The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1877-02-27
Asylum at Kalamazoo.

La the Biennial Report OF the Con-
missioners OF the Penal, Reformatory, |
and Charitable Institutions OF the |
State. we find the following:
The hospital at Kalamazoo contin-
ues under the most excellent manage |
ment OF DIR. Z. II. Van Deusen, who |
from the first, 1859, has directed its OPP |
erations. Commencing then with q
small number, and very imperfect ac-
commodations, il has grown TO be
large and frst-class asylum, with ca
pacity for coo patients.
From its organization TO the present
time. q period OF lS years, it has af-
forded to the worst OF human maladies
all the alienation that humanity and
science can offer.
II has furnished board and medical
treatment in the aggregate amounting
TO 23l, 1852 weeks, vt a total average
cost of S4.9l per week for the whole
time. This includes both county and
private patients, the average cost Tor
the former for the year 1876 being s+.9S
and the latter. 80. 30.
This great number OF weeks repre-
sents so much OF individual suffering
and at the same time illustrates the
great efforts made by the State for its
alleyiation. If combined in one life
these 23l, 1852 weeks would extend it to
A. .45l wears. OF all the patients whose
aggregated lives in this asylum make
M this sum of years, there has been no
two alike: they cannot be attended to
or prescribed for en- bloc. or in mass;
each requires and must have particu-
lar study Of his case, and q treatment
that will differ from all others. The
aggregate amount of care is under
stoed when We make IL appear that for
the Is years past ut Kalamazoo it has
been equal 10 the care OF one person so
afflicted for 4, AL years.
DIR. Van Deusen, with his own won
derful faculty for obtaining and re-
tanning n knowledge of each patient
and all his antecedents that bear upon
the case, and aided in all departments
by his own worthy assistants, is able
| to provide each occupant with such
special consideration as his case re-
quires.
The board OF commissioners, in their
many visits TO this institution, have al
ways found much TO praise and little
10 criticise. All the wards, rooms, cor
ridors, aud walls have an air OF perfect
cleanliness, evincing unceasing atten-
ton. The atmosphere in all depart
ments, when the difficulties OF hospital
routine are considered, is wonderfully
free from offensive odors; and the san
itary condition of the institution, aside
from the physical maladies connected
with mental disease, which more OF
less obtains in all cases, is in the high
est degree satisfactory.
The whole number of patients treat.
ed during the last two years, October
|, 1874, to September 80, 1876, was IL
0l6-males SOC; females, so. OF these
12g recovered, or about 12i per cent.
lO6 discharged improved. Improved,
as used here, means "a degree OF i'm
provement enabling the patient to re'
sumo his usual relations and employ
ments. but not absolute restoration 10
perfect mental soupdness'); 80 unim
proved, and 65 died.
This shows a very small percentag,
of recoveries, and does not fairly rep
resent them as il would il the calculs
ton were based upon the number o.
patients received in the course OF th'
two years alone: but as there we're re
naming IN tne uospith OotcocA - fc
"a, 4Si patients, IL is presumed tina
among them we're the accumulated
chronic patients Of former years. Th'
percentage OF recoveries is not at bes
!. 80 large as il should be, and will b
!, when a better system Of Management
in regard 10 this most pitiable class o
sufferers shall have been adopted an,
enforced throughout the State.
Our great asylums NAV be construc
: ted with all the appliances that scienc
can suggest and determine. and physi
clans and superintcndents obtaine'
combining with warm hearted an
; faithful service all the learning tha
$ this speciality in the profession affords
: yet IL il remains part OF public polio
9 10 send them only chronic cases, G
: chronic cases In large proportion, th
I percentage Of cures must remain b'
small.