The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-11-17
MONEY FOR INSANE
State Hospital Board Of
Managers Asks $4,000
Appropriation.
new WING SORELY NEEDED
Defect in the Statute Govern
ing Commitments is
Alleged.
Especial to "The Jersey City News")

Especial to "The Jersey City News.')
TRENTON, Nov. II, 1s0O-The annual
report of the Board of Managers and Off
GERS Of the State Hospital was received
by Governor Voorhees, at the State House
yesterday afternoon
The report is replete with interesting
data and statistics relative to the insane,
and contains numerous suggestions for
the betterment of the institutions.
The Managers make an urgent appeal
for an increase in the annual appropria-
ton, which is deemed necessary to proper
ly carry on the work of the institution.
Among other things $4,000 is asked for a
new wing for the male attendants
Concerning the work of the hospital
since its opening in 1S4s the report states
that $3.50 patients have been treated. Dur
ing the past year LABS patients have been
! under treatment, and on October 81 last
there were LILY patients under treatment,
as against LILO on the same date q year
previous.
The following are other statistics for
the year: Discharged as improved, 80; dis
charged as recovered, "a; Discharged un-
improved, s: died. 1O4; removed to other
institutions, 81. Since the hospitals incep-
ton fifty-two years ago, 1850 patients
have been discharged as recovered; $50
discharged as improved; 349 discharged as
unlmproved; Y have escaped; 80 have been
committed who were not insane, and 2475
have died
medical Director DR.. John W. Ward. in
his personal report, discusses the suicidal
and homicidal tendency of the patients.
There existed decided suicidal tendency
in ~ cases; suicide was threatened in 46
cases. In % cases, Is of whom were fe-
males, there existed decided homicidal
tendency. Homicide was threatened in 70
other cases.
Inc managers. in speaking of the law
OF 1898 concerning commitment to the
hospltai, call attention to the fact that
the Grand Jurors in Middlesex County
made some adverse criticism as to the
dehciency in the nature of the law. and
failed to indict in the case of a man un-
justly committed to the asylum. which
was presented to them by the Board
ana the Prosecutor of the county. In
the civil suit which followed. the court
took the ground that the medical men
making the oath of insanity were only
witnesses and not the COMMITTING
| agents, unless they actually ordered the
patient transferred to the hospital.
The Board says that should this prove
true the law of 1898 will need revision,
as otherwise no one is secure in per-
sonal liberty against the false oath of any
two corrupt physicians.
DR.. Ward has found that the follow
ing causes were responsible for the con-
dltlon of the patients:-General illhealth.
29 old age, Is; alcoholism, "a domestic
troubles, II; domestic affliction and the
death of friends, Is; business troubles and
the loss of property, II; loss of sleep, over
work and anxiety, Is; puerperal state. q.
epilepsy, Is; vicious habits and, indul-
gences, l5;' specific diseases s;sunstroke,
8; injury to head, IA; congenital, 8; dis
appointed affection, 8; menopause TO-;
menstrual troubles, s; la grippe. 4: light
ming shock, /; opium habit, S; unknown.
Is.
Ten autopsies were held during the
year at the Hospital, which DR.. Allen.
the pathologist, says was not enough
from which to deduce any generaliza-
tion. DR.. Ward calls especial attention
to the latter statement He declares
that in order to pursue desirable lines
of investigation autopsies are needed,
and unless they can be procured, little
or nothing can be secured in this direc-
ton. Mr.. Ward says that permission
to hold autopsies has been refused in a
large number of cases by friends. Ex-
aminations in many instances, Dr.
Ward states, would have served to
throw some light on the origin of the
mental disturbances.