Sacramento daily record-union., 1888-11-21
CARING FOR THE INSANE.
Bienuiai Report of the Directors of the
stockton Asylum.

BienuiaI Report OF the Directors of the
Stockton Asylum.
The biennial report of the Directors of
the Insane Asylum at Stockton has Just
been issued from the office of the State
Printer. In their address to the Governor
they say:
The management of this institution, for
the past two years, has been made arduous
and difficult, because of an insufficient ap-
preparation and the largely increased num-
Der of patients 10 whom it was absolutely
necessary to give care and attention, al
though the accommodations were entirely
inadequate for the purpose.
As will be seen by the report of the Med.
ical Superintendent, the number of patients
receiving care aud treatment in this
asylum increased 67 during the wear
ending June SO, 1887, and 90 during
the year ending June so, 1883, at which
time there were ,647 patients in the insti-
tuition. This number is at least 500 in ex-
cess of the number the buildings are de-
signed to accommodate, ana in consequence
not only are the various wards excessively
crowded, but the corridors and attics are
necessarily used to furnish sleeping rooms
for the large number of patients who have
been forced upon the care of the managers
of the institution.
1t was confidently expected that the
overcrowded condition of the wards of the
asylum would be relieved to a limited ex-
tend by transfer of patients to the new
Asylum at Agnews, but, as is well known.
that expectation has not been realized. AL
though an appropriation was made for the
support of patients at Aguews. and the
amount asked for by this Board for the
support of this institution correspondingly
reduced, no transfer of patients has been
made, and all have been retained and SUD-
ported here.
1t is also noticeable fact that the COM
mitments to this asylum have been largely
in excess of those made to the Napa Asy-
lum.
Under the circumstances it has been i'm
possible by the exercise of the ssrictest
economy to meet the necessary require
ments of this institution from the appro.
priations made By the Legislature for its
support. On JuEe 30, 1888, our expendi-
lures exceeded the appropriation BY $12,-
405 d, leaving that deficiency, as shown by
bills now en- file with the State Board of
Examiners. We estimate that there will
be deficiency of at least $4,000 for the
present fiscal year, and respectfully ask
that an appropriation of $27, ,405 q be made
to cover these amounts.
Our failure to obtain the appropriation
asked for in our last report, in order that
many much needed improvements and re-
pairs might be made, with purpose of
protecting and preserving the public pro-
perty, and providing better facilities for
the care of the wards of the State placed
under our control, has rendered it impossi-
bic to carry any OF the proposed plans into
successful operation, while the necessity
for an appropriation has been greatly in
creased by the delay, and the cost of some
OF the repairs will now be much greater
than if they had been made at the proper
time.
APPROPRIATION FOR SUPPORT.
The number of patients in this asylum
at the date of this report is ], 700. Should a
transfer be made from this and the Napa
Asylum of such number as the new asy-
lnm at Agnews will accommodate, il car-
not reasonably be expected that more than
200 Will be taken from this institution:
this will leave 1,500 to be cared for, and
that number will be gradually increased by
commitments. To support this large num-
Der of unfortunates, for the next two years,
will require au expenditure of at least
$3.50, 600 per annum.
1t should be clearly understood that the
reduction in the number of patients will
not propoftionatcly reduce the cost of run
ming this asylum; at present the institution
is overerowded, and the removal of 200 pa
tients would afford relief to limited ex-
tent, yet it would not be possible to reduce
the number of attendants. nor would the
cost OF heating, lighting, supplying water,
etc, to buildings, be lessened in the lesst.
The only saving that will be made to
this institution by the proposed transfer
will be the mere cost of feeding and
clothing the number that may be removed;
and these two items aggregate but about 40
per cent. of the whole cost of their sup
port.