The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-01-14


patlents. The number Of Inmates on oct.
81, 1895, was 1901. The i'll effects Of this
crowded condition are thus portrayed BY
the medical director, DIR. Ward:
1.-THE past year Il has been ii seriyts
daily problom how properly to provide fo1
the rapidly Increasing numbers. All at-
tempt ut proper classification based, as ii
should be, upon tho mental condition On
state Of the individual has long since had
to'be abandoned, and the onIy'r that at
present governs us in making our classiii-
cation is based chiefly onthe general habits
and tranquility of the patient. Such d
system does md can only result in injury,
often permanent, to those who have been
committed to our care. Not a few who
undor more favorable circumstances and
conditions would probably be restored to
health on greatly improved and their exist
ence rendered more comfortable become
chronic and incuraole, q burden to them
selves and to all who are compelled to care
for them Fifty per cent of the irritable
ity, complaining n fault finding in in
situations of this character arise chiefly
from o-vorcrowding and consequent inn
proper classification
Various methods of relief are suggested
LII N1J IGEOfJ VI blit ilcklGul Qif6CtOr, bO
which I refor your honorable bodies. The
managers state in their report that 1.-THE
suggestions for enlarging and improving
tho accommodations for patients will re-
ceive the careful consideration Of the man
ayers during the ensuing year"
Thc hospital at Morris Plains is intend
ed to accommodate but 800 patients. The
number on Oct. 81, 1895, was /, 116. "On
4Jie, noo,xx-k - .o- Az HIM..
has not been q day during the past year
that all connected with the management
huve not been in fear of some calamity,
the direct consequences of this crowded
state. Each night the halls have been in
numbered with 50 cots. Though the ut
most care has been taken to place and re-
move them noiselessly, night and morn
ing, and to preserve quiet upon the wards,
it is easy to see that, when all that can be
has been done, a most dlsagreeable and
dangerous situation exists.
To relieve the Morris Plains hospital, the
legislature of 1895 Chapter 297) authorized
the erection by the managers of tsAn addi
tional building or buildings Of sufficient
size to Accommodate 800 patients and to
procure such furniture and apparatus for
the same as may in their opinion be req
uisite n necessary; and also to make
such sanitary Improvements in the present
buildings of the New Jersey hospital at
Morris Plains as they shall deem advis-
able, = and also authorized the expenditure
of $125, 600. "or SO much thereof as may be
necessary in the prosecution Of said work, y
etc.
The managers decided "to erect a build
ing to which the class known as demented
patients should be removed, of which there
are, at the lowest calculation, 500 now in
the institution"
The reasons for this act of she managers
are fully stated IN their report and seem to
me conclusive. The foundations of this
new building rave been laid and are ready
for the superstructure. The building is
located directly in rear of, and about 1000
feet distant from, and rs feet higher than,
the site of the present building. The new
building will have a frontage Of $50 feet
and a total depth of about 800 feet. For
a full and complete description of the pro-
posed building I refer to the report Of the
managers. They szate that, in it's plan
ming, "solidity, permanence and utility
nave been most carefully considered, y and
an examination of the contract, plans and
specifications will fully sustain their state
ment.
OF the $125, 600 originally appropriated
for the construction of this building but
5000 0 will be available during the pres
emit fiscal year. After the passage of the
law appropriating $125, 600 the general
appropriation bill (ohapter 434, laws Of
1880 was passed, wherein it was provided
that "for account of the appropriation OF
1925, 600, pursuant to chapter 297 of the
laws of 1896, there shall be available dur
ing the present fiscal year.. g., the year
ending Oct. 81, 1S95-s75, 900, and no
more, and the remainder of $50, 900 shall
De available during the fiscal year men
toned in the title of this actv-namely,
the year ending Oct. 81, 1896.
The managers urge the Importance Of as
rapid progress in the completion of the
building as possible. They say sit is not
in harmony with public policy to contract
debt. We can proceed only so fast and fal
as the appropriations will admit"
How much (if any Of the appropriation
of $4,000 limited to the fiscal year ending
Oct. 81, 1896, is u~nexpended I am not ad
vised. If there be any, it should be added
to the sum of $50, 600 appropriated for the
present fiscal year. 1t would also seem
proper that to this aggregate sum should
be added sufficient to permit the work te
be prosecuted vigorously during the year,
provided you are of opinion that the
finances of the state will allow such action
Very considerable improvements have
been made during the past year to ths
grounds and buildings of both hospitals
all of which are fully detailed in the re-.
ports of the respective medical director:
and wardens..
The estimate of the warden of the Tren
ton hospital of the needs of that institu
ton for the ensuing year as compared
with the amount appropriated shows dis
crepancies which should be reconciled al
your honorable bodies may deem proper.
Epileptics.
The last legislature, by joint resolution
| No. i, reciting THAT there arc hundred.
of epileptic persons in this state, many o
whom are in our insane asylums and in
situations for the feeble minded, withour
those proper environments, and that speeia
care and treatment suited to their e
and physical condition, = provided for thu
appointment of n commission OF five per
sons ito make careful Investigation of tina
subject and report to the present session
Of tho legislator /" The commission wa.
duly appointed, consisting of p. C. Barker
M. D., and Rev. james M. Buckley O
Morristown; William L. Newell, M. d..
Of Millville; John II. Ewing, NJ. d., o
Huntington and Professor S. Olin CARR
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