The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-02-08

l i J III
The above summary shows that the per-
manent population of the asylum is in
creased but one at the end of the fiscal
year, although during the year there have
been admitted forty two patients, thirty
two have been discharged and nine have
died-a total of forty-on The lowest
monthly attendance of patients during the
year has been $50, the highest 1856, or an
average monthly attendance of 1872. The
crowded condition of the asylum made it
necessary to cease receiving more patients,
except as vacancies occurred from discharge
or death; and the limit by the
permission of your honorable board
was placed at. 1870 males and 65
females. This number fills the build
ing, causing occupancy of every available
space wherein a patient can be placed with
any degree Of safety. / would state, in
this connection, that l have been obliged
to refuse number of applications for ad-
mission of insane persons to the asylum,
on the ground that the institution cannot
with safety accommodate any more at pres
emit.
The general health of the inmates has
been good. No epidemic has prevailed, and
most of the fatalities have been from
causes that were progressive and origin
ally produced the mental disease with
which the patient suffered. There have
been few cases of fever of a malarial
character. also some cases of erysipelas,
but no deaths from any of these causes. In
April last a tragedy occurred whereby a pa
| tient, Sing Lee, Chinaman, lost his life at
the hands of another patient. This was
thoroughly investigated at the time by the
coroner, and also brought before the board
While no blame could be attached to any
one, yet it serves to illustrate the great
danger which exists in the crowding to-
gether OF such irresponsible beings,
especially when there are no facilities to
separate those whose insane impulses have
homicidal tendencies. Fortunately, the
new buildings, now in course of construc-
ton, when completed and fitted up, will
enable the management to place the admin
lstering OF the affairs of the asylum and
the treatment OF the patients upon new
basis that will do away with many, if not
all, of the features which are at present so
detrimental to the physical and mental well
being of the patients and initiate so heavily
against any attempt at rational treatment.
In fact, this number of patients, crowded
together as they must be under
present circumstances, render futile
any effort at systematic treatment,
and makes the asylum little better than a
house OF detention in which we do the best
we can to attend to the physical needs of
the patients.
Our percentage of discharges was graft
flying under the circumstances. l am salts
fed they would have been greater had we
not been subject to so much noise and ex-
element around the buildings. During the
whole of the past summer and fall, the
great number of men and teams employed
around the grounds and buildings, and the
noise and confusion incidental to the pro-
gress of such work. have had a demoraliz-
ing effect upon the inmates, and have also
increased the labors Of the attendants very
materially. We are anxiously looking for
ward to the time when ouietude
side OF the institution, feeling certain that
1t will be conducive of a greater degree of
quletude within.
Some of the patients discharged during
the past year have been, by my advice
permitted to go upon parole to the care of
their friends, with the under5 landing that
should it become necessary, they could be
returned at once. There were cases that
had made considerable progress toward re-
coyery, and, in my Judgment simply
needed the quiet OF home surroundings and
friends to complete the cure. L am pleased
to be able to state that this method has
proven successful in all the cases paroled,
and none have been returned. In some
cases, where deemed it for the PATIENTS
good, l have counseied the obtaining of an
order OF the court for the removal OF pa
tlents to the guardianship of their friends.
These were patients OF whose eventual
cure felt less sure than l did of the cases
released upon parole, and there
fore was not willing to take
upon myself the responsibility. One
OF the cases has been returned but some
have gone on to perfect recovery, and feel
satisfied they would not have done so had
they remained here.
There are great many matters pertain
ing to the present condition OF the asylum
that might bring before the board III this
report, but realize that many of the o0-
lectlonabls features are being remedied as
speedily as is within the power of the
board, or that they cannot be remedied
until the additions to the asylum are COM
pleted.
The sanitary condition of the asylum
building has been good, considering the
overcrowded condition. The abundant sup
ply of water furnished by the pumping
plant enables us to keep the closets and
and sinks thoroughly flushed, thus remov-
ing at once all deleterious material, pre-
venting any accumulation of filth and keep
Ing the sewer pipes from fouling.
The financial condition of the board and
treatment fund will be found stated in
table 4, in connection with the ledger bal
ance sheet attached. The cost per capita
per diem for care and treatment for the
the past year has been $40 cents.
FARM AND DAIRY.
Statements of products of farm will be
found in table No Z; also see table s for
separate statement of dairy, which is in
cluded in that OF the farm. The Jersey herd
has done fairly well, and kept the asylum
supplied with suficiency of a superior
article OF butter and milk. Our stock and
teams have done well during the past year.
We have an abundance of vege-
tables for the tables all through the