Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-12-21
ESSEX ASYLUM
PRAISED BY BOARD
Of INSPECTORS
Report Suggests Necessity of
Divorcing Overlook from
Partisan Politics.
ASKS SEPARATE BUILDING
FOR CRIMINAL INSANE
Medical Director of Morris
Plains State Hospital Sub
mits Annual Report.

congested condition OF the State hos
pitfalls. ant. suggesting the segregation
of the criminal insane as a means to
this end, Or. Britton D.. Evans, medical
director OF the State Hospital for the
Insane at Morristown, in the annual
report Of that institution strongly urges
the Legislature to provide an appro-
pr1ation for the construction of a suit
able building TO the insane %convicts
and criminals of the State.
DIR. Evans T g also for the e5tab-
lishment of a cottag plan for the
isolation of insane persons who are suf-
fering from tuberculosis. An appro-
priation of $500 was made by the
Legislature last year for the erection
of a tuberculosis cottage at Norris
Plains, but, after several unsuccessful
attempts to obtain plans for a suitable
structure within this appropriation, 1t
was allowed to lapse. The amount ap-
portioned by the Legislature for this
purpose was just one-half of what was
asked by the board of ] a of
the institution.
overbrook Iaspectfos.
The report Of the board of managers,
of which John c.. Eisele, of Newark, is
president, contains an count of in
spection by the board of the Essex
County Hospital for the Insane. In
this the officials refer to the equipment
and management of the Overlook in
stitution as admirable. Following is
an extract from this part OF the report:
"As careful inspection of h Essex
| County Hospital for the Insane as our
relation to the institution will allow,
enables us to report that the medical
department is being so conducted as to
| entftle it to our communication. DR..
| Guy Payne is the acting medical direc-
tor in charge. with -four regular as
sistants, and one inferno. Since our
last visit the business department has
been placed In charge of Charles A.
Steadman as warden.
THE buildings are new n archi-
tecturaIIy modern and so arranged n
constructed as to offer every reason
able opportunity for scientific treat
ment and humane care of the patients.
On the grounds are two fine buildings
for nurses-one as a living place or
horne for men nurses; the other for
women nurses. This provision for peo-
pie who have long hours at the bedside
of the insane sick has u unqualified
approval.
Another edifice. separate and apart
from the main building, is an amuse-
ment hall, which provides wisely for
the entertainment Of the patients.
Weu-Eauipped With Nurses.
''The institution is well equipped
will nurses, having a ratio of prac-
tically one nurse to eight patients. An
adequate corps of competent and re-
liable nurses goes far to guarantee the
safety and proper care of the patients
and preserves the essential interest OF
the hospital.
The vast amount of money expend-
ed by Essex county In providing for
its insane would suggest the necessity
of a management divorced from par
tisan politics. The series of unpleasant
and unfortunate occurrences in this
large county institution for the insane
emphasizes the wisdom of the action
of the State Legislature in 1894 and
1897 in placing the management of the
two state hospitals strictly upon d
non-partisan basis, which order OF
management has since been continu-
ously. maintained"
Pnssafc Asylum Praised.
The board of managers found condi-
tons satisfactory at the Passaic
county asylum, where there are but
forty-one patients, most of them aged.
Such was not the case with the Hud-
son County Hospital, which. in the es-
timation of the board, Is unsatisfactory
In construction and poorly located. The
officials say regarding this institution:
There are most Objectionable con-
ditions, which cannot be remedfed
so long as the institution remains
where It is. This county hospital,
which is intended for the care and
treatment of the sick, has been made
one of a group Of county institutions
which should not be in close proximity
to such a hospital. On the same prop
erty, known as Snake HILL are TO be
found the county almshouse, the county
penitentiary, a smallpox hospital, a
hospital for tubercular patients and a
brick building. known as the pest
house, for contag ious diseases.
The presence of these penal insti-
buttons and those for infectious dis
eases makes the present site OF the
institution for the insane very d
sirable and out of accord with tine
principles and opinions laid down by
persons best qualified TO speak upon
the subject.
"Since 1t is evident that something
must be done to make suitable prov1-
sion for the insane OF Hudson county
1t would seem that the proper course
would be to select a more suitable
site; one where insane patients win
not be brought into contact with crimi-
nails of the pen%itentiary and the in
mates of the other county institutions
mentioned.
1.-THE present location is not only not
an ideal one, but 1t is far from a salts
factory one. 1t appears that to legal
ize the purchase of a new site and
erect a hospital upon it, an act of the
Legislature is necessary. 1t is the
unanimous judgment of this board
that such an act should be passed as
soon as possible"
Care of Criminal Insane,
After reciting the fact that a bill
authorizing the erection of a building
for the criminal insane on the grounds
of the State Hospital in this city failed
to pass at last years session of the
Legislature. DIR. Evans, in support of