Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1892-12-30
THE STATE INSANE.
THE BIENNIAL REPORT OF THE
TRUSTEES.
The Western Washington Hospital
for the Insane In "a Satisfactory
Condition.

Board of Trustees of the Western
Washington Hospital for the Insane
at Steilacoom, Messrs. \. b. Stewart,
George ID. Shannon and w. J. Fife,
to the Governor and Legislature, has
been furnished the press. 1t is
for the term ending September 30,
1892. Since the previous report there
has been no change in the board or
in the staff Of resident officers. On
October /, 1890, the number Of pa
tients was 37S; number admitted dur
ing the term, 3S1; number under care
and treatment during the term, 739 i;
number discharged during the term,
321; number died during the term,
II; number escaped during the term,
4; total number of vacancies created,
1886: number of patients in hospital
September 80, 363, of whom 269 were
males and 81 females; decrease dur
ing the term, Is; average number OF
patients for first year, 1888; second
year, 329; total expenditure for the
term, $165, ,430.60; total expenditures
for second year, $SO,225.4O; cost per
patient for first year, $213.59; cost per
patient per week, $4.45; cost per day
SO cents and 3 mills; cost per patient
for second year, $224.96; cost per pa
tient per week, $4.69; cost per patient
per day, 624 cents; average cost for
Two years, $2l9.27; average cost per
day for two years, 60 cents and 8
mills. These figures show that the
last two years the cost of maintaining
the insane in this hospital has been a
little over 60 cents o day, which in
cludes all expenses of caring for the
unfortunates, including clothing,
good suit of clothes to wear away and
a sum of money not exceeding $40, if
INDECENT, when discharged, and of
burial in case OF death. The cost is
slightly greater than that shown in
the previous report.
The last Legislature made appropri-
ations for the following purposes: For
a new wing, $50, 600; for new water
system, $4,000. The new wing was
built. 1t is a substantial brick struc-
ture three stories high and accommo-
dates 16O patients. The new water
system has been finished, and the in.
stitution now has fine supply of
pure water, both for hospital use and
for irrigating. Other improvements
mentioned are the following:
The laundry and boiler house build
ing was remodeled and raised second
story, painted, and additional laundry
machinery purchased. Two new
sixty-horse power boilers were added
to the two already in use, and large
smoke stack built. A new dynamo
was purchased to replace the old one,
which was not large enough to supply
all the lights needed, and was ex-
changed in part payment for the new
one. A cottage was built the past
summer on our new farm. This will
accommodate twenty patients during
the summer months, while they are
engaged in farm work. A hose house
was also built and equipped with hose
and three hose carts, and fire COM
pany is organized among the officers
and employees of the hospital.
The report makes detailed reference
to the Improvements needed, and asks
that the Legislature grant appropria-
tions as follows:
For new wing and furniture &65 ,OOO)
and sewer pipe ($5,2O0), $4,000; for
remodeling and enlarging the kitchen
and building in connection Herewith
a cold storage and ice plant and bak-
cry with rotary oven, $4,000; for ce-
menting basement and painting build
ing, $6,257; for maintenance of the
hospital for the year ending September
80, 1898, at SIG per month on estimat-
ed average of 400 patients per day,
$76,8 800; for maintenance of the hos
pital for the year ending September
80, 1894, at SIG per month on an
estimated average of 480 per day, $92,-
100; for improvements and repairs,
$1,000.
The Trustees say that they have held
regular meetings at which, besides the
transaction of the business OF the hos
pital, they have made thorough in
spection of the wards and beds of the
hospital, talked with the patients and
considered their complaints when
there were any. They have also made
many unofficial visits, and state with
pleasure that they have uniformly
found the hospital in good condition,
and the patients we'll cared for. The
board recommend a change in the law
governing the advertising for supplies
by making the time three days instead
of two weeks. On the subject OF the
recovery of patients. Superintendent
John w. Waughop, NJ. D., makes some
interesting observations. Recovery
from insanity" he says, "does not
mean permanent cure in a great ma
jority of cases. Insanity depends upon
brain disease, and brain diseased is
probably never again quite as good as
before. The germs of the disease seem
to remain, and, under favorable condi.
tions, develop a new attack. The rec.
ords of every asylum show the same
names recurring over and over again
as the years 60 by. There has been nc
case of suicide during the two years
although numerous attempts were
made. There were four escapes, one