The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-12-25

year ending September so. 1898, at SIC
per month on estimated average OF 40
For maintenance of the hospital ior the
year ending September so, 1894. at $40
per month on an estimated average OF
For Improvements and repairs . 1000
TOTAL OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. -$256 All
Of the 365 patients in the asylum Octo-
Der l, 1882, 269 were male and ninety-four
female.
Superintendent Waughop in his report
says: We began the first year with 37S
patients. and closed it with 3O3-a decrease
OF seventy-tive. The reason of this de-
crease was the removal of 122 patients to
the Eastern Washington Hospital tor the
Insane. Twenty were transferred Nav s,
1891. and lo2 July II, 1891. During the
second year 172 were admitted, or thirty
seven less than the first year. The reason
of eiess number for the second year is
that patients on the east side of the
mountains are for the most part sent to
the Eastern Washington hospital at Medi-
cal Lake.
The whole number of patients under
care and treatment for the two years was
759. Of these twelve were admitted twice,
making the whole number of persons
treated 747. During the two wears 100
were discharged as recovered. None of
these were discharged more than once in
the same year. Eighty were discharged
as improved, and nine as unimproved.
No account was taken of the condition of
the I'D transferred. One was discharged
as not insane, a man who was suffering
from prolonged drinking only; four es-
capped; seventy-one died.
During the two years there were 3SI adj
missions OF 500 persons. Of these 2l4 were
first attacks; 167 had been insane before
and had been treated in this or other hos
pitfalls. The largest number on our roll at
any one time was 419; the smallest num-
Der 300. The average daily number 1S9O-9l
was 1888; for 1892, 329; for the two wears.
355. The percentage of recoveries on ad-
mission was. for the first year, 81. 40; for
the second, 20 "a; average for the two
years, 27.S7. The mortality during the
first year, on the whole number treated,
was 10 per cent; during the
second year, 6.10; average mortality
for the two years, $50. The percentage
for the first fiscal year, both for recoveries
and deaths. should be somewhat greater.
on account OF the removal of 122 patients.
two and onehaif months before the end of
the year. to the other hospital. The per-
centage of recoveries depends great deal
on the person making them. The standard
is not the same with all. Some cases
marked recovered by one, would be
marked as improved" by others. Unless
the patient is restored TO his usual health
he ought not to be considered 'recoy-
cred" This is the rule followed in
this hospital. as is shown by the fact that
during the first year thrty-seven were
discharged as improved" and during the
second year forty-three as "improved."
Those discharged as improved usually are
cases that are progressing favorabiy, and
have homes to which they can go and be
cared for. Such cases are apt to be- bene-
fitted by this course. Many of them go on
to recovery, and but few are returned
within year. So the real percentage of
recoveries is greater than our records
show.
Recovery from insanity does not mean
permanent cure In great majority of
cases. Insanity depends upon brain dis
ease; and a brain diseased Is probably
never again quite "a good as before. The
germs of the disease seem to remain and
under favorable conditions develop new
attack. At any rate insanity is prone to
recur. The records of every asylum show
the same names recurring over and over
again as the years go by. DR.. Thurman
OF England, some years ago. writing on
the subject OF the durability of insanity as
shown By the statistics for forty-four wears
of the York Retreat, SAYS: 'In round
numbers, then, CT ten persons attacked bv
insanity, five recover and five die, sooner
or later, during the attack. OF the five
who recover, not more than two remain
well during the rest of their lives: the
other three sustain subsequent attacks.
during which at least two of them die
But, although the picture is thus an I'M
favorable one, it's very far from justifying
the popular prejudice that INSANITY is viz
tuaiy an lncurabie disease; and the view
il presents is much modified by the long
intervals which often occur between the
attacks. during which interval OF mental
health lin many cases from ten TO twenty
years duration) the individual has lived
al hu of fak
Statistics of American asylums do not
present any more favorable results.
II affords me pleasure to report that we
have had no case of suicide during the
two years. This is one thing that is ever
present as source of anxiety in an asv-
Ium, and It's occurrence always produces
shock lust as it does anyw here else With
so many patients suffering from melan-
cholia and suicidal i'm pulses. the wonder
IS that We have not bad several 10 record
instead vi none. That we have had none,
although numerous attempts were made,
is strong testimony to the Watchfulness
and fidelity Of those in immediate charge
OF the patients.
Among those dying were BENJAMIN
Hooper and W. c. Wood. both without
known relatives Uncle Bennie" came
with the first patients from Monticello
August II. ISL. ana his name was the first
on the hospital register. He kept this
place Tor nineteen years. nye months and
one day. and died January -. 1891. aged
about 50 years We still have SIX LETT of
the twenty-one that came twentv-one
years ago-wnich shows the longevity of
the chronic insane. Mr.. Wood died after
sixteen years in the hospital.
During the twentv-one years of the ex-
isience of the hospital, ], sS3 patients have
been admitted. % these .i$3 have been
discharged, 49, have died and 363 remain.
have not seen the census returns for $500
and am not able TO present any general
statistics Of insanity.
IL IS quite commonly believed that in