Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1915-11-23
EXPECT LEGISLATURE TO
HELP CROWDED HOSPITAL
Institution at Morris Plains Is
Badly in Need Of Addi-
fional Buildings.
hp<gial 60 the Eysning Star.

Apesial to the Evening Star.
MORRIsTOWN, Nov. 23.--0ne OF
the Ilrst things 10 be given attention
by the next Legislature, 1t Is be-
nkRed will be the matter of afford
ing immediate relief for the con-
rested condition OF the State Hospital
at Morris Plains. Last year, An act
~ provida additional accommoda-
4ionss was introduced by Senator
Charles A. Rathbun, Of Morr1s
county. and passed. At that time
Senator Rathbun showed that the in
Ststution was caring for 800 patients
in excess OF its normal capacity ana
that the yearly increase in patients
Was about one hundred.
This excess of inmates, as the aef
states, with It's constant increase, Is
seriously impairing the usefulness OF
the institution and imposing haru-
ships upon the unfortunate patients.
Medical Director Britton D. Evans
who IS at the head OF the INSTITUTION,
IS considered one Of the most capapie
and efficient men In the United States
ard he has a corps OF assistants ex-
ceiied bv none, but their efforts are
hannpered because OF the overcrowoeo
condition Of the hospital. II lowers
the number of recoveries and thus
sstsadiiy increases the maintenance
burden. The order Of treatment anu
care which such patients need cannot
be given. hygiene and sanitary prin-
ofples cannot be enforced, and al
4llis reflects upon the irreprehensible
management.
Total of Patients Now s.eee.
There should be classification II
auch an Institution, but under the
circumstances this is impossible. Bn;
acme action must be taken very soon
a. but few more patients can be
taken at the hospital. One year age
there were 2,509 patients; today there
are 1853, an increase in the total
number of 160 for the year. More
than 600 sleep on cots in the halls al
night. there are three beds in rooms
where there should be but two, and
two in rooms where there ought 70 bt
one and in the recreation rooms there
are from twelve to fourteen peas
These figures were given to an Eve
ming Star representative by officers
Of the hospital last evening.
Nothing has been done at the hos
nitai to afford relief in fifteen years
in the spring of 1901 dormitory was
erected to accommodate 500 patients
and At this time there were more
fban 700 in this building. Patients
Get out and escape once in O while
ma fhis cannot be wondered at. OF
course the principles of sanitation
must be unavoidably violated under
the present conditions. The same
conditions exist at the hospital al
Trenton.
Iast year Governor Fielder, under
the provisions of the Rathbnn act,
appointed a commission OF six men
10 ~select and purchase. within twelve
months after this act takes effect, IN
the name of the State, farm or tract
Of land not exceeding five hundred
acres. productive in character, easily
titled. giving assurance Of ample and
good water supply, and otherwise
adapted for institutional purposes.
The commissioners have visited
many farms in Sussex and Warren
counties. and many in the southern
part OF the State. The latter are
found to be more productive, easier
to till, etc, and it is generaly pe.
lieved that a tract In the soutnerI
section will be recommended
The suggestion of DR.. Evans was Z
nrrchase a productive tract in thu
middle of South Jersey and erect
hospita1 for the care of chronic pa
fients. and to treat at the Morris
Plains and Trenton hospitals patients
who 1t is believed can be cured. Hs
contends that the cost of maintain
ing such q farm would be compara'
lively small.
Senator Rathbun says he will rec.
umfnend an appropriation OF $lb0.OV
for the purpose at the next session
~ #ha Taafslat1Ire