Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-12-21

Nearly one-twentieth of the hospital
population are convicts n criminals,
which makes it evident hat the State
should make provision for the segrega-
ton Of this class. Their presence
among the non-criminal insane is OBJ
viously Objectionable from an ethical
and disciplinary standpoint, as well as
a sense of justice to the other patients.
Nor can relief come except through an
appropriation for the construction OF
a suitable building for the insane crimi-
nails and convicts of the State.
ITO keep such patients segregated
would be less expensive to the public,
safer and more il the promotion of the
interests of those insane persons whose
lives have been untainted by crime
This matter is of the most serious i'm
port to every family in the State whose
relatives are afflicted with mental dis
order and are confined In either of the
State hospitals"
Work q Curative.
Believing implicitly in the efficacy
of employment as a curative element
In the treatment of the insane, Dr.
Evans says that. although the land
surrounding the hospital offers employ
ment to a large number, still there are
a number Of professional men, artists,
skilled mechanics and persons whose
i~ncl.nations make the digging and cui
tivation of the soil unattractive OF
Objectionable.
During the fiscal year 276 men and
243 women were admitted to h in
stitution. making q total of 519, which
is the largest number of admissions In
any one year in the history of the o
pltal. The population at the close OF
the fiscal year was Els, an increase
of SO over the preceding year. During
the year the total number treated was
2,526. The classification at the END
Of the year was as follows: 1913 indi-
gents, 200 pay patients, &c convicts and
30 criminals. Since the establishment
of the hospital "a years ago 1881 pa
TENTS have been received.
1t is shown that the patients who are
supported entirely by the State num-
Der 604. or rs per cent. of the whole
population. OF the patients admitted
80 per cent. were diagnosed as suffer
ing from mania or mental exaltation
Fifty-six patients had a history oil
nO1n1C1Qdl I61u6iItltS. willy oho ehhN
two-tentbs per cent. of the patients
admitted manifested dementia, and
IS 7-10 per cent. were suffering from
melancholia or mental depression.
In over "a per cent. OF those ad-
mitted a history Of hereditary taint
was as~certained. In many cases, how
ever, it was impossible to secure re-
liable date regarding heredity because
of the reluctance of relatives to enter
into the intimate phases of family his
tory.
summary of Conditions.
1t is shown in the report that during
the last year there was an increase
of cases in which intemperance and
other excuses are given as the cause
In which intemperance and other ex-
cesses are given as the cause OF men
tai alienation, amounting to II per
cent. of those admitted.
DR.. Evans reports an increased per-
centage of ~recoveries during the year
The recoveries amounted to 26.2 per
cent, based on the number admitted,
showing q gain Of IL per cent. over
the preceding year. More than Sc per
cent. of those who were restored gained
tlICiI CaaliAot "a
months after their admission.
Fire Apparatus Inadequate.
In the report of Warden o. NJ. Bowen
it is declared that the fre-hghting
equipment Of the Morris Plains institu-
ton is not what it should be. He says:
IT wish to call especial attentionsto
the needs of better facilities and equip
ment for protection from fire. During
the year just past the hook and ladder
truck has been so. remodeled and
equipped that It. can be drawn by
horses. This improvement is an i'm
portant one.
1.-THE present firehouse should be n
larged or replaced by a building OF
such capacity and SO equipped as tc
provide sleeping quarters for men
stalls for horses, and room for add
tional apparatus. A sufficient number
of men to handle the apparatus prop.
| erly should sleep in the flrehouse. Al
this time the men who serve as firemer
are sleeping in Ave different build,
ings, some OF them so far removed from
the hrehouse that valuable time is los
when responding to a call, while Others
located nearby cannot get out of the
buildings until the doors are opened by
the night watchman. While waiting
for the Waterman valuable time Is lost
The institution is equipped with q
Gamewell fire-aiarm system. and in
order to provide further protection fol-
the inmates and the property this house
should be provided for. With a fire
house equipped with sleeping apart
ments the ~overcrowding Of rooms now
unavoidable on account of lack OF
necessary rooms win be overcome Al
present rooms intended for two persons
are occupied By four"