Evening journal., 1915-01-07
INSANITY IS ON
THE Increase HERE
48l Patients at FarnhurSt
as Compared With 47O
One Year Ago
TO ASK STATE
FOR MORE AID

Statistics of an unusually interest
ing nature are contained in the thir-
teenth biennial report of the Board
of Trustees of the Delaware State
Hospital for the Insane at Farnhurst
The report shows that on December
LIST, 1912, the population of the hos
pital was two hundred and sixty-five
males and two hundred and five fe-
males, a total of four hundred and
seventy
There were admitted one hundred
and fifty males and one hundred and
seven females. total of two hundred
and fifty-seven, making the whole
number under treatment seven hun
dred and twenty-seven. There have
been one hundred and thirty-three
discharged. OF these sixty-three were
discharged as recovered. thirty-nine
improved and twenty-five unimprOv-
ed. The deaths numbered one hun
dred and thirteen and six were dis
charged as not insane, making the
total discharges two hundred and
fOrty-siX. This leaves a population.
December 1, 1914. of two hundred and
sixty-three males. and two hundred
and eighteen females, a total of
four hundred and eighty-one The
largest number under treatment was
five hundred and three, the lowest
number four hundred and forty-five
and the daily average population was
four hundred and seventy-one. an in
crease of twenty-three since the pre-
ceeding report
There were one hundred and eighty
three admissions from New Castle
County, thirty-seven from Kent and
thirty-seven from Sussex.
The committee on Finance and ac-
counts reports appropriations of
S145,000 for the last two years. and
appropriation of $4,000 is asked for
the next two years.
Actual cost of maintaining the hos
pital for 1914 was S17S732.7O.
There is a deficit of $3.76121.
In order to provide for the payroll
for November and to pay for supplies
received that month. the trustees were
forced to borrow $3.761.21 from the
Wilmington Trust Company, and now
asks that the Legislature pass an ap-
preparation bill carrying that amount
for the express purpose of taking up
the loan.
Regarding conditions at the hospital
the report says:
1--WE respectfully invite your parti-
cular attention to that part of the re-
port of the superintendent which re-
fers to the present Over-crowded con-
dition of the hospital. and the need OF
providing more room for the accom-
mOdation of its increasing popula-
tion. This board believing that the
Legislature will see the necessity OF
providing for relief from this condi-
tion of over-crowding and the danger
attending it, has had prepared a plan
for a new building, and its cost esti-
mated, which It was able to do with
out mourning any expense. The esti-
mated cost of erecting and furnishing
such new building is sixty thousand
dollars. To the end that the board
may have the authority and the means
to procure the erection and furnishing
of this much needed building. an Act
will be prepared and offered in the
Legislature, giving the board such
authority. and providing for an issue
of State bonds for the purpose of rails.
ing the funds necessary TO carry the
provisions of the Act into effect.
In recommending improvements FOL
the institution. Or. William II
Hancker, superintendent, says
Il would suggest that commit,
Of the incoming Legislature visit thi,
institution as soon after organization
as possible, and look over the situa
tion. do not think but what theil
unanimous opinion would be that W.
needed relief and at once.
"A building TO accommodate on,
hundred patients should be provide,
for, and no delay should occur in pro
viding the necessary means TO ALLOW
us 10 go ahead with the work as sooi
as possible
Although the following remark
may be somewhat foreign to tho sub
iect under discussion, | think the,
might instill a little enthusiasm II
those who are directly or indirectl,
! interested in this subject