
A|VA hidlCo anu lttO IGludlHS unmarried. to
1875 males and 1865 females married; 1873
widowers and 397 widows: 125 clergymen
(l3 in 1862 have been admitted during the
eXistenceof the asylum, 50 clerks, sos farmers,
IL lawyers, 40S laborers, III merchants. 80
machiulsts 6G operatives in mills, 20 printers.
229 shoemakers, lG sea captains, lO4 sailors,
% students and 81 teachers. OF the females
Ills housekeepers, (65 during the year 1922
no houSemaids, I4S operatives in mills. 332
SeamstresseS, "a teachers, 81 school girls. and
80 tailoresses. DIR. Merrick Bemis, the SUI
perlntendent says: 1t gives us pleasure TO be
able to report good degree OF success in our
efforts to amuse, instruct and crafty in our
patients wholesome love of variety, and to
to them many new subjects of
thought, by lectures, readings, social enter
tainments Of various kinds, by books, pictures
and maps, and by every means which our
limited income would allow. Our lecture
season continued with some Interruptions
through the entire year. Concerts of sacred
music have also frequently been given by
friends from the city. Sociables are often
held during the long winter evenings, at which
both sexes join in all the games common on
such occasions.