The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-12-29

time. she recovered aHeer thres weeks at
The hospital. The secretary Of tho 0om-
mittee Oo~rrespOnded with the school OOm-
mission In the district where she had taught
and secured n mail school for her. She
got along very well, and during the last
summer tho COMMITTEES sont her away Tor q
Btx weeks holiday.
A middle aged woman who was boarded
for some time &C the exponss OF the hospital
In a family home in the vicinity. AZ she
seemed to have q taste for cRnyaasing tho
COMMITTEES advised her 20 oel toilet articles
and supplied her with . sample boz. She
has done very well and hes been dlschArRsd
from supervision an able 90 support and
caro- for herself.
The Binghamton after care committees
cgees requiring after care " very small At
that hospital because the great majority
of recent commitments from whom rs-
~cOveries. we're obtained como from good
homes. 20 which they can bS rsturned when
well. An interesting feature Of the work
done FOR the ratignts from h hospital
h tho extent 20 which they obtain employ
ment in the hospital or are allowed TO live
at h hospital while seeking employment
outside. This makes an easy transition
from hospital care to self~-dependence.
The following were selected from among
the uases reported:
A professional man who became insane
through the excessive use Of morphine
resorted to In illness and whose mind was
co mpletely restored after q few months
treatment at the hospital. He didn't wish
TO leave until he felt certain OF his ability
to leave drugs lone. He accented q place
~ fireman in the power house ard performed
the work Satisfactorily for more than three
months and then left in rugged health to
resume the practice OF his profession.
Another patient Of middle wa I'M
SUCCESSFUL in making q livelihood away
from the hospital and obtained employ
mont in one of the shops. where he renders
useful service AT a moderate salary.
A patient suffering from melanchoha was
aided In securing employment IN q Factory
and allowed 20 return to the hospital every
evening for supper. to sleep there and to
breakfast there This was continued for
several weeks, until he gained confidence In
his ability TO care for himself, when he was
finally discharged with excellent prospects
Of a compIste recovery.
The AFTER care COMMITTEES IL not satisfied
with directing its efforts merely toward the
prevention of relapees through assistance
State hospitals. but it In anxious 10 do what
IL can to prevent original attacks OF mental
disease by assisting persona threatened
with such trouble. The committees In anx
ious to have dispensaTy physicians report
all cases Of such nature that come under
their observation.
The plan Of cooperation between the after
care committee and the hospitals in this
State. which seems likely 70 be speedily
adopted in other States, n this: The hOs-
pital notifies the agent Of the committee Of
cases likely to be discharged, together with
such history OF the patient a. will be OF
In investigating the case.
The committee Is notified Of the parole
hnal discharge Of every patient within
hours OF such discharge. The
hospital also notifies the COMMITTEES II it
Of the possibility OF q former
patients relapsing or Of the desirabihty
Of assistance or advice in preventing the
Of former patients discharged or
on parole.
The after care committee on its part UNI
to visit through its members or
agent the homes and friends OF patients
about 10 be discharged and to report inn
nediately to the hospital such recommen-
tations a. may seem likely 70 be helpful
20 the hospital in making n discharge as
o when and to whom q patient should be
The committee reports that the expenses
II the work average only about 500 a
being kept dow by the fact hat
G a avail itself of the mary existing
in New York city. which show a
willingness to cooperate with the after care
agency. \