New-York tribune., 1902-02-03
STATE PRISON STATISTICS.
DECREASE IN TUBERCULOSIS AMONG
PRISONERS BY THEIR TRANSFER
TO ADIRONDACKS.

Albany, Feb (speciaD.-Cornelius V. Collins.
Superintendent of State Prisons, in his annual re-
port, which made public to-day, calls atten-
ton TO the great decrease in the prevalence OF
tuberculosis among the inmates OF the prisons as
q result Of the method which has been employed or
recent years OF transferring all convtcts suffering
from this disease TO Clinton Prison, IN clinton
County. Statistics which have been prepared py
Dr. J. B. Ransom the physician OF Clinton Prison.
show that for the five years 1891 TO 1883 there were
Z2 deaths among the prison population or the
State, whereas the last FIVE years QSSo 10 4SVV
there were only p. q decrease Of II per cent
Because OF the great number Of prisoners az
ficted with tuberculosis disease which is aggra-
waited and In MANY cases induced by confinement
behind prison walls and in order TO stlH further
decrease the number of deaths, the superintendent
makes an earnest appeal for an additional appro-
priation 10 insure the enlargement and improve
nent OF the tuberculosis pavilions at DanneTnora-
In reference to this subject Mr. Collins says in his
report:
Accommodations at Clinton Prison are made
quste for the isolation Of this class or pauehlss
danger SS arising from the ack of such facilities and
MS earnest request that they pe I1Ilseu
s1itable bgiidfngs Tor fsoiating these prisoners
From no o+ber Class of people is the danger of
spreading the disease greater than from pIlsU.IeI
cases & they y-T make their homes in habitations in
which the simplest rules of sanitation are not % op
thus most readily sown. While it is the duty OF
l1e state TO afloTd prisoners ooiiI'iie- ~ ~
sttutions the greatest practicable protection from
contagious disease Il also seems 10 De us greater
duty. well its interest, 70 protect socety pS
eschargng into its midst the fewest possible NUM- num-
Der OF ez-conVicts bearing Win lhSh the uie@u
germs Of tuberculosis.
The report notes the fact that two new institu-
tons have been added 10 the number heretofore
under the direction Of the superintendent These
institutions are the Eastern State Reformatory, at
Napanoch and the Dannemora State Hospital for
the Insane The formers population was increased
by transfers from the other prisons of 2S4 con-
vcts. At the Dannemora State Hospital accom-
modations have been provided for 2@ inmates and
transfers are constantly being made TO II from the
Mstteawan State Hospital and from the State
penal institutions.
The total number Of male convicts in the State
prisons decreased 81 in the last year, the total
being s25. These are divided between the dir-
tsrent institutions follows: Auburn, loIo' Chh-
ton, $50: Sing Sing. liza
Good health prevailed In the prisons. except an
epidemic OF typhoid fever in Sing Sing There were
rs deaths for the last FIVE years which when COM
pared with 4s2 deaths for the five years preceding
show decrease of 66 per cent. In this length or
tine. however there decrease OF per cent
IN the population OF the three prisons. leaving
net decrease in the death rate of 81 per CENT, l..
Ar. Collins reports that particular attenuoIn rs
given 20 the education OF the convicts along Hnes
mat will help them when liberated 10 ieao an III
oustrous life.
As a result OF the two laws which were passed by
prisoners and indeterminate sentences, parole
board has been organized, which sits at eacn
psson az certain times OF the year ln 0rder 20 20
oler 70 all prisoners eligible the opportunity 10
atgsar and apply for a release
The expense OF maintenance for the three state
Prisons is shown in the following tables;