The Newark journal., 1903-02-06
THE INsANE ASYLUM
Some Facts Ilrom the sup-
 intendeTt's Report.
MORE ROOM IS NEEDED
Superinten dents Report Shows That There is 235 fnsane
 Persons in Jails,>

Superintendent H. c. StinsSp of the insane asylum:
 1t the present time there are 653 patients being treated and cared for in this hospital. Of th.is number PIT are white males, 269 white females, 38 colored males and 69 coIored females. There were admitted during the fiscal year 1901 9S white males, 64 white females, colored males, 13 color ed females, making total of 179. The whole number treated was 351 white males, 327 white females, 46 colored males, v colored females, making the total sol. There were discharged during the year 152. Among this number were: Re coveries 54, improved 1T, unim- proved ,, eloped ,, not insane 2, by death 42 The percentage of recoyeries to admissions was 30.- r per cent. The mortality was 5.24 per cent.
 The unceasing and urgent cries coming from all walks of society and all parts of the state for room to admit their loved ones, must in- spire the legislature to provide ad- ditional accommodation. The de- signers of this institution only con templated a capacity of 600 in mates. We have been providing and caring for between 645 and 65o patients, causing Us 10 add ad- ditionql beds to oar dormitories, converting single rooms into small dormitories. To what extent this cond.tio interfered with the pro. gress toward recovery in cases we might reasonably expect restora- tion, 1t is impossible to estimate. The overcrowded condition of this institution makes 1t difficult, nay. even impossible to provide for the acute insane, that classification and degree of separation modern sOcie- ty demanns. In order to inteIli- gently approximate the number of insane in the state outside the pale of scientific treatment, hospital re- gime, environment, etc, a circu- lar letter was mailed and answers received from every county show ing that there is now confined in the county jails of the state 235 insane persons.
 However startling it may ap- pear, however great the burden of reflection, we have between 24S and 250 unhappy members of so- ciety with no other harbor of hope save that youchsafed them by the jails and poor houses of their re- speeuve counties. It will require no magic of words, no logic of reasoning, to convince an enlig ht- ened public that places of deten- tioH of this kind are totally unsuit- ed for these unfortunate victims of disease. Additional provision for these unfortunate members of society is supported by all the die tates of reason, humanity and eX- pediency. It has been we'll said, and its repetition does not lessen its force, tRat nations are never impoverished by the munificence of their charities; the prosperity of the state and the culture of its citizens are easily judged by its charitable institutions. As this pressing necessity for more accom- modatfon for the care of the insane in thel state has oute grown its age of unfertalnty or delay, would spedtlfully recommend that there be locl lted on the present asylum grounds suitable building, con sisting of sixteen wards, each ware with al capacity of thirty-fve pa. tjents making a total of 560 in mates kthese, added to the norma