Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-06
HOSPITAL FOR INSANE
THE REPORT OF BOARD OF Wis
IToRS FILED,
Estimates Made for Support Of Insti-
tution-The Improvements Made
and Contemplated.

| The forty-seventh annual report Of the
| board Of visitors of the Government Hos
| pital for the Insane to the Secretary of the
| Interior has been completed. Following
| the custom Of recent years the report in
cludes statement Of the principal events
in the history Of the institution up to the
time Of its presentation. which is almost
| current date in the present instance. The
| report is signed by Dr. Frank M. Gunneil,
the president of the board, and DR.. A. b.
| Richardson, the superintendent of the hos
| pital secretary.
| The report says: The year has passed
| without any untoward incidents. The ad-
| missions for the year were CSC, the largest
| number in the history of the hospital. OF
| these 297 were from the army, navy and
marine hospital service and $50 from civil
| life. or the latter 2S5 were cases of indi-
| gent patients resident of the District of CO.
| lumbia and 81 were non-resdents admitted
by order of the District courts. The re-
coveries number 24S, or 1918 per cent of the
admissions, and the deaths III, which is 6. Is
per cent Of the whole number uuder treat
| ment, and sos per cent of the average num-
Der resident
The health of the inmates has been good
during the year with the exception of a few
cases of typhoid fever during the fall
months of 1901. None of these proved fatal
anu dll el1OTlS TO ascertain the origin OIL the
disease have thus far been of no avail The
drinking water has been examined several
times, but nothing suspicious was discover
ed. The milk supply is practically all from
the dairy of the hospital There would seem
to be no opportunity for Infection from this
source, as no employe CONNECTED with the
dairy has had the disease previous to its
appearance in the hospital and 1t is not
known to be in any Of their families.
Increased Facilities.
With the completion of the buildings now
| under contract the facilities for special care
Of cases requiring it will be still further en-
larged. The improvements under way at
the close Of last year are largely completed,
and we can note decided advance in the
physical condition Of the hospital from year
to year.
The constantly increasing number of ad-
missions and the fact that twelve to eigh-
teen months must still eapse before the
buildings OF the extension will be completed
has compelled us to make temporary provis-
ion for the probable increase during this
period.
The appropriations recommended for the
hospital for 194-1904 are as follows:
For support. maintenance etc. of $3.50 pa
t1ents, at 1920 per annum, $517 900. On ac-
count of the many extra expenses that must
necessarily be met from this fund connect
cd with the opening of the new buildings
and the transfer of patients with the rear
rangement of the entire system of admins
tration, 1t Is not believed to be wise to re-
duce this estimate.
Itemized Statement.
The repairs to the hospital will require
the sum of $25, OGO. OF the special appro-
priations required the most important Is
that for furnishing the buildings of the ex-
tension. including the adminstrat ton build
ing. 1t is estimated that the sum of 500 600
Will be required for this purpose. There are
thirteen buildings to be furnished and four
kitchens. Furniture must also be provided
Tor loo patients and liz nurses in addition
10 the domestic employees required for the
other portions of the work beside the nurs-
ing proper. 1t will also be necessary to
provide in this sum the necessary window
guards and screens. There are more than
1000 windows in the thirteen buildings
For subway under Nichols avenue to
connect the buildings east of the avenue
with the other portions of the hospital it is
estimated that the sum of $11 500 will be
required. The sum of 81, 500 is asked with
which to connect the railroad tracks of the
asylum switch to the new boiler house, and
an appropriation of $4,000 for the removal
of the small morgue and pathological labo-
ratory and the reconstruction of a more
suitable building and in a better location.
Inc sum OF $4,000 is requested with which
to install a filtration system al the hospital,
much of the drinking water being drawn
still from the river. The board also re-
quests that $4,000 be given for the purpose
of inclosing the steel water tower and tank
with brick tower. For the remodeling of
the general dining hall the sum Of $4,000
Is asked. For grading about the buildings
of the extension and constructing new road
ways $4,000 is requested.
Recommendation Submitted.
The report concludes with the following
recommendation: This board is also i'm
pressed with the necessity for amendment
to the law regulating commitment to the
hospital and the discharge of patients there
from. 1t is particularly important that au-
thority be given the superintendent to grant
trial visits before discharge to such pa
tents as are believed to be in a condition
to warrant it. and also to discharge to the
custody Of friends such as can be safely
cared for outside of a hospital and who
cannot be further benefited by hospital
treatment
The report contains a memorial notice of
DR.. w. w. Johnston, who was a member
of the board of visitors The good work
done in the hospitals pathological depart
ment Is referred to. The report of Dr. l.
w. Blackburn, the pathologist of the insti-
tuition will be published in special bulle-
tin. 1t embraces a summary of all the
cases Of brain tumor that have come under
his observation, and is deemed valuable to
the profession.