Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-01-01
STATISTICS OF OUR INSANE.
Report of the Superintendent of the
Stockton Asylum

The report of the Superintendent of the
Insane Asylum at Stockton for the year 1850
shows that the number of patients July l,
1880, in the Asylum was 1,1l6. VI this
number 100 were males and 326 females.
The number admitted during the year to
June 3Oth was 1,241, of whom $50 were
males and 351 females. The year began with
1,127 patients; ia were admitted, 40 recov-
cred, were discharged improved, l unim.
proved, ~ died and escaped. The ratio OF
deaths was lower than for nineteen years. 1t
being $50. The ratio of recoyeries is not
great, owing to the large proportion OF
chronic and incurable cases. Few patients
are removed by relatives when they become
harmless, because so large proportion
have neither home nor kindred. DIR. Shurt-
left says, with regret, that sometimes patients
are sent by counties who properly belong
in county hospitals; certainly they are not
properly in the Insane Asylum as lawful
State benefcia1ies. Their admission is pro-
hibitej by law, but it can not be enforced IN
less observed by committing magistrates.
The doctor says: SIT is source of great
qualification and encouragement that / am
able to report that for five years past there
has been gradual amelioration OF the con-
dition of the inmates of this asylum. OBJ
jectionable features are being removed, and
The more suitable apartments are being re-
lieved and improved, and brought nearer and
nearer desired standard of accommodation.
But, while the occups ioa of the pro-
jected new structure will supersede and dis
continue the use of the most repulsiye exist
ing features of the asylum, l must still
hopefully look forward to yet needed extern
sion of brick, to take the place of present
unsafe wooden building. 1t might seem IN
reasonable to recommend an appropriation
for this to the next Legislature, and Irefrain
from so doing. The care of the insane is .
burden so heavy that it seems almost an IN
solved problem if it can be borne, under the
present system, without reasonable COM
plant. 1t is apparently perpetual struggle
between the idea of economy and the senti-
ment of humanity. 1t is my purpose to look
fairly upon both sides, and in doing this |
should be remiss in an Acknowledged duty
were l to fail to call attention to want so
manifest as that above alluded to-"
The counties that sent ia patients during
the year were: Alameda 2, Alpine l, ANA
dor 6, Calaveras ., Contra Costa 3 Fresno
8, Humboldt l, Kern 8, Mariposa i, MERGED
4. Sacramento 6, San Berr ardino 3, San
Diego l, San I cisco 6, San joaquin &c.
Santa Clara l, Santa Cruz l, Shasta 2, Sierra
2, Stanisaus ., Tulare D, Tuolumne >, 4uba
u
The foregoing statement will be noticed
particularly because of the remarkable show
ing that San 10 qlin county, in which the
Asylum is located, sent nearly one-third
of the whole number. The nationalities Of
the ia admitted are as follows Arkansas l,
California s. Georgia l. Illinois 3, Indiana 2,
Iowa l, Kentucky 2, Maine 2, Massachusetts
l, Minnesota 2, Missouri z, New Hampshire
2, New Io k Z, Ohio 3, Or, gon l, Pennsyl-
Wisconsin l, Austria l, Canada 6, China 3,
England 8 France 4, Germany s, Greece l,
Ireland 10, Italy 4, Mexico 5, O5aheite l.
Scotland 3. Switzerland l. Total ia
OF the ia, insanity appeared first among
the greatest number of patients between the
ages of % and so years, and the least be-
TWEEN 90 and 70 and under 10 years. The
greatest single cause of insanity among the
ia OF the known cases was secret vice ;
the next greatest, intemperance the next,
business troubles.
The classes of insanity were Mania 81 ;
mOnomania, %; melancholia, II demsntia,
20. Of the Ia, 81 were married, 70 were
single, widows and 2 widowers. OF occu-
pations, % were laborers, II housewives, u
miners, Y farmers, and the others nliscel-
laneous. Of the Y deaths, is were caused
by consumption, 10 by paralysis and by
epilensy. The report shows that from 1851
to 1880 the number of admissions was S, ISL ;
recovered. 4, 115; discharged uncured, GA
died, 2,5S2 escaped, 294. The Treasurer
reports that he received or had in the general
fund 1913 963 "A, and during the year he ex-
pended for the Asylum S175.79O "A, leaving
on hand June 80, 1880, S38, 172 so.