St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1893-03-23

lettuce, 1900 heads cucumDers, <oo
dozens cabbage 2670 heads; potatoes,
$40 bushels; celery, 5000 heads ensll-
age corn, 200 tons; hay, 70 TONS pork,
1867 pounds; beef, 146 pounds; milk,
1886 quarts and other larm products
in like proportion, amounting at market
value to $9793.99. And to give them
an idea Of the manner in which they
clay in good things for their patients III
theiall in the line OF appetizers, Will give
Won few figures Piccalilli, two barrels;
pickles, six barrels mnce meat, two
barrels; sweet pickles, 20 gallons; fruit
and berries 275 quarts; marmaade "a
quarts; jelly "a quarts.
The first patient was admitted into
this asylum Oct IS, 1912. The whole
number received during the first half
century has been 5943-3046 males and
2S97 females. The recoverics and I'M
provements during this period have been
seventeen and three-ffths and twenty
four and iour-hths per cent, respectively.
The simple humane work, not to speak
of the curative work OF this asylum for
the past fifty years has far more than
paid for all the labor and outlay OF
money.
There have been under treatment the
past year sci, 80 OF whom have been
discharged as improved in mental
health, and 81 as recovered. A noble
record.
In April last the Walker Cottage, a
summer resort for the inmates OF the
asylum, was opened on the shores OF
Lake Penacook, about three miles dis
tant, where the trustees have purchased
about 2G acres of land, embracing the
most picturesque portion of the land
bordering upon this beautiful sheet OF
water.
This asylum is public, sem-charita-
bic institution, and not designed for the
acquisition and division of profits
among private shareholders. Its object
has had the sympathy Of many benevo-
lent persons, many OF whom have mani
tested it by substantial gifts and legacies.
In most cases no particular directions
were given as to how these funds should
be used, and in the earlier days consid.
cradle of these funds were used for the
construction and diminishing ofbuildings,
but this practice was deemed unwse and
unjust to the donors, and the trustees
ordered all funds which had thus been
expended to be restored to their full
amount, from accruing income, and for
ever after maintained thereat. This has
been nearly accomplished, and the asy-
lum will soon be able to place this whole
amount upon its books. This sum now
amounts to 5000, II | .35, and by an act
OF the legislature this amount is to re-
main as permanent fund, the income
only of which to be expended as the
trustees deem best for the asylum and
its inmates.
The superintendent of this institution
and their terms of service have been as
follows; Geo. Chandler, 1S4245; An
drew Mcfarland 1869; John f.
Taylor, 1S52-57 Jesse p. Bancroft,
IS57-S2; Chas p. Bancroft, 1882.
The name of DR.. Jesse p Bancroft will
be familiar to many of the older resi-
dents, as a former resident and practic-
ing physician in st. Johnsbury. During
his uperintendency of this asylum many
improvements were naugurated, and
his great ability and wise direction of
the affairs of the asylum will long be re
membcred
DR.. Chas. p. Bancroft, (son of Dr.,
Jesse p. Bancrolt) the present superin-
tendent OF the asylum, was born in st.
ohnsbury, but left that town when
about four years ofage He has not
only inherited the skill and rare ability
of his father, but has kept pace with all
the later discoveries and ideas in the
line of his profession. He is not only
skilful physician in the science of treat
ing mental diseases, but his great execu-
tive ability in the management of this i'm
portant institution is widely acknowl-
edged. He has gathered about himself
a very able and efficient corps of assist
ants. DR., Edward French his first as
slstant, has had large experience in the
asylum at Brattleboro, and is very
skilful in treating mental diseases. DR.,
A. c. Mason, his second assistant, is also
skillful and successful practitioner in
the treatment of mental and physical
diseases. He is also a Vermonter, from
Addison county.
The asylum, as DR.. Bancroft says in
his last yearly report, is too often re.
| garded as cruel house of detention
where pandemonum reigns, and where
| but little is attempted in way of intelli-
gent treatment. This is amistaken idea,
and all entertaining such opinion would
he greatly surprised if they were to visit
this institution and see what is being
done for the insane by the modern
methods of treatment. X.