The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-11-22
REPORT ON INSANE HOSPITAL.


 Review of the Work for the Year at
 TusealOOsa and Mount Vernon.
 Tuscaloosa, Nov. 21.-(Special.)- )-- The annual report of the Trustees of the Alabama Insane Hospitals. includ- ing the Bryce Hospital at Tuscaloosa and the Mount Vernon Hospital at Mt. vernon. have been submitted to the Governor. The report Is for the year ending September 30, 1904.
 The Trustees say that on the occa- sion. of their annual meeting on Octo- Der 19 and 20 they inspected the Bryce Hospital and found "the care and man agement of the patients conducted in highly humane and satisfactory man. ner" The Trustees say the patients enjoy as much comfort and content ment as is practicable with as varied a class of people. among whom are eX- treme and exaggerated types of all kinds of deficient and defective per sons.
 The financial statements of the | Treasurer and Steward are found to be correct These accounts are regularly audited by the superintendent, but the volume of matter to be g le over Is too great for the trustees to do at any one 1 meeting and they request that the State | examiners be directed to go through them in an official and expert way.
 A number of Improvements are need ed at the Bryce Hospital to bring the old laundry, the water works, the l kitchen, the fire room, etc, up to date ] and so they can meet the increased de- mands made upon them. The demand for more room for patients at both hos l pitals is very evident, say the trustees, 1 and the contemplated additions are urgently needed. These improvements are now in progress.
 The Trustees conclude by commend ing the humane and efficient treat ment and care of the patients, and the able business management of the su- 1 perintendent of the hospitals"
 Superintendent J. T. searcy, in his report says:
 During the past twelve months the interests of the two hospitals have progressed along the same general lines. There is nothing particularly | exceptional or unusual to report. The population has steadily increased and, to meet the necessary requirements which have arisen from that fact. there has been an increase in the number of employees and in the-aggregate amount of expenditures. The different depart ments have been under the same heads whose work has been adjusted to the increased demands and conducted with the usual fidelity and efficiency. Dr. Searcy says that there Is now 1 total population in both institutions or 1733. an increase of S3 over last year 4S in the Bryce hospital and 40 in the Mt Vernon hospital. There are l,2SS white patients and 56 .colored patients at the former institution, and 439 color | ed patients at the latter institution. At the Bryce hospital 1.1S5 patients are supported by tho State. During the | year 77 patients were re-admitted. Five | hundred and twelve applications were accepted in the Bryce hospital during the year and 70 declined Four hun dred and thirty white patients were admitted.
 At both institutions 596 patients were admitted, 334 were discharged. lSl died' and 515 were removed.
 "rhe general health of both institu- tions has been better. There has been no serious epidemic. and no casualties | of an unusual character. The general work of the medical department has been conducted faithfully.
 At the Bryce Hospital we have. as a rule, applications ahead all the time for attendants and nurses. At Mt Yer non, all along until recently. there has been trouble to obtain sufficient help l for this work. For two years we worked faithfully to get suitable negro | men and women. We spent consider able money advertising and sending out employees to find colored employees l in the Southern part of the State. They so generally proved inefficient and un- trustworthy. and were so unstable in their connection with the hospital. We | decided last year to employ white men 1 and women. Considering all tho worry and additional expense of obtain l ing and keeping suitable negro nurses, the white nurses have proved less ex- | pensive, and greatly more efficient. A noticeable change was at once observed | in the care of the patients and in their satisfaction. The generally improved l efreciency of the management on the wards is very apparent.
 The training school was very sue cessfully conducted at the Bryce Hos pital last season; a school has been begun this fall at the Mt. Vernon Hos 1 pital.
 The crowded condition of the wards necessitate more provision in the next year for the accommodation Of patients"
 The treasurer's statement shows that the expenditures of the year amounted | tO S2OG 44250