The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-01-23
ANNUAL MEETING Of BUTLER
HOSPITAL CORPORATION,

The annual meeting OF the Butler Hos
pital corporation was held at O'Clock
yesterday afternoon in the directors room
of the Rhode Island Hospital Trust com
pany.
The meeting was presided over by the
president, Col. William Goddard. who
called the meeting 10 order after which
the secretary, Charles Morris Smith. read
the record OF the last annual meeting.
Rathbone Gardner for the board OF
trustees next presented his report which
brought out the fact that the year had
been marked by a steady growth.
reference was made. i'm the report, 20
the opening OF the Weld house which
has proved to be great success. from
every point of view. from the fact that
all classes OF patients may be treated
there and many advantages thereby de
rived. Contrasting the general unsatis-
factory condition existing In the upper
parts of the older buildings. where quar-
ters exist as they did half century ago.
with the luxuriousness OF Weld house,
the report called attention To the fact
that tearing out and rebuilding is nee
essary and IL being carried on fast as
available funds will permit.
Grateful acknowledgement was made
In the report OF gift OF land by Col
William n. Potter OF Kingston and the
equipment OF new greenhouses by Mrs. r.
=. Sheppard. Mention was also made OF
the fact that the trustees are planning
for the erection OF a tablet 10 the mem
ory OF DR.. William A. Gortom the former
superintendent.
The report. Furthermore commended the
action OF the superintendent and officers
i'm their action I'm eliminating the phrase
for the insane from official documents
and letter heads. as many patients are
trea at al
insane.
The resignation OF Steward Harry H.
Goss was also referred TO and apprecia-
ton OF his five years Of faithful service
was recorded
Mr.. Goss is 10 be succeeded by Jerome
j. Perry at present supervisor OF the
hospital
The report OF the treasurer. NJ. b. I.
Goddard followed that Of the secretary,
and the same showed the following finan-
cial condition or the corporations
Permanent funds. ss2, $50; Duncan i'm
provement fund s2l 900: donation fund.
S7, 500; library fund. 1880: Elizabeth y
Bartlett fund. 5000: Thomas whitrdge
fund. $4,000; beneficiary fund. sA 600: Rob
ert n. Ives fund s575Oo, Isaac Ray fund
N0,s50; John Wilson Smith fund. 5000.
Mary G. West fund, $500; William F.
Weld memorial fund, s35. 600.
Following the report OF IN. treasurer
IT. ~ RintI BluInfTs the superintendent
submitted his annual report which was
I'm part as follows:
There were in the hospital Jan J. III
patients. ~ women and 81 men. There
have been admitted during the year 3s
women and n men. The whole number
81 patients under treatment during the
yesr was. therefore 24n
The maximum number under treatment
az any one time was l7s; the minimum
number was lss. aud the average number
for the year was nearly 173.
SiXty-six patients have been dis
charged, rs women and 20 mon leaving
I'm the hospital Al the end OF the year
lN patients. 81 women and ~ men
or those admitted q were alleged 10
have been insane less than three months.
Il less than one year, u less than two
years and six for more than two
years previous TO their last admission
10 this hospital Nine were not insane
or the commitments 26 were voluntary.
81 were by the old form OF physicians
certificates, and six were by district
courts.
OF those discharged II had recovered.
"A were improved. IL unimproved, II not
insane and six died
Much preaching there is everywhere |
about the part played by excessive |
drinking I'm the ceusstion OF mental dis |
ease and I am not here 10 minimize the |
potency Of rum for evil; but who ever |
CONTINUED on Page Three)