The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-03-28
INSANITY is INCREASING
Startling Change in Ratio Puzzles
Lunacy Commission.
New York Slate. Institutions Care For
$4,000 Victims OF Various Forms
of Mental Alterations.

Albany, n. ~4.-Showing 4 startling
increase in the ratio of insane persons
10 the total population, the seventeenth
annual report of the State Commission
in Lunacy was made public. 1t is set
forth that there is now one insane per-
son to every 300 of the general popu-
lation, us against one to 37T thirteen
years ago; nor does this new ratio take
into account 5000 persons treated i'll
private homes. The total number OF
insane patients treated in public III
situations in 1905 was $1,000.
In 1892 the population Of the State
was 6.513.343. and the number Of in
sane in all Of the institutions of the
State was 1925, 4 ratio Of one person
TO 3I7 Of the general community" says
| the report. "On the first day Of June,
1905, the population Of the State was
| S,066, 672, and the insane under treat
ment in the different institutions
amounted TO 27.300, Il ratio of the in
sane to the general population Of one
to 300. A similar increase is reported
by the commissioners in lunacy OF
Great Britain.
The commission estimates that as
many as G00O insane persons are now
being maintained i'll their own homes,
and tina. in any calculation as to the
ratio Of the insane to the total popula-
ton this fact must be taken into con-
! sideration. The commission considers
this condition a grave one, but hnds
! some slight satisfaction in the fact that
in 1905 the number Of new cases de-
veloping was smaller than during the
preceding year and but slightly in ad-
vance of 1908"
The report shows that 27.406 pa
tients were being cared for in State
| institutions for the insane on Septem-
| Der 80, 1906. Of these the total num-
Der in State hospitals was 2o,51S; Ill
the two institutions for the criminal
! insane at Matteawan and Dannemora,
| 903, and in the licensed private insti-
tutions there were 9S5 patients. In
the State hospitals alone the net in
, crease at the close of the year was 499,
the lowest net increase reported by the
| commission for the last ten years.
Before the close of the year compile
ton of the buildings in Binghamton
! and Middletown for the chronic insane
| is expected to relieve the congested
! condition in the State hospitals. The
problem of providing for the 400 in
| sane now on Wards Island, the lease
of which by the State has but a few
more years to run, is discussed at
length.
The commission reports a gradual
extension Of the system of paroling
insane patients to their friends for
more or less p%rotfacted periods, the
sole requirements being that the pa
tent shall appear at the hospital from
time TO time for examination.
The number of new cases of 1nsan-
ity which developed in the year, says
the report, was 5346. Of the total
number treated in the hospitals 1442
recovered and 1857 were discharged
in an improved condition.
A list of improvements desired by
State hospital managers. totaling near
ly 1000, 900, is reduced By about $780,
600 by the commission, many OF the
items in the list not meeting with its
approved
After referring to the good work
done by the State Board of Alienists,
mich is especially charged with re-
turning to their homes alien. and non
resident lunatics, the report concludes
with the following:
1.-THE commission reports the contin-
ued success of the system inaugurated
by it some years ago Of having all pur-,
chases Of the larger staple articles or
supplies made through a committee OF
State hospital stewards, associated
with the auditor Of the commission.
1t is Furthermore claimed that the
prices paid for these articles are fire.
Quently lower than evel jobbers re-
opiypD