Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-01-17
STATE HOSPITAL INSPECTION.
President Black states Fully the Needs o.
tho Institution.

President Black states Fully the Needs OF
tho Institution.
While the members OF the General
Assembly were at the State Hospital
for the Insane at Farnhurst Thursday
PRESIDENT Black OF the board OF
TRUSTEES stated fully the reeds OF the
institution, reading bis animal report.
"In our last report we based our
estimates on 2B3 patients" he said.
''This year we base our estimates on
$50 patients. We do not think this
increase denotes any increase of the
ratio Of the insane TO sane people in
the Slate, bnt is tho natural increase
we may expect 10 q prosperous common
wealth with an increasing por ulation.
The increase is due also to the con
fidence OF the people Of the State in
the institution, causing them to seek
Tor their unfortunate relatives and
friends the treatment and care afforded
them by the hospital so generously rro-
yid.d. .lhe situation OF the State On
| the great main liLes of travel from the
| north 10 the south is alsu a cause oil
many additions to ths population OF The
| institution, insane strangers often
| being thrust ucon our charity.
| "Thpra also are many acute sufferers
from acu aud chronic alcoholis-the
most Of these coming from Wilmington,
| both from her gildrd halls OF vice and
from her slums. To protect and care
for these people is duty the State
owes itself by at once sheltering
them. and in ineasure reforming
them and protecting at the same time
normal citizens fiom the violence and
wrath OF this class OF detectives.
NEARLY everything supplied 10 the
hospital in common with most articles
10 the comm ercia world, as Is we'll
known, has greatly advanced in price
and is advancing: hut even with this
advance we are able to base our esti-
mate for each patient for the coming
two years ut Sl75.S7 per year-oniy ~
cents per patient moe than we esti-
mated during the two previous years,
taking in then as we do now many
extraordinary expenses, as renewal OF
pumps, heating apparatus, &c. During
the lust two years we have run behind
in our funds and now are paying our
hospital officers and help from FUNDS
raised by the personal obligations Of
the trustees, leaving unpaid these who
are now furnishing general supplies to
the institution.
This should not be, and would not
. have been had the last Legislature
listened to our appeal and not out
down the appropriation asked for The
| State has these unfortunates on her
, hands, ard has appointed this board
of trustees to care for them and pro-
. tect them and r Divide for them, and il
is neither right nor just, nor humane tc
, throw them upon the common charity
OF the board, who accepted theil
, thanKless position without reward Of
: hupe Of reward. The amount We shall
ask for is as near as we can ascertain
! the exact amount it will take TO keel
4 comfortable an advance to health, an6
! some to cure these unfortunate ward'
i. Of the State, and while on its face thu
a demand may appear large, we mus
Z remember it is expensive to care fo
4 these people. They can't be herded
4 but demand much attention and man!
attendants, and Delaware has not been
MOI must not now become laggard il
> the race of caring for her unfortunat
a insane.
n "During the last two years We hav
4 had at ono time in the hospital 34
! patients, and during tho two years n
a average OF 3l5 patients. Basing on
4 estimate for the next two years a
!, slT5.S 81 per year per patient, and th
"a average nun her of patients at $50, an
~ with the probability staring rs IN tn
a face Of further rise in the price {
!, supplies and general expenses, we as
II the Legislature for an appropriation {
# 1898, 100, being s6l ,554.50 for Gao
W year. In this amount we include auff
~ oient to make good the deficiency j
T. the appropriation OF the last Legii
70 lature In the next two years we est
r mate we will collect about $4,000 frol
il patients who nay board. This amour
n. will undoubtedly be consumed
m extraordinary expenses as repairs
i. buildings, machinery, &c., which al
constantly coming in q large plat
w such as this. The per capita OF courl
n would be reduced but for the fact thl
i we include the deficiency Of the la
q two years 10 the Sl75.87 per capt.
40 Deducting about $l7,000 for such d
Nv ticienny, would make the per CAPT
Il e151. A.
~ 1.-THE board desires to thank ID
y, Hancker and his assistants, one ar
- all, for faithful and satisfactory wo
he done during the last two years, al
10 have only praise for them Individual
H. and collectively. We beg leave
thank those clergymen aud Others wi
have taken an interest in the patien
and frequently visit the institute
or and contribute to the welfare and col
de fort OF the inmates. We thank q
Of members of the press for donations
o. papers and other reading matter, al
to many unknown persons for pictur
an presented. To Gen. II. L. Hollid
ad and others connected with the Del
nd ware railroad, and 10 many genera
he citizens we are indebted for many a
re- kind attentions.
ne About O'Clock the visitors left
IL. the special train for Middletown
he attend the meeting OF the Peninsr
of horticultural Society.
90 LOAN OF A PROFESSOR.
ay - - ,..,,.,,.