New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-11-27
Meat T ash e Sns Donitry dS
fci.,r ln,ay be substituted by cornmeal and

N.ssrs Macdonald, Brown AM Reeves. armed
with this report, able to audit with ntelli-
renee the estimates Of the superintendent OF the
eight State hospitals. Some OF the hospitals were
buying an excessive quantity of food; others not
quite sufficient These estimates were equalized,
and each hospital was put upon the same basis.
Speaking Of this matter yesterday Goodwin
Brown said: 1.-THE insane patients in every hos
ptal will now get equally good food and an
equally large quantity Of it. Moreover. they re-
ceiye the same scientific medical treatment 1t
will be immateral to tho friends Of an insane
patient as to which of the hospitals shall re-
ceive the afflicted person Formerly there was
great inequality between the hospitals. The acute
cases were packed off to Willard Asylum while
those cases which were thought to be durable
were sent to hospitals where they were better fed
and received better medical care. Now every hos
initial will enjoy the standard Of good care OF
its patients.
"The Commissioners in Lunacy aiming to re-
Auce the expense OF maintaining the hospitals
without In any way lowering the character OF the
care they give to patients With this aim they
suggested to the eight superintendent OF the hos
pitfalls that they should appoint from their num-
Der committee OF three to buy the staple supplies
of the institutions in their care: namely. coal.
wood, groceries, flour, sugar. etc. This Committee
on Supplies advertised for proposals for the large
quantity Of such articles needed by the hospitals
yearly, instead Of each hospital advertising sepa-
ratey as formerly. and thus In open competition
secured most excellent terms for the State. The
State hospitals thus In future will buy by whole
sale, instead of, It WERE by retail Having pop
ulation Of $500 persons TO feed the Committee on
Supplies make big purchases at low rates.
and as the State pays cash. exceptionally low
rates have been obtained. The hospitals consume
$50 tons Of sugar a year and $50 barrels Of -four
month"
In the course Of the month of October the Com
Ynissioners in Lunacy cut down the estimates $s5-
ooo and for the month of November they have cut
them down $35.000 DR.. Macdonald thinks that
further great economies be made. I'VE are
enforcing a policy" he said. ''of having the in
mates Of the insane asylums make all their own
clothing. The inmates Of New-Yorks asylum
Blackwelrs Island do So and 1t is perfectly FEAST
BILE In all the State hospitals All farm work
also ought to be done by the inmates of the hos
pitals It will be good for the health of the pa
TENTS TO have them work out Of DOORS All the
vegetables and farm products. hay and the like.
thus can be raised by the inmates Of the hos
pitals and large saved. The inmates of the
hospitals also ought to make the mattresses OF
these institutions. We are gradually substituting
hair mattresses for the old straw ones"
One Of the novel reforms which the Commits
sionsrs In Lunacy have started out to bring about
u the disuse Of tobacco in any form In the hos
uitsIS Speaking of this matter yesterday Dr.
Macdonald said: 1T Ia highly unwise to give in
sane patients who are q peculiarly nervous class
Of people. tobacco either to chew or to smoke. We
found upon investigation that the supplying of
tobacco to the inmates Of the hospitals was cost
ine the State the large sum Of $4,000 annually
But that was not the worst Of It; the health OF
the patients 10 seriously affected. and when smok.
ing Il permitted there II danger Of nre One hos
pl1ai has had four fires In the last year. ALL there
T. reason to think. the result Of tobac, o. There
q M DANCER to the health of the patients in sud-
denly dsprvins them Of thsir tobacco. Why. on
Wasd's Island there are ZOO men patients who
have NOT used tobacco In any form since ls77, aad
- AZ n sxcsilsnt health We have. therefore.