New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-10-13
TWENTY THOUSAND INSANE.
REPORT OF THE STATE COMMISSION IN
LCNACY.
INTERESTING FIGURES AS TO THE CAUSES OF
MENTsL DISTURBANCE. AND THE PAREN-
TAGE AND OCCUPATIONS OF
THE PATIENTS

THE PATIENTS.
Albany. Oct. 1.-THE sixth annual report Of the
state Commission in Lunacy has just been re-
ceived from the State printer 1t is volume Of
700 pages. 1t shows that there now 10000 CONF
mitted insane patients under treatment in State.
city and private institutions. all Of whom are
registered in the Office Of the Commission at
Albany. together with the main features Of each
There was a net increase during the year OF $50
patients There decrease in the private
asylum population Of 1O7 during the year
The cost Of maintaining the insane in the State
institutions for the past year during which there
was an average population OF S.SO6. was 81 627 7G6
The system of requiring State hospitals to esti-
mate in advance to the Lunacy Commission for
supplies desired for each month has been a graft
flying success the per capita rate for the year
having been 1854 81 against s2l6 II for the last
year under the old system
In the II. 900 cases Of insanity admitted to the
state hospitals since 1858. In which the Of
the mental disturbance was ascertained, epilepsy
is given as a cause in $50 cases general ilhealth
in lOS9. hereditary predspositon in ia. domestic
troubles business anxetes grief. disappointed
affections etc. in 2l96. intemperance in 1,43s, III
health following overwork IN $751; the grip in 1893
vicious habits In sos. and climateric in 2S2. The
percentage OF recoveries In the average daily
population during the year was $50: the percent
age Of deaths on the average daily poplation was
10 per cent.
In the 900 cases In which the hereditary ten
dency was asCertained Il was noted In the pa
ternal branch in 1.133 cases. in the maternal
branch in 1.aO3. in both paternal and maternal
branches in 249 cases, and in collateral branches
in 14O3 cases. In 44lO cases no hereditary ten
dency was ascertained The civil condition Of
patients shows great variation between the
single and the married persons the statement
since 1888 showing 1852 unmarried and 6,929
married
OF the IS 900 cases admitted since 1888 the &C.
cupation Of 300 was given as governesses, teach
ers students. housekecpers. nurses. ETC. Of 2,535
as waters cooks. servants etc. Of 1279 as me
ctanics at outdoor vocations such black
smiths. carpenters. etc; Of 1.7s9 az farmers gar
| deners etc. 81 900 bankers. merchants. &C
countants clerks statesmen. shopkeepers. etc.
Professional men were represented In BIZ cases
only comprising clergy. military and naval OIL
GERS physicians lawyers. architects. artists au-
| thors. civil engineers, etc
or these l6 900 cases TO- 95 were born I'm the
! United States. OF the total number admitted
| since 1855 the parents OF A per cent were both
Of foreign birth in 22s per cent the parentage on
| the paternal side was foreign, while that on the
maternal was native In 2.l1 per cent the parent
age on the maternal side was foreign. While That
| on the paternal side was native.
4 significant difference is noted In the reports
| Of the New York city asylums as 10 admissions
J 90 the city Institutions or the total admitted Ia
/ these asyluns since 1885 the parents OF 791 per
| cen, were both Of foreign birth
Among the recommendations made by the
Commission 10 the Legislature are the follow
| ing.
That appropriations be made TO provide for
| the erection on the grounds Of the State hos
| pitfalls Of small hospital buildings designed ior
| the specialized treatment Of recoverable cases
| that pathological laboratory be established for
| the benefit Of all the State hospitals; that au-
| thority DE granted the Commission 10 unity The
salaries and wages Of State hospital officers and
| employees: that provision be made Tor the care
| Of insane convicts apart from patients held on
criminal orders. by erecting on the grounds Of
one OF the State prisons or elsewhere suitable
! hospital building for the former class
The report is signed by Carlos f. Macdonald.
president; Goodwin Brown and Henry a. Reeves.