The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1914-11-26
efficiently MANAGED
State Board of Visitors Commended
Conditions Existing at Rochester
Insane Hospital.

The Rochester state hospital for the
insane, one Of the most populous in
situations of it's kind in the state, was
originally hospital for the restraint
and cure of persons suffering from
alcoholic and drug excuses. 1t was
maintained by $40 tax on all liquor
dealers, and out of the accumulation
of this tax the cost Of the original
buildings and of a farm Of 16O acres
was met.
Public opinion was however, against
the continuance of the institution as
an asylum for inebriates and the leg
! islature repealed the tax and the spec
ial law establishing it, and changed it
to the second Minnesota hospital for
the insane in 1878. The original in
stitution was authorized in 1873, but
the site, which lies within a mile and
a half of the center of Rochester, was
not secured or the constructor of the
buildings begun until 1877.
| This institution has daily average
population of 1,i94. On July 31st LIST
1,346 patients were registered, of
which number CAS- were women. Dur
ing the two years 629 new patients
were received and 127 former patients
returned. The legal discharges and
deaths during the period were $50.
The deaths numbered 207. For the
two years 2,U65 persons were under
treatment.
Though the hospital originally pos
sessed 100 acres of land it now has
1920 acres, of which over 900 acres
are under the plow. Of this acreage
$40 acres are rented. The products
of this land materially assist in the
maintenance of the institution, fur
nishing it with butter, milk, meat and
vegetables.
:; AS at the other hospitals the
Rochester institution has a detension
hospital attached. 1t was opened in
September, 1912, and has given treat
ment to APT men and 268 women. Oh
this number 81 voluntarily presented
themselves for study and treatment
The present capacity of the detensior
hospital is SO of each sex. Like every
. other state institution devoted to the
care of the sick and afflicted the
Rochester hospital has its share Of
. patients whose residence is in othel
countries and states. AS a result o.
the activity of the deportation Off
Gals employed by the state board O.
control, six persons were sent to Eur
ope during the biennial period, an,
"a to other states. The deportation
of these 40 patients represented [
saving of $4,000 to the taxpayers.
Though considerable has been don
during the past two years in the wa,
of improvements and additions Their
still remains much to be done in orde
to keep pace with the institution
growing population. A building TO
the male nurses is wanted. If sup
piled this would make room for rs ad
ditional patients. A new greenhous
is needed, also more modern machir
cry for the laundry and the baker
and more money for the continuation
of the fire-proofing of the old builC
| ings. Considerable freproofing hs
| already been done.
Last year the new power plant, f.
| which an appropriation of $4,000
| was made by a previous Legislature
was completed. 1t is the most moder
in the state. Besides much plumbin
was done including the replacing (
all wooden floors in the wards wit
| tile.
| The institution conducts a trainin
| school for nurses and since its opel
| ing a total of 81 men and 200 wome
| have received diplomas. Showing tt
| difficulty the management had
keeping its nursing staff filled q
men and 1873 women joined the for
| in the last two years and POT men al