The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1909-12-18
OCCUPATION AS A
CURE FOR INSANE
Annual Report of AIienist Sub
mitted of State Mental
Hospital.
MINIMUM EXPENSE BILLS
INMATES KEPT BUSY AND BENE-
FITTED BY THEIR WoFK.

Occupation is the leading curative fac
tor in the treatment of the insane. ac-
cording TO DIT. D. Il. calder, the noted
alienist at the head of the state mental
hospital at Provo. who submitted his an
nual report to Governor Spry and the
hospital board yesterday.
Superintendent Calder has kept the IN
mates of his hospital busy with improve
ments, repairs. cleaning gardening ana
agricultural work. thereby increasing the
number of cures, raising the SJanQalo oL
health and minimizing the cost OF mann
tenance. Men and women have been
given enough 10 do to keep their minds
engaged, making them more cheeIlul dho
giving them less time for reflection
The exercise given all inmates OF lhe
hospital who are able to move about
added TO the cleanliness, sunlight, Whole-
sCme food ventilation, have contributed
10 the general health OF the community.
During the wear ending November 80, 1917
there has been no cases of contagious uls-
ease and no accidents. Also, there We're
no escapes
The year ending November 80 1909, the
period covered by this report, finds lS4
women and leo men at the hospital
FOTty-seven women and 70 men were ad-
mitted during that period, 81 were dis
charged and OF this number q men and .
women were shown 10 he recovered. Nine
teen women and IL men showed improve
meut and were sent home as GONZALES
cents. The increase over the population
at the end of November, 120S, was %.
During the year 81 women and % men
died. Two of those who passed away
were between the ages of S. and 80 years.
Expenses Are Low.
The report shows a proud record in the
matter OF expenses. Despite the advance
i'm cost OF fOOdstuffs. the loss OF 1rult
during the year, the daily cost per capita
remained at IS cents, the same as In the
year previous. The total amount OF
money spent during the year was SOL
1873
Dr Calder points to the work on the
new greenhouse. the ice and cold storage
plant. the building of "a new waterworks
system, and other improvements. Much
of the work has been done by inmates OF
the hospital and there has been great
saving The number OF employees at the
institution was kept at a minimum be-
cause of the help redered by patients.
The new water system involves a great
deal of work Tine water in Slate can
yOn. three miles away. has been appro-
priated for use at the hospital, and this
win be piped TO the institution. This VIII
give better five protection and greater
pressure for all work
The city council of Provo has ordered
the construction of new sewer running
along the front of the hospital Ii will
cost So 900 to connect with the new sewer,
and DR. Calder believes that this expense
is slight because it viii solve veNa-
uous problem and won't cost much
money. Heretofore, the sewage from the
hospital has been run into the drains and
during a storm-WateI period the pipes be
came cOngcsted menac!ES the health of
The neighbOrhOod.
The legislature mas provided for a de-
Uartment for epieptics and non-insane
persons commonly known as feebles-
minded. DR.. Calder had urged this action
since his incumhency at the hospital and
the state lawmakers finally gave him an
appropriation. The alieuist felt that it
was bordering ON criminal TO associate
the feeble-minied and epileptics with the
insane. and all who have been trans
1srsd 10 the new department have i'm
proved wonderfully.
Condition Deplored.
Dr. Calder further calls attention to a
depluTabIe fact. as follows.
THE commitment to this institution of