The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1901-02-02
SPRINGFIELD HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE
Annual Report of the Board of Managers
To The Governor.

From the annual report of the Board of Managers
of the Springfield Asylum, at Sykesvie. this coun-
ty, we take the following:
The report shows that during the past year to
September 80 the total number of patients under
treatment was 327. During the year Is male pa
tients were discharged cured, were paroled and
IL died. One female patient removed by
friends. The total number remaining was 297, of
whom 22S were males and SO were females.
Dr. j. Clement Clark, superintendent of the hos
pital, says:
The discharges as cured in the male department,
as compared W it'll the number of admissions, as is
usually DONE is 23.07 per cent, whichs about the
average In other State hospitals. The female de-
partment has been in operation for SO short time,
and the cases being nearly all of the chronic ana
incurable class, percentage of recoveries could
be expected. With the admission, however, of
acute which we are now receiving, good per-
centage can be expected for next year.
The percentage of deaths on the whole number
under treatment ill., the male department is 424 per
cent This i, low, and. below the average, and is
due in great part to the excellent sanitary condl-
ton of the hospital. OF those who died were
over so years of age two between 60 and 20 be-
tween so and 60, between 40 and SO. 3 between 20
and A. General paresis, organic heart disease and
senile degeneration were the principal causes OF
death. There have been no epidemfcs of conta-
gious diseases The general health of our people
has been good during the year. MS evidenced by the
above death rate; in fact, il may be doubted If an
equal number of general population has been as
free from intercurrent diseases or accidents Tu-
berculoss is still unknown in our death rate this
year. The mentioned in my last report is still
doing well. There has been but one death from
this disease since the opening Of the hospital.
The escapes have been fewer in number than last
,nd 20 fhn hos
pital in few hours with two exceptions. These
were located in short time, but being improved
and harmless were, at the request of friends, al
lowe to remain at home One of them has since
died and the other has recovered and is following
his usual occupation. One patient who escaped
walked to his home, about 20 miles distant, and re-
turned on the third day of his own volttion
An analysis of ascertained causes among the pa
tients admitted gives high percentage to heredi-
ty Each year brings fresh facts and further proofs
of thelwidespread influence of heredity as pre-
disposing cause of insanity. About 30 per cent il
attributed to this cause The law that like begets
like even though one or two generations inter-
vene seems fully verified by our statistics. Inc
transmission of defects, both moral and mental
may not show itself until some adverse circum-
stance, mental anxiety or severe mental strain
arises. large per cent NEARLY one-third] OF our
population is of foreign BIRTH This is not only the
case in hospital but in other State or eharita-
! BILE institutions Had our immigration law been
revised earlier and those immigrants of low men-
taity hereditary faint of insanity been excluded
| our hospitals would not be so full of this element
| and our people taxed for their support Coming
TO this country. as many of them do. with the IN
herent predispostion to mental disease, ana en-
| gaging in the battle for bread, many OF them
cannot stand the strain ana finally become inmates
| of our hospitals for the insane.
The open-door treatment has been strictly carried
out at both male and female groups to an extent.
am sure, in other hospital While other hospi-
tails have opedoor cottages they all have at least
one cottage with locked doors and barred windows.
| but at Springfield all cottages are constructed
alike, with absolutely no barred window or SMUT
| tered ROOM and consequently seclusion ana me-