The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1906-08-04
INSANE IN HOSPITALS
SpsuM Repofi Of the CeaSss On lsa1-
tics Coafiaed in iashtuhoss.

The Bareau OF the Census has Just
published a report on insane III hos
pitfalls and predetermined in institu-
tons in the United States. The in
quiry that formed the basis Of this
report VAS conducted under the di-
rection Of Mr. John koren. expert
special agent, and the work of col
lection and compilation was per-
formed under the supervision OF the
late William A King, chief statistl-
clan for vital statistics
To the question whether or not in
sanity is increasing. the statistics col
iected by this inquiry do not afford
a conclusive answer. as they are re-
Strtcted 10 the insane In hospitals.
and, therefore. do not measure the
full extent of insanity in the com
munity; but they reveal remarkable
increase in the class of insane to
which they relate. During the thir-
teen years which have elapsed since
the last census OF the insane the
number of hospitals for the care OF
the insane has more than doubled.
the total number being f62 in 1890
and 32S on December 81, 1908. The
increase in the number of hospitals
was accompanied by a similar in
crease in the number of inmates. the
total being 74.02S in 1890 and 150,-
15l on December 81, 1903. In 1880
the number of insane in hospitals
was only 40,942. The number of in
sane in hospitals per 100. 900 popu-
latiC1 in-.eascG from 81 in 1880
To lN.- IN SOC, and 1862 on De-
crn5er 81, 1903. Undoubtedly a
large part of this increase in ratios
is due to an increased use of hospit-
deep-rooted prejudice against them,
and to a more complete enumeration.
particularly at the last census.
Nevertheless these figures point to
an increase in the extent of insanity
in the country as q whole. This view
is emphasized by the fact that in
proportion to the population of the
country the number of insane in hos
pitfalls In 1903 was larger than the
total number of insane, including
those not In hospitals. enumerated
| in $780, the ratios here compared
being 1862 per 100000 of popula
ton in 1908 and lS2.3 in 1880.
The increase in the number of in
sane in hospitals per 1000 of pop
ticular section of the country, fol
between 1890 and 1903 there was al
| increase in the ratio in each state and
| territory. In many states, particu-
larly the southern states, the ratio is
still small. partly because hospital
facilities are inadequate and partly
because some classes of the popula-
ton have an aversion to the use of
the hospitals provided
The number of insane admitted to
hospitals during 1904 added to the
number on December 81, 1908,
makes a total of 1878 insane per-
sons present in hospitals during the
whole or a part of the year 1904.
OF this number, 1922, or 24.S per
cent, were admitted during the year;
22, 524, or 1l.3 per cent, were dis
charged, A, ,454. or ~ per cent,
died; and ATS. or "a per cent,
were transferred TO other institu-
tions. OF the discharged. T6 per
cent We're classed as improved.
The number of insane males in
hospitals was 20,635 in 1850, $3.50
in 1890, and 7S,523 on December
81. 1903, and of insane females 90
307 in 1850, 35,69S in 1890, and
Tl,62S on December 81, 1903. The
numbers per 100000 of correspond
ing population in 1850, 1880 and
1908 were, respectively, SOC, il9.5.
and 1902 for males and N2,f. ll6.N,
and lN2 for females While the ratio
of insane In hospitals 90 population
is increasing for each sex, h is in
creasing faster among males than
among females This condition sug
gests that in the country as "a whole
the tendency towards insanity ls
greater among the former than
among the latter So far Js can h'
Judged from tho hospital returns. the
foreign born white is thc only class
ln which insanity Is more ukrly to