New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-27
CONDITION OF THE INSANE.
MERITS OF THE STATE CARE ACT SET
FORTH.
SECOND ANNUAL REPORT or THE STATE COM
MISSIoN-AN APPROPRIATION OF $4,000
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. DECREASE
IN THE NUMBER Or INSANE.

MISUNDERSTANDING DECREASE
IN THE NUMBER Or INSANE.
Albany, Jan. 20 (specaD.-The second annual re
mort Of the state Commission in Lunacy wac presented
to the Legislature today. 1t has comprehensive
table Of contents, also elaborate index containing
over thousand references ana crosseierences, from
which any subject name or table in the volume can
be found at a glance. Inc pflhclpM points III IIo
report follows;
number in custody october l. lG,002; number OF
asylums 80 TOTAL cost OF asyums 70 october l. lago.
Slt=Ol 800 81 number OF persons empos ed 2,1O1
ota! receipts for lAet year, $Jlj1.OJU IAe cOAdl-
ton Of the state hospitals has improved dHlns { Ele
progressive ard wholesome AID justly enuued 70 tlle
coincidence OF the public Inc cOAdluoh Vl lle
b. medical and executive Skill to administration,
discipline and results of treatment, but the 6uiiqhgs
County esyluns the is Substantially true, except
to the imptrment OF discipline ana genera! ehGiyy
by reason Of improper distribution OF responsibility;
Inc Monroe C0un,y Asylum is also declared TO lie
well conducted" aud worthy of confidence The
properly managed
When the new Natteawan Hospital for Insane Grim
lnals completed the present as lum fos mat class
al Auburn Will be available for such use As tae Legs
lature direct The number Of state hospalSo o
eight: including furniture 10 october l. Ie9o;
s. $50 1870 o. their present capacity, 5000; actual
per capita cost for each inmatei @l,4ol nunIe, OF
employees. 1900; cost for maintenance past year,
THe present per capita cost at the four state hos
pitas heretofore known acute is reported a. 1ol
lows: Tfica state Hospital. ~ So Niddetown state
homeopathic Hospital, SIS o3 Hudson River state
average cost being 80 20. In 1875, with p1ce' u
most commodities higher than now, inc average per
% Saslt g. f 90. Oh nine similar ''''u'0"' O' ~
Much space devoted to the operations of the state
Care law of 1850. When 1t was passed. ApIl L.
there 2.2oo insane poor in poerhouses and A.
was reduced TO 5000 by death. discharge, ETC. since
the passage of the act the Commission has transferred
all insane pS9r from ne rues aG n Ps from ON JAM
uarJ 1, inst, TO oo- al inc present tlIne t"ViH
The Commission estimates that the 1G92 insane poor
in poo houses on January VII lie reoGeu Us 'i
end of the year b. deaths. discharges ana removals
state hospitals through ena cement OF acrnm,noua,
tOnS therein under appropriations already nauc ~
the number 10 be then provided for will be 81 ~ the
act STIMULATES for additional buildings to cost, com,
sum to lie appropriated by the Legislature Will be
S454,s50. When these buildings are built and all IN.
s % h pU1F afe Eject S G SBd the e viii be
by the state as tax on properly nhe tl'e 81 III ~
The asserted superiority of county in respect
except through greatly diminished STANDARD OF carr
incident t. action by supcrintendents Of the poor.
whereby there is practical Increase Of pdupersIn
ard denial to insane of opportunities of restoration TO
An outcry abou, the "paupenzahon Of state hos
pitals7 his fee raised since The passage OF The state
Care act The Commission repudates the woNi
"pauper' in no proper sense applicable to great
mates Of the State hospitals about 500 are private Or
pay patients. all the being supported at public
efG snpppoTiSg ca; only about per bflai
pitfalls during the last two years ONLY per cent WeIo
Originally committed insane from p0OrhouscN
Without assuming to be certain OF al It's facts or
right in all its deductions, the Commission feels war
rantcd in concluding that relatively t. population ING
number of fresh cases of insanity curing me last
wear has not kept up the ratio OF former years tho
humber reported for l9s9 was 593 and for $500 IL
521. This relative decrease Is imputed iaFGeF ID
more intelligent and sM1ul treatment ana 70 ue III,
crcasing number Of insane accorded the Dehen' %
The policy Of having high-priced private patients
in state hospitals and giving them scale Of care ana
accommodation commensurate with what ta.v pay,
ignored, is deprecated.
The beneficial efcct of employment whenever pract
results is pointed out enforced by reference TO
se te commission laInns found Of 1878 pdion
"werc either actively employed or being amused and
Sospitals are discussed and commended to legislative
favor it is held that The state ought 10 establish
TO all the Others for study and research ana ofIbih
"o Recommendations are set forth to th. rumber o:
twenty. and cover the following matters; !, an ap.
preparation of $4,000 to carry cut tle stat Care
Insane Criminals at A4.w: De UTILIZED as as Sac
hospital b that an ss:z1 he provided for I
given the sane Fs<1r over idiot insane
ol46S Or Gs s % ns se pa Of OF @ G m
Asylum be bought by the state, and tie Rochester
State Hospital be established in stead: g. ina,
money be apDropriated 10 provide outside non fire
escapes at all tie state hospital buildings, occupied
by insane patients; = that pathological 1bOrao!I
be established = that all receipts Of the State
hospitals be paid into the state tre1s4cyi en- ,
monthly estimates, and staple articles bought on
contract; o, that tile salaries o; officers and employees
be uniform for each grade, and that assistant physicians
be graded 10, that all grades Of assistant ply Saus
be trar sferrae II, ta boards OF aeers or tu ecs
be reduced in number to five 20 hold for definite
terms. and 90 hold other executive o: legislative
state Office L. that the reports Of said boards be made
TO the Commission -. thai all power, relating 10
the insane stl possessed ny the stat Board 81
Charities be transferred to the Commission; u. thai
law regulate the matter Oi paroles, not 10 exceed thirty
DAYS; Is that the law be amended 70 prevent cap"
and more strictly to fix responsibility for the escape
Of dangerous lupatcs: 16 that the power OF discharge
he vested solely in medical superintendent; u. thai
better safeguard, he provided As to service Of legal
DapeTs on insane IS that power 70 approve certificates
IF iunacv be give. 70 The supreme Court Justices.
county judges, and superior City Court judge N any
mart of the state 49, that certificates % luuacX BE-
approved by tho judge before The patient is adlttcd
N all cases: 20 that law provide for admission o.
Voluntary or uncomm!tted patients under proper re
gtr!ct!Ons.