New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-23
STATE LUNACY COMMISSION.
SUMMARY OF FACTS IN THE ANNUAL
REPORT.
NUMBER OF INSANE WARDS OF THE STATE AND
THE COST OF THEIR MAINTENANCE

NUMBER OF INSANE WARDS OF The SlAAb N-'D
THE COST OF THEIR MAINTENANCE.
Albany Oct 22-Athough preliminary annual
report of the state Commission in Lunacy for the
year ending September 80. 1897. was submitted 70
the Legislature in March, the report proper mas
Just come from the hands Of the printer and up 10
this time part of the report, not even an ao
stract Of the preliminary report, has been made
public
The report states that during the year the gen
eral receipts for the maintenance and support OF
the State hospitals were siG)3 623 81. DlsDufse-
ments for the year amounted to S,46sas ~ oi-
vlded as follows: Cost of maintenance, including
officers salaries. employees wages. clothing food
ordinary repairs and all incidental expenses what
soever and known fixed charges. Sss5'l'o 20
expenditures on account Of new buildings TO De
occupied by patients. 80 49, expenditures Tor
new buildings other than those occupied by pa
TENTS s392O52 49, expenditures for repairs. renew
ais and improvements. exclusive OF buildings anu
not including fixed charges ohe amount being
unusually large. owing to the dilapidated condi-
ton OF the Manhattan and Long Island state
hospitals. especially the heating, lighting ana
plumbing systemsp. s596.o35 10.
n this point the report says: II VIII De 90
served that the expenditures for the year greatly
exceed the apparent income BY reference. how
ever 10 the previous report 1t will be observed
that the expenditures for the previous year were
greatly below the Income Of that year. This Is ex-
planned by the fact that the Manhattan state HOS
pital did not come into the system until fepruary
90 1896 after five months Of the fiscal year hau
been passed so that the expenditures on account
Of that hospital for the fiscal year lSS5-S 20 Tor
maintenance. represented only seven Of the twelve
months and the unexpended balance accrued 70
the general maintenance as a surplus however
as a mat tier Of fact. the expenditures for the Two
years have not exceeded the combined income out
are considerably less. owing In part 10 the fact
lfv,y Son arr1las
charges paid for thirteen months. as the Con-
troler desired to discontinue the practice. when
had existed for many years OF overlapping aPpFo-
pratons Appropriations are good for the perioo
Of two years from the date of Appropriation whlch
fact should be borne IN mind in any consideration
Of the subject"
The whole number Of committed insane in the
state public or private on September 80. 1887 was
2lGS3-In State hospitals. including the inmates OF
the Matteawan State Hospital (for insane crimi-
rals) % Si3 and in licensed private Institutions eF'
The average number OF patients for that year was
1901 number OF admissions 4,6i9; number OF orlgi-
nal admissions excluding transfers 1870; whole
number discharged. 3,9lG; number OF deaths, l.os-
The number discharged was divided as follows;
Recovered. sjl; transferred to other institutions,
279 improved. discharged TO homes, lO3i, and not
insane 60 On the rumber admitted from homes,
and exclusive OF transfers from one institution 70
another. the percentage of recoyeries was 257; on
the daily average population, As; OIL the number
discharged. including deaths but excluding trans
fcr9 to other institutions. Is p; on number DIS
charged not including deaths. and excluding trans.
deaths was on the number admitted from homes.
311S on the daily average population. T. and on me
G rers. is.7. a''"A' Es - ''''' N'.''''. "
For the years ending September 3d. 1894 1925 and
1895 the amount expended for main tenance ayeraged
So For the year ending September &c. 1897, the
rate OF maintenance for The entire STATE Vas IN NS
This increase Of expenditure was brought, aoout
by OF necessary expenditures required to be
hospitals. formerly under the care o. the cities of
highest ever reached by the city was increased
stitution particulary owing to the lax adminisira
ton OF the Department OF Charities and Correc-
The Commission did not allow all the expenditures
which said TO be necessary By the local man
SsmEn AZ fe n9Mcs Of the state hospital sys
tenn would bear and 1t must be borne IN mind that
he highest rate maintained BY the administration
81 Mayor srong Which rate was sv Sa ba b y S
could for its insane As well as the state While
rcquired to Increase the maintenance as above
stated. For the coming year It Is expected tnai
the ayG era rate o. Of sn o better Will De
1T IA alleged that the rate OF maintenance or fixed
%ewYork than T' N n any other state in the Union
This undoubtedly true as proposition. out h2t
The first pi1,a there is not another State in the
Union 30 far al the Commission Is aware. Whe;e
the exact cost Of maintenance can he asoertatned
II must lie borne in mind that in New York every
i'em relating 70 the care OF the insane is ihcludeu
in maiutenance and extraordinary expenditures
for buiifines and improvements. In many States
cloth.rp burials. the bringing of patients 10 Sta{e
a hxod charge in New-Yoik. but while. as above
s,o .ed II is not denied that the of maintenance
Is higher I'm NewYork than elsewhere. K i believed
that It cav be shown without question tnaj me
results obtained are much greater. The only items
Of expenditure in the fixed charges. when IN ne
judgment of the Commission could De Ieduceu WIN
safety. are the items for officers salaries ana en-
pove,' wages: but Il is believed that If these items
were materially reduced the recovery rate W0u'd
likewise he reduced. that as Governor bla'h
pointed out in his message 10 the Legislature 81
1895 If the rate Of mainte arce WAS reducen. ~
the cost IF a reduced recovery rate the State would
gain nothing and in addition. humanity would lose
n great deal for II both rates were reduced there
,vould he more patients to care for thereby con-
sumny in one Mace ali that is saved In another
LAS a general proposition may sateIy aver
that genuine hospital treatment OF the insane as
modern modes Of application OF remedial agencies
mental and physical would result IN an Alarming
decrease Of recoveries But apat rom h ao nDss
TO the front q sentiment OF FAR greater sieIit-
canoe out Of which sprang the Impulse tnat eI 10
the founding e all the State hospitaIs ana ihsutu-
lions for other defective and dependent cases
that OF humanity: -, CO.. ,
not only finally out instantly. by Intelligent ac-
ton I'm sustaining a proper standard OF remedial
treatment and custodal care OF IT'S insane In the
interests of economy OF public funds 1t is evidently
tho duty of the Commission 10 encourage 10 every
rnaeonahle extent tho possible Of every cur
ilgbtened sclf-interest and the spirit OF the Con-
stitution and the law demand the care OF me
actsd WARDS OF ng TO- Larry this purpose
into offec, II the fullest degree consisent with me
means provided by the LEGISLATURE which tnus TAR
have been sufficient
CANAL CONTRACT EXPIRES NEXT YEAR.