Norwich bulletin., 1921-11-23
NORWICH STATE HOSPITAL
 IS 155 ABOVE CAPACITY

The NoTW1ch State HoSpltal IS housing 155 more patients than it's capacity calls for. The capacity of the Institution Is 1850 patients and there are now in the hospital 1,505 patients. Similar condi- tions have been found to be true of the other insane hospitals throughout the state
 About one-ffth of the number of per- sons in Connecticut who are mentally defective, who are in institutions or for whom application has been made, are either being cared for under overcrowd- ed conditions or cannot be received at these institutions according to figures compiled Tuesday. There are at pres ent 4,994 patients in four institutions for mental detectives in the state, which is sos more than the capacity of these institutions and in addition at least t5O applications are on the waiting list.
 These figures set forth cbncretely a fact that has been enpnasized frequent l ly during the last year, both at the last session of the legislature and since that time at meetings of the state board of control. in connection with aDpropria- tions for additional facilities for caring | for the insane. The figures for the four institutions the Connecticut State Hos pital at Middletown, the Norwich State Hospital. the Hartford Retreat and the Mansfield State Training school and hospital are as follows
 Middietown, 2,7O7 patients; capacity, 2,O61; above capacity, 646.
 Norwich: 1,505 patients; capacity, l. $50 above capacity, 155.
 HartfoEd: i1S2 patients; capacity 175; above capacity. '; on waiting lisE. 5c.
 Mansfield 600 patients 500 capacity l 100 on waiting list.
 The totals are: 4994 patients; 4156 capacity; sos above, capacity; 150 on waiting list.
 In explanation of these figures 1t should be said that i~ tto roV7 -'7 Middletown and Norwich institutions there is no waiting list. IS coNln .- ments made by the courts have to he honored, resulting in the overcrowded conditions as the figures show At the Connecticut State Hospital at Middle town the situation has become so acute that notice was sent to the courts of thu state making commitments to it that there was no more room with the result that, during the last four months an average of thirty-three new patients have been received pa~ month as com pared with fifty patiesSs a month dur ing the corresponding months in 1920 This institution simply cannot care fol ahy more and the fact that 646 patient! are now being cared for above the normal capacity of the facilities Of the institution is clear proof of that fact.
 At the Norwich State hospital condi tions are not quite so desperate, but 1T order to give the nroner care to patient! according to their cH7dition further ex pansion of the institution is much need
 al n 1n 47-ao
 Of farm land for the institution for s9, 900 that application was made to tht state board of control for an appropria . ton. which was favored by some mem
 hers of the board and in connection witt which Attorney General Healy stressed the great need for more room. but hi
 was voted down by majority of tn
 board, princlpally on the ground urge, by Comptroller Bisse1 that the board could not lega vote sue han appro priation by tra { ~o1 from the food fun,
 for the institution.
 Two new buildings were opened las July at Norwich, where patients 7ry being placed for whom there is good req
 son for hope of recovery. The chroni
 cases are kept in the old buildings and
 Is by reason of the desire of the official
 Of the institution to keep these two kind
 Of cases apart that the overcrowdin. z results in the old buildings. Anothe | new building Is nc- under constructio
 which vii accommodate about 125 case next year. At this institution patient have been received at an increase c z seventy-fve to 100 per year. | At the Hartford Retreat which Is | private institution, there is a waitin II list of at least fifty patients.
 :: At the Mansfield school for boys an girls who are mentally defective ther ; Is long waiting list of 100 or nor ! There are thirty vacancies but as thel ,; ,; are thirty-three boys and girls out c U parole provision has to be made fc their possible return. The application
 now on the, file are from town selectme
 charity organizations and proibat ;. courts for admission of children who al e be ow normal mentally
 V It is believed by those who are s touch with the situation that some pr n vision will have to be made financial "a for more facilities for mental defectiv IT whose number is increasing quite rapi r. ly in the state before the next legisl If ture meets and continued efforts vi
 be made to get an appropriation fra .d the state board of control.