Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1911-01-11
Recommendations For State Hospital
Made by Supt. DR.. H. M. Pollock in His Report to
the Trustees Several Matters of Legislation Build
ing Work Done-Suggestion Regarding Inebriates,
and the Reduction Of the Cost of Insane Patients

least Norwich State Hospital for the
Insane.
Industrial Work.
For the benefit of the patients, those
able are given some employment, and
it tends to help them, as it occupies
their mind. An industrial teacher for
the female patients has been employed
for the past two years. Male patients
worked about the grounds in the sum
mer competent instructor and
congenial employment for the males
indoors is being anticipated.
Many patients have been allowed to
go to their home on trial visits, with
good results. The Connecticut Society
for Mental Hygiene is planning to put
a. trained worker in the field who can
visit the community where such pa
| TENTS are and advise them from time
to time.
Farm and Amusements.
The farm continues to show increas-
| ing returns, and during the past peri
| cd has supplied the hospital with all
| its milk and the larger part of it's
| summer and winter vegetables. There
| has been but little recrations during
| the winter months because OF lack OF
| room The holidays have been observ-
| ed and there was big response to the
| Christmas tree by friends and rela-
| tives of the patients.
| Reduction Per Capita.
| We have continued to purchase
| practically all of our supplies through
| competitive bids obtained by sending
/ out monthly lists of our requirements
| to all firms who have indicated de-
sire to compete. AS far as was con-
| sistent with economy We have given
preference to firms having their place
of business within the state and to
/ materials of Connecticut manufacture
| [ believe to our methods of purchas-
| ing and issuing supplies and to the
| hearty cooperation of the various
heads of departments, should be cred
| tied the major portion of the reduction
that has been made in our per capita
| cost.
Our expenditures. less miscellaneous
receipts were for the year ending
Sept. 30, 1909, $99,293.58, and for the
| year ending Sept 30, 1910, 1921, 560.23
The total cost of the several depart
nents for the corresponding years was
s100. 313 10 and 1920 the differ
| ence between the expenditures and the
net cost being due to corresponding
! change in the store rooms inventory
Our weekly per capita cost computed
on expenditures less miscellaneous re-
ceipts was for 1909. $500, and fol
1910. s3515, and on net cost of de-
partments was for 1909, $3,66S, am
S3,487. Our 1908 per capita cost which
was considerably lower than any pre-
vious year of the hospitals history
was on supplies used less miscellane.
Gus receipts S4.O1 and on net cost O
departments 1895.
Training School.
Our training school, established a
the beginning of the present period
has graduated two classes. Eight o
our graduates are still in the emplo.
of the hospital.
The course in the training schoo
tn a SjInnInO1anta1 h
our sending out a district VISITING
nurse who by visiting the poor o
Norwich and those not requiring tn
continuous service of a nurse has no
only accomplished much good but ha
acquired very valuable experience il
general diseases. The expense of thi
work has been met by such patient
who are able and willing to pay and b,
private contributions. All gradual
nurses, head nurses and members o
the senior class in the training schoo
have been granted two hours off dut,
each day, while all members of tn
junior class get one hour.
Construction.
! Certain of the buildings authorize
by the previous session of the genera
assembly have been finished and occu
pied and also the jor portion of tn
work upon our new buildings and con
Meeting corridors has been completed
We have besides done the rough grad
ing OF the grounds in front of the in
stitution and have made many othe
minor improvements.
Needs of institution.
| I have endeavored to indicate in tn
following enumeration of requirement
only those which I feel are absolutel
essential to properly carry on the des
ignated work of this hospital. l keen
1y appreciate the large sums that hav
heretofore been expended by Connec
ticut for the care of its pauper an
INDECENT insane but as long as the in
sane population of the state continue
to increase, just SO long must add
tional accommodation and added ia
cilities for treatment be provided.
hereby recommend an amusement ha
and central dining room, additionf
ward building for the accommodate
of $50 patients and a part of the sur
| secured for ward buildings to be use
| for the erection of detention hospite
| as previously suggested, nurses cot
tages for the accommodation of ou
male nurses and married employe!
horse barn and an addition to the COZ
barn, an additional deep well, a roc
cellar. grading and walks. a sma
greenhouse and a clubhouse for tn
use of our patients and employees.