The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1906-03-06
INSANITY is INCREASING
Startling Change in Ratio Puzzles
Lunacy Commission.
New York stats Institutions Care For
$4,000 Victims OF Various Forms
Of Mental Alterations.

Albany, N. Y.-Showing a startling
increase in the ratio Of insane persons
TO the total population, the Seventeenth
annual report Of the State Commission
in Iunacy was made public. 1T is set
forth that there is now one insane per-
son to every 299 of the general popu-
lation, as against one to BIT 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 in
! stitutions in 1905 was $1,000.
I'm 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 1920, a ratio of one person
to 377 of the general community" says
the report "On the first day of June,
| 1905, the population of the State was
| 8,066,6T2 and the insane under treat
ment in the different institutions
amounted to 27,300, a 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 5000 insane persons are now
being maintained in their own homes,
and that in any calculation as to the
ratio Of the insane to the total popula-
tion this fact must be taken into con-
sideration. The commission considers
this condition a grave one, but finds
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 adj
vance of 1907
The report shows that 27,406 pa
tents were being cared for in State
institutions for the insane on Septem-
Der so, 1905. OF these the total num-
Der in State hospitals was 25,51S; i'll
the two institutions for the criminal
insane at Matteawan and Dannemora,
SOB, and in the licensed private insti-
buttons there were $50 patients. In
the State hospitals alone the net in
crease at the close of the year was 400,
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 4400 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 protracted 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 insan-
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
" $2,000,000, is reduced b. 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 nom
resident lunatics, the report concludes
with the following:
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 of
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 FREE
quently lower than even jobbers re-
ceivnn