The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-03-19
is THE HOSPITAL NEEDED.
Senate Committee Is Struggling
With the Problem

The senate committee appointed to
investigate the capacity of the insane
hospitals met yesterday afternoon and
made a searching inquiry, both as to
the number Of patients and the posi-
bility of charging existing institutions.
There were a number of experts pres
ent and their testimony was in favor
OF building a fourth hospital. This
opinion seemed to be on account of the
officials dislike for any extra response
biifty. Those who appeared before the
committee were DR.. A. F. Kilbourne,
superintendent at the Rochester asy-
lum; DR.. G. A. Chilgren, assistant SUI
perintendent at st. Peter; DR.. G. A.
Welsh, superintendent at Fergus Falls;
Capt. j. w. Mason, chairman state
beard Of trustees for insane hospitals,
and Commissioner ]. H. Block.
DR.. Kilbourne stated that fifty-siX
men were sleeping on the floor at Roch-
ester. The institution was intended for
$50 patients, but, for the last two years.
the daily average has been ], 137. He
thought the fourth hospital should be
built at once.
Dr. WEIGH, of Fergus Falls, thought
it would be better to build a new hospi-
tai, because additions to existing hos
pitfalls would give too many patients
to be adequately handled.
j. w. Mason, president Of the state
Rochester and st. Peter asylums were
overcrowded, but could accommodate
what they have. Senator PetersOn'S
bill for a second examination would
remove a few patients, but not enough
to provide any great relief. He did
not think the inebriate asylum of any
value. There should be immediate
provision for the overflow and increase
of insane patients. Frcm a medical
standpoint he favored a new hospital.
Commissioner Block was very strong
ly in favor of a fourth hospital rather
than any addition to the present insti-
tutions.
Secretary Hart, of the state board Of
charities and corrections, gave some
interesting data in relation to the in
crease of insanity, claiming that in
sanity has a definite ratio of increaso,
even If the population were stationary.
He favored a fourth hospital. Addi-
lions to existing institutions would be
somewhat more economical, if they
were overcrowded, but that meant TAX
ing the economy out Of the hides Of the
patients. There were fewer cures IN
large institutions, and in every way
they were unsatisfactory. If cottages
were built to accommodate the existing
overflow, 1t would mean more comfort;
but, If they were used for the normal
increase, the OVercrowded condition
would still continue.
The yearly increase of insane patients
is about 200 a year, and there are 3100
patients already been accommodated IN
space designed for $500 patients" said
Mr.. Hart. He also stated tat even
where patients are discharged from the
hospitals, a very large percentage drift
back in short time.
Senator Durham desired the COM
mittee to visit the hospitals again but
this did not meet the views of the
committee. Senator Schaller wanted
the committee to prepare it's report
at once, but Senator Dunham's propo-
Sition of the morning session prevailed.
He figures that there is no immediate
need for the new hospital and he
figures it this way. The present pop
ulation Of the st. Peter hospital is
1,027, or II more than it can properly
accommodate. OF these 35 to 40 would
be let out under the Peterson bill. The
Rochester hospital, with the same
capacity, has 200 actual inmates, an
excess Of $50. This would be reduced
by the same number as the st. Peter
hospital under the Peterson bill, and
about as many more if the Durham
bill abolishing the inebriate depart
ment should pass. This would leave an
excess of about 900. The Fergus Falls
hospital has $50 inmates, with q capaci-
ty of 1000. The new wing, for which
an appropriation is asked, would give
200 more. This would give a total ac-
commOdatiOn something less than 100
in excess of the present population OF
the institutions. The increase is quite
regular, however, and may be counted
upon for about 400 in the next two
years. and this Senator Durham would
accommodate by an addition on the
cottage plan at each Of the old hos
pitfalls in the southern part of the state.
BY this plan he calculated that the
state could readily provide for the in
crease for several years to come with
out locating any new hospitals He
cites Capt. Mason to show that the
objection to having more than 1000 in
any hospital especially where it Is on
the cottage plan, is largely sentimental,
and partly due to desire on the part
or administrative officers not to be
burdened with severe duties
The committee will meet again at 9
o'clock this morning to decide If pos
sible what shall be done