The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1906-01-25
HAS OUTCROWN
ORIGINAL SCOPE
Butler Hospital No Longer
Mere Institution for insane.
SEEKS TO ALTER ITS NAME
Legislature VIII Be Asked for Authority TO
Omit Werd insane From Title
Incorporation
SEEKS TO ALTER ITS NAME

The annual meeting OF the Butler Hos
pital corporation was held yesterday AT
the Providence Institution for Savings
The president. Col. William Goddard. pre-
sided. After the reports of the trustees,
the board OF managers and the superin-
tendent had been read the following offi-
GERS were elected
President William Goddard; vice presi-
dent. william Butler Duncan; trustees.
Royal c. Taft. Stephen Brownell, STEPHEN
o. Metcalf Rathbone Gardner. Isaac c.
Bates. John II. Freeman. Edward +.
Child. William Gammell, Theodore +.
Green; treasurer, NJ. b. L. Goddard; secy-
retary. Charles Morris Smith; committee
10 audit treasurers account, Samuel r.
Dorrance. George NJ. smith
The report of the superintendent, was IN
part as follows:
On Jan /, 1905, there were in the hospl-
tai 163 patients SO women and "a men.
There have been admitted l04 persons, "a
women and 80 men.
The whole number under treatment dur
ing the year was therefore 267. The maxi
NUN number at any one time was 15s:
The discharges numbered lO4, and at the
end OF the year the number under treat
ment correspond precisely even as 10 sex
distribution, with the number at it's be-
ginning. namely 50 women and "a men. in
all 1853 persons.
OF the admissions, 70 were citizens OF
Rhode Island and 80 of other states.
SEEK SPECIAL TREATMENT.
As gratifying evidence OF the greater
readiness with which the sick now seek
special treatment, nearly 33 per cent. OF
the patients admitted had been III less
than three months. while OF those whose
illness was less than one years duration
the percentage was the same. Forty-four
per cent OF the admissions entered the
hospital on their own application as vol
untary patients.
or the discharges. 25 were recorded as
having recovered. 3S as improved, % as
unimproved, and the deaths numbered
~.
Heretofore the difficulty at Butler hos
pital has been in providing for women OF
that coaxes the patient out of herself
and ends by creating an absorbing in
terest, without carrying with II any sug-
gestion OF the menial.
The problem seems now 10 have been
solved in large measure by opening a ham
dicraft shop In which hand-weaving on
Swedish looms. basketry In willow and
raffia. and wood carving are taught by a
competent instructor
We hope that TO these crafts may later
be added pottery. The hospital began
two years ago by engaging for this work
the services OF a Brown university stu
dent who gave instruction in basketry
and carving, and In the following year
Miss Glantzberg. Of Boston, introduced
weaving Now we are fortunate In hav-
ing an enthusiastic teacher OF Providence.
Miss Jessie Luther, whose catholic ca
pacity for the arts and crafts has made
her competent in all these branches
SUPPLEMENTARY TRAINING.
The trustees authorized last year an af-
fliation OF the Nurses Training school
with the Providence District Nursing as
ISOLATION whereby our nurses should sup
pement training in the wards by prac-
tical work In the INDECENT family. while,
in the same generous sanction. they
granted Butler hospital the privilege OF
participating actively i'm a worthy eee-
mosynary movement.
The arrangement has been mutually
profitable. on the other hand, the asso-
citation has been able TO extend the sphere
OF its benefcence by covering a new dis
trict with little or no extra expense; on
the other hand, seven nurses OF the train
ing school have enjoyed the advantage