Evening journal., 1907-01-03
STATE HOSPITAL
is OVERCROWDED
1913 Patients Make the In
StitutlOn a Dangerous and
BaTbaFOuS One
MORE MONEY Is
ABSOLUTELY NECESSARi

In the views of the trustees Of the
Delaware State Hospital, that institu
ton, with its 393 patients is so badly
overcrowded as to make It a dangerous
and barberous abode. Such a oondi-
zion Of affairs has never existed since
the hospital was instituted, and the
trustees say that State appropriation
Of at least Si25,o00 will be necessary to
psoperly conduct the institution during
the next two years.
The trustees held their monthly and
quarterly meeting at Farnhurst to-day
and the above facts were brought out
by the reading of the biennial report
Of Dr. w. H. Hancker superintendent.
In this report DR.. Hancker stated that
the population of the hospital on De-
cember i, 1904, was 354, and since that
time 233 patients have been admitted.
making a total Of 5S7 patients under
treatment in period of two years.
Eishty-two Deaths
In that time there have been 112 per-
sons discharged, while death relieved
80 Of their amictions. The present
population has been entirely unexpect-
ed on the part Of both the superintend-
ent and the trustees and hence they
declare emphatically that more money
is needed to properly care and provide
FOR the increasing number OF charges
that yearly come to the trustees at
tention. OF the 1896 patients who were
in the hospital prior to DIR. Hanckers
report for this month. 217 Of them were
males and 179 females, making a total
Of 396.
Cost Per Patient
IN.
patient for two years amounted to
S176.1S, or at the rate Of as cents per
day. This sum was didvided as fol-
lows: Food and clothing. % cents; sal
airy and wages, IA cents; general and
extraordinary repairs, 2 cents; house
hold supplies. drugs, etc, 10 cents;
total, IS cents.
The appropriation for the past two
s-years ending December 1, 1906, was
$4,000 and the expenditures were the
same. The balance in the hands Of the
State treasurer was reported TO be
s17s.7s, which amount was received
from pay patients.
Monthly Report
In his monthly report DR. Hancker
states that at the present time the
population Of the hospital is divided as
follows: Males 215: females. IFS. There
has been admitted during the month
males and 2 females. Two males were
discharged and / female died during
the same period. There was employed
during the month Virgie NJ. Marvel.
one resignation was reported. that OF
Levin Staat, and two were discharged,
Charles s. Gray and Ida Smith.
sS6461 was received from pay patients
durig the month.
Contracts Awarded
Contracts were awarded by the board
as follows:: Veal and mutton, NJ. Ma
thes: beef, John Devine; bread. J. J..
Schrade; mems clothing, Wright &
Davidson; drugs, Wilmer c. Taylor;
shoes and slippers. Wright & Davidson;
milk. Robert McFarlin; groceries. Will
liam r. Frank; dry goods, William H.
Smith & Co.
This afternoon the trustees viii meet
William S. Hilles, their attorney and
consider with him the drafting OF bills
to be presented to the Legislature pro-
viding for an increased appropriation
Tor the hospital, as we'll as a $40. 900
appropriation to be spent on an addi-
tion for the accommodation of the col
ored insane. DR. Black, John w Cau-
sey, George S. Capelle, Dr. William
d. Orr d. J. Wilson and William II.
Swift were appointed a special COM
mittee on legislation to see that the
Legislature is informed of the needs OF
the institution.
Had to Borrow Money
owing TO a lack Of funds the trustees
We're able TO pay current expense bills
amounting TO only S1O3654. The
amount is s1.S6554. which win be paid
out of the next state appropriation.
The December payroll amounting to
SLS5z12, was paid by money obtained
on a note.
Owing TO the illness of Dr. Black,
-Sn w. Causey presided at the meet
ing. r@yf sTE